Accessibility and Standards

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) form the foundation of accessible design, built around 4 key principles:

• The Perceivable principle ensures content can be detected through various senses
• The Operable principle focuses on interface functionality regardless of how users interact with devices
• The Understandable principle guides creating clear, predictable interfaces with helpful guidance
• The Robust principle ensures content remains accessible as technologies evolve.

Each principle contains specific success criteria across 3 compliance levels (A, AA, AAA), allowing teams to measure accessibility objectively. Understanding these foundational principles helps design teams integrate accessibility throughout the audit process rather than treating it as a separate checklist. When conducting an accessibility audit, use these principles as your primary evaluation framework.^[1]

Evaluating color contrast represents a critical step in accessibility audits, directly impacting content legibility for users with visual impairments. WCAG guidelines establish specific contrast ratios between text and background colors: 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text at the AA compliance level. Higher AAA standards require 7:1 and 4.5:1 ratios, respectively.^[2]

During color contrast audits, follow these steps:

• Examine all interface elements, including text, icons, form fields, and navigation components
• Use specialized tools like Contrast Checker, Stark, or WebAIM's contrast analyzer to measure these ratios objectively, rather than relying on visual judgment
• Pay special attention to hover states, error messages, and informational indicators, where color often communicates meaning
• Document instances where contrast falls below standards, noting the specific elements, their current ratios, and recommended color adjustments

Remember that sufficient contrast benefits all users, particularly in challenging lighting conditions or on low-quality displays.

Evaluating keyboard accessibility ensures interfaces work for users who cannot or prefer not to use a mouse. A comprehensive keyboard navigation audit examines how effectively users can access all functionality using only keyboard controls.

When conducting keyboard navigation audits, follow these key steps:

• Test tab order to ensure it follows a logical flow through the interface that matches the visual layout
• Verify that the focus indicator is clearly visible at all times as users navigate
• Check that all interactive elements, such as buttons, links, form fields, dropdowns, are accessible via keyboard
• Ensure modal dialogs properly contain keyboard focus, preventing users from tabbing to background elements
• Confirm that keyboard shortcuts don't conflict with assistive technology commands
• Test that complex components like date pickers, sliders, and custom widgets have proper keyboard support

Document issues with specific recommendations for improvement, noting elements that can't be reached or operated via keyboard. Remember that keyboard accessibility benefits many users beyond those with mobility impairments, including power users and those with temporary limitations.^[3]

Screen reader compatibility is a key part of accessibility audits. It looks at how well people with visual impairments can use and understand your content. Screen readers turn text into speech or braille, but they need well-structured content to work properly.

When conducting screen reader compatibility audits, follow these steps:

• Test with multiple screen readers (like NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver) as they interpret code differently
• Verify that all images have appropriate alt text that conveys their purpose and content
• Check that headings are properly structured in a logical hierarchy (H1, H2, H3)
• Ensure form fields have explicit labels, and error messages are announced programmatically
• Test that dynamic content updates, such as page refresh, notifications, validation messages, or loading states, are properly announced through ARIA live regions
• Verify custom components, such as custom dropdown menus or filterable selects that are built from scratch rather than using native HTML controls, and use appropriate ARIA roles, states, and properties
• Confirm that the reading order matches the visual layout and logical content flow

Document any problems you find. Note which screen reader you used, what element caused trouble, what you expected to happen, and what actually happened. Include specific suggestions to fix each issue, with code examples when possible. Improvements that help screen reader users often make the experience better for everyone by creating a clearer content structure.^[4]

Proper HTML semantics form the foundation of accessible web experiences. When code uses the right HTML elements for their intended purpose, assistive technologies can better understand and communicate content to users.

When conducting semantic HTML evaluations, follow these steps:

• Check that headings use proper heading tags (H1-H6) rather than styled paragraphs
• Verify that lists use appropriate elements (ul for unordered lists, ol for ordered lists, dl for description/definition lists with term-description pairs)
• Ensure tables use table elements with proper headers and captions for data presentation
• Confirm that interactive elements use native controls (buttons, links, form elements) where possible
• Examine landmark regions (header, footer, nav, main, aside) for proper structure
• Check that forms use fieldset (to group related form elements), legend (to provide a title for the fieldset), and label elements correctly
• Test that language attributes are properly set for the document and any content in different languages

Document issues by identifying elements using incorrect semantics and recommend proper tag replacements. Note that semantic HTML benefits not just accessibility but also SEO, device compatibility, and code maintainability. Proper semantics create a solid foundation that makes other accessibility improvements more effective.

Forms often create accessibility barriers when not properly designed and coded. Ensuring forms are accessible means all users can understand, navigate, and complete them successfully.

When conducting form accessibility checks, follow these steps:

• Verify that all form controls have properly associated labels
• Check that required fields are clearly indicated both visually and programmatically
• Ensure error messages are clear, specific, and programmatically linked to their fields
• Test that form validation provides feedback without relying solely on color
• Confirm that logical tab order matches the visual layout of the form
• Verify that groups of related inputs (like radio buttons) are properly grouped with fieldset and legend
• Check that instructions and help text are programmatically associated with relevant fields
• Test timeout warnings and ensure users can request more time when needed

Document issues by specifying the form element, the accessibility problem, and recommended fixes. Note that accessible forms typically provide a better experience for all users through clearer instructions, better error handling, and more intuitive design patterns.

Web interfaces must function well across various screen sizes and devices. Accessibility audits should evaluate how responsive design implementations affect all users, particularly those with disabilities.

When conducting responsive design standards evaluations, follow these steps:

• Test content readability across different viewport sizes without horizontal scrolling
• Verify that touch targets are sufficiently sized (at least 44x44 pixels) for mobile users
• Check that text remains legible when zoomed up to 200% without loss of content
• Ensure that interactive elements remain usable when screen orientation changes
• Verify that layout shifts maintain logical reading order for screen readers
• Test that navigation menus are accessible in both expanded and collapsed states
• Confirm that images scale appropriately without losing essential details

Document issues by capturing screenshots at problem breakpoints and providing specific recommendations for improvement.

After finding accessibility issues, you need a clear plan to fix them. A good plan helps your team make improvements in a logical order rather than randomly tackling problems.

When creating your implementation plan, follow these steps:

• Sort issues by how severely they affect users and how hard they are to fix
• Group similar problems that can be fixed with the same solution
• Create a realistic timeline with clear deadlines for each improvement
• Assign specific people to be responsible for different types of fixes
• Set clear goals so you know when each fix is successfully completed
• Make accessibility testing a regular part of your development process
• Plan training sessions to fill the knowledge gaps you discovered during the audit
• Schedule follow-up checks to make sure the improvements actually work

Write your plan in a format that's easy to track as work moves forward. Include extra time for unexpected problems that might come up. Remember that improving accessibility isn't a one-time project. Your plan should create lasting habits that keep your product accessible over time.