Level Access: Assistive Tools for Website Accessibility
Author: Thomas C. Weiss
Published: 17 Jun 2012 - Updated: 13 Jun 2026
Publication Type: Product Release, Update
Contents: Synopsis - Definition - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates - Related Publications
Synopsis: This information explains Level Access, the assistive technology suite formerly known as eSSENTIAL Accessibility, and how its downloadable, client-based tools help people with disabilities navigate websites and the wider Web without any changes to a site's code or IT upkeep. It is useful because it sets out, in plain terms, exactly who the tools are meant to serve and what they do, covering alternative input methods and a page-reading system aimed at people who face reading difficulties or dexterity challenges tied to conditions such as arthritis, dyslexia, cerebral palsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, age-related factors, and mild visual impairment. For people with disabilities, seniors, and the organizations that want to reach them, the article works as a practical reference on what the software offers, how it supports inclusive web access, and what a computer needs to run it.*
At a Glance
- 1 - The tools are entirely client-based, so a website needs no modification, system integration, or ongoing IT maintenance, and updates are hosted on the Level Access servers
- 2 - Alternative input methods include the XY Mouse, Radar Mouse, Direction Mouse, Auto-Click, Auto-Scan, Manual Scan, an onscreen keyboard, and a hands-free tracking system
- 3 - The page-reading feature can read frame titles, page content, or links aloud, supports multiple languages and users, and works with Microsoft Speech Recognition 6.1 or later and SAPI 4 and 5
- Topic Definition: Level Access
Level Access, formerly known as eSSENTIAL Accessibility, is a suite of assistive technology delivered to users as a downloadable, client-based application that helps people with disabilities navigate websites and the Internet. Rather than altering a website's underlying code, it runs on the visitor's own computer and provides alternative ways to interact with online content, including mouse and keyboard replacement options such as scanning, hands-free tracking, and an onscreen keyboard, along with a page-reading system that speaks page content aloud. It is intended for people who experience reading difficulties or dexterity challenges linked to conditions ranging from arthritis and dyslexia to stroke, multiple sclerosis, and age-related change, and organizations can display its interactive icon to signal that they have planned for accessible, inclusive web access.
Introduction
NOTE: eSSENTIAL Accessibility is now rebranded as Level Access.
Visitors can now download Level Access Accessibility Tools, no modification of the website is required, there is no need for IT maintenance, there is no system integration, and there are no security issues that need managing. All the functionality is client-based and updates are hosted on the servers for Level Access.
Leading organizations that value diversity view inclusiveness as a key strategic advantage, and Level Access can give organizations additional strengths in this regard. Purpose-driven organizations know that building websites with the highest accessibility standards, including offering assistive technology, is vital to connecting with more customers, people, stakeholders, and partners.
Main Content
Displaying the interactive Level Access icon on a website informs visitors that you have included people with disabilities in your planning and that they have access to a suite of tools to help them navigate your site and the Web. Level Access offers assistive technology suitable for people who experience reading difficulties or dexterity challenges related to several conditions. These conditions may include the following:
- Arthritis
- Dyslexia
- Cerebral Palsy
- Stroke/paralysis
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinson's disease
- Age-related factors
- Learning disabilities
- Literary deficiencies
- Mild visual impairment
- Limited English proficiency
Features
The features available through Level Access include an array of mouse and keyboard replacement solutions, also referred to as 'alternative input methods,' that can help people to overcome physical limitations and access your website and the Web. These features include the following:
- XY Mouse
- Auto-Click
- Auto-Scan
- Radar Mouse
- Manual Scan
- Direction Mouse
- Hands-Free Tracking System
- Onscreen Keyboard
Level Access also includes a page reading system for people with reading difficulties. The feature can be set to read the titles of frames or the content of frames, the content of any web page, or the links of any open web page out loud. It is also fully compatible with Microsoft Speech Recognition 6.1 or greater. Level Access has a fully customizable toolbar, features multi-language and multi-user capability, is fully compatible with SAPI 4 and 5, and has a Live-Update system.
System Requirements for the Level Access Platform
NOTE: These system requirements are subject to change at any time. Please check the Level Access website to confirm they still apply.
The Level Access Platform and its companion Access Assistant browser extension run on modern operating systems and current web browsers. Because the platform is delivered as cloud-based SaaS, it places little demand on local hardware, though specific browser versions are needed to support dynamic testing and automated scans.
Browser and Operating System Requirements
The platform is built around Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge as its primary supported browsers, with a minimum of Google Chrome 56 or newer. Level Access no longer supports the Access Assistant on legacy browsers such as Internet Explorer or Firefox. Supported operating systems are:
- Windows 7 or newer, with Windows 10 or 11 strongly recommended for the best scanning performance
- macOS X 10 or newer
- Google Chrome 56 or newer, or Microsoft Edge
On-Premise and Desktop Crawler App
Clients running the on-premise version of the platform or the standalone Desktop Crawler App need to meet a few additional parameters. The AMP on-premise release (version 9.60 or higher) requires Google Chrome 130 or higher, kept to the latest patch release. The Desktop Crawler App runs on the Continuum 6.9 engine; note that some automated scans on Windows 11 machines upgraded from older operating system versions can encounter Chrome-related component deprecation issues, which the crawler is designed to work around.
Integrations and Network Access
The platform integrates with common developer and project management suites, including Azure DevOps, Jira, and Asana. To get full use across these systems, you need a broadband internet connection and standard, unblocked access to modern web traffic over HTTPS/SSL.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: A point worth keeping in mind is that this article was first published in 2012 and reflects the rebranding of eSSENTIAL Accessibility to Level Access, so some of the listed system requirements, such as support for Windows XP, Vista, and Media Center 2005, point to an older Windows era and are best treated as historical baselines rather than current specifications; readers planning to adopt the software today should confirm the latest platform support and feature set directly with the provider, while the broader value of the piece, its clear account of who assistive input and page-reading tools help and why inclusive web design matters, still holds up well.*
Author Credentials: Thomas C. Weiss is a researcher and editor for Disabled World. Thomas attended college and university courses earning a Masters, Bachelors and two Associate degrees, as well as pursing Disability Studies. As a CNA Thomas has providing care for people with all forms of disabilities. Explore Thomas' complete biography for comprehensive insights into his background, expertise, and accomplishments.
* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.