Frequently Asked Questions
The short version: MAD Platform finds and explains accessibility problems in easy-to-understand language, and gives you a recommended fix for each one. It doesn't touch your code, and it isn't a law firm. More details below.
What this is
What does this tool actually do?
It scans the pages on your site that carry the most real risk and checks each one three ways: rule-based scanning, an AI visual pass, and an AI semantic review grounded in the actual WCAG standard, not just what a model remembers. Every finding is independently confirmed before it's ever shown to you, then ranked so you see what matters most first, with a concrete fix for each one and a downloadable checklist you can hand straight to whoever fixes your site. "MAD" is short for Multi-Agent Defense. Five agents split the work: one decides what to check, one finds issues three different ways, one independently confirms them, one ranks and writes up the findings, one takes action. Not a single model skimming your site once and guessing.
What doesn't it do?
It won't replace a full legal audit or genuine assistive-technology testing by a real user. Some of what the standard asks for is a judgment call, not a strict pass/fail, and no automated tool can fully substitute for that. What it does do is go well beyond a typical scanner: it reviews actual screenshots and video content, not just code, and every finding is independently verified before it ever reaches you. It tells you exactly what to fix and how. It doesn't touch your code directly: that would mean access to your site's actual codebase, which this tool deliberately never asks for.
Is this actually free? What's the catch?
No catch, and there isn't a paid tier waiting behind a paywall. This is a self-funded community project, not a lead-generation funnel in disguise. Nobody's selling your contact info to an accessibility consultant after you scan.
Why this exists
Why does this exist?
To make the internet a little more usable for everyone. This free tool exists so a small business finds out about an accessibility gap from a proactive scan, not a demand letter, and can fix it before it becomes a legal problem. Every page fixed this way is one more page a screen-reader user, a keyboard-only user, or someone with low vision can actually get through.
What is WCAG?
Short for the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines: think of it as the building code for websites, the same idea as a wheelchair ramp next to a curb, just for the web. It's the standard nearly every digital accessibility law and lawsuit points back to. If your site doesn't meet it, that's the gap that shows up in a demand letter. This tool checks your site against it, so you find out from a scan instead.
Does it work with WordPress, Shopify, Wix, or Squarespace?
Yes. It scans your live site the same way a visitor's browser does, so it works regardless of what platform built it, whether that's WordPress, Shopify, Wix, Squarespace, or something custom.
Trust & privacy
Can I really trust an automated tool with something this important?
Yes. Here's why: every finding goes through an independent verification step before it's ever shown to you, and anything that doesn't hold up gets dropped, not left in as a maybe. The rules themselves are checked against the real accessibility standard, not an AI's unaided memory of it, so it can't misquote a rule or make one up. And since this is open source, you don't have to take any of that on faith. You can read exactly how it works.
Why do you need my email, and why a verification code?
Mainly to keep this a tool for real people, not something bots quietly drain for free. A scan costs real money to run even when it's free to you, and a code is what proves an address is real, not just typed in. It also delivers your report and makes sure only you can see your own findings, through a private link nobody else can access. Verify once, and this browser remembers you for 30 days. Full detail in the privacy policy.
I need real legal help, not just a scan.
Here's exactly where the line sits: this scan tells you what's technically wrong and how severe it is. It can't tell you your specific legal exposure; that's what a qualified accessibility or ADA attorney is for. What it gives you is the evidence to walk into that conversation already prepared, not starting from zero.
About the project
Who's actually behind this?
An independent, open-source project, not a company; built and maintained in the open. Originally built for Google's All Things Agentic Hackathon and now modified as a free community tool. The code running this exact site is public: github.com/pandayv/mad-platform-community, so you can read exactly what it does line by line.
How do I actually reach someone?
Email hello@mad-platform.org: questions, bug reports, deletion requests, or just feedback on whether this was useful. A real person reads it, not a ticket queue.
How can I support this project?
You can support the project and the community in one or more ways:
- Contribute to the project on GitHub.
- Leave feedback, even a sentence, testimonial or not.
- Spread the word: share it with friends, family, and on social media.
- Donate to help cover infrastructure costs.