Do you ever wonder what it's like to browse your web app as a blind person?
Have you been charged with making your web app more accessible?
If so, you should probably take the time to learn how to use a screen reader such as JAWS or VoiceOver. There's no substitute for diving in and experiencing for yourself the challenges a visually impaired user faces when using your app. However, testing code with a screen reader can feel unfamiliar and time-consuming for a developer with normal eyesight. Wouldn't it be great if we could just see what a screen reader "sees"?
ARIA View is an attempt at such a tool. It reformats an HTML page to approximate how a page is perceived by assistive technology. It's super easy to use. Just drag this button up to the bookmarks bar in your browser. Then click the "bookmark" while you're inside your web application or site.
ARIA View is already super useful, but it's still under development. If you're looking a polished tool that will help you make your web site more accessible, check out HTML Codesniffer.
If you're a developer, this is a great opportunity to get involved in an open source project during the embryonic stage.