Accessibility checklist and guidance
This checklist contains information and guidance on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) success criteria. It can be used to help carry out an initial evaluation of your service.
| Success criteria | Level | Description | What this affects | Severity | Who is responsible | Knowledge to test | Time to test | Test procedure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1.1 Non-text Content | A | Images that convey meaning have suitable alternative text and images that serve a decorative purpose have a null alternative text assigned | Screen reader |
|
|
Medium | Medium |
|
| 1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) | A | A transcript is provided for audio only content (such as a podcast) |
|
Blocker |
|
Easy | Quick |
|
| 1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) | A | Essential content that is communicated visually in videos is also available as audio or text | Screen reader | Blocker |
|
Easy | Quick |
|
| 1.2.2 Captions (prerecorded) | A | Captions are provided for video with audio |
|
Blocker |
|
Easy | Quick |
|
| 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded) | A | When there is audiovisual content (video) you can work out what is going on from the audio or an audio description is provided | Screen reader | Blocker |
|
Easy | Quick |
|
| 1.2.4 Captions (Live) | AA | Captions are provided for video with audio |
|
Blocker |
|
Easy | Quick |
|
| 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded) | AA | When there is audiovisual content (video) you can work out what is going on from the provided audio description | Screen reader | Blocker |
|
Easy | Quick |
|
| 1.3.1 Info and Relationships | A | Font icons are not used | Contrast | Moderate |
|
Medium | Medium |
|
| 1.3.1 Info and Relationships | A | Form code is implemented correctly | Screen reader |
|
Developer | Medium | Medium |
|
| 1.3.1 Info and Relationships | A | The HTML structure and semantices reflects the intent - landmarks, headings, lists, data tables | Screen reader |
|
|
Medium | Medium |
|
| 1.3.1 Info and Relationships | A | Inline CSS is not used |
|
Minor |
|
Medium | Medium |
|
| 1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence | A | Content is in a logical order in the code | Screen reader |
|
Developer | Medium | Medium |
|
| 1.3.3 Sensory Characteristics | A | Instructions provided for understanding and interacting with content does not solely rely on shape, size, sound, visual location or orientation | Screen reader |
|
|
Easy | Quick |
|
| 1.3.4 Orientation | AA | Orientation is not locked | Mobile | Severe | Developer | Easy | Quick |
|
| 1.3.5 Identity Input Purpose | AA | Autocomplete is used on inputs when appropriate | Cognition | Moderate | Developer | Medium | Medium |
|
| 1.4.1 Use of Colour | A | Colour has not been solely used as the only visual means of conveying information |
|
|
Designer | Easy | Quick | |
| 1.4.2 Audio Control | A | Audio is not played automatically | Screen reader |
|
Designer | Easy | Quick |
|
| 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) | AA | There is decent contrast for reading text (minimum 4.5:1 ratio for standard text, 3:1 for large text) | Contrast | Moderate | Designer | Easy | Medium |
|
| 1.4.4 Resize Text | AA | You can make text at least 200% larger without losing content/functionality | Magnification |
|
Developer | Easy | Quick |
|
| 1.4.5 Images of Text | AA | Graphics are not used for text (except logos) | Magnification |
|
|
Medium | Quick |
|
| 1.4.10 Reflow | AA | You can zoom in 400% without losing content/functionality or horizontal scrolling | Magnification |
|
|
Easy | Quick |
|
| 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast | AA | There is decent contrast for graphics (that don't have text) and inputs/controls/focus styles | Contrast |
|
Designer | Medium | Medium |
|
| 1.4.12 Text Spacing | AA | The current text spacing can be overridden without loss of content or functionality | Magnification | Severe | Developer | Easy | Quick |
|
| 1.4.13 Content on Hover or Focus | AA | Pop-overs that appear on keyboard focus can be dismissed using the keyboard | Keyboard | Moderate | Developer | Easy | Quick |
|
| 1.4.13 Content on Hover or Focus | AA | Pop-ups are not used on hover, unless they are dismissable and robust | Magnification | Severe | Developer | Easy | Quick |
|
| 2.1.1 Keyboard | A | All functionality is operable with a keyboard | Keyboard | Blocker | Developer | Medium | Medium |
|
| 2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap | A | Keyboard focus does not get trapped | Keyboard | Blocker | Developer | Easy | Quick |
|
| 2.1.4 Character Key Shortcuts | A | Keyboard short cuts are not used, unless the user can override them | Keyboard | Blocker |
|
Medium |
|
|
| 2.2.1 Timing Adjustable | A | There is time to read and act on things | Cognition | Blocker |
|
Medium | Medium |
|
| 2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide | A | Any distracting flashes or movements are under user-control | Cognition | Blocker | Designer | Medium | Medium |
|
| 2.3.1 Three Flashes or Below Threshhold | A | Flashing content does not flash more than three times in any one second period, or the flash is below the general flash and red flash thresholds | Photosensitive seizure | Blocker | Designer | Medium | Medium |
|
| 2.3.3 Animations from Interactions | AAA | Animation respects reduce-motion settings | Cognition |
|
Developer | Easy | Quick | Manual |
| 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks | A | There is a mechanism to skip to content, or skip past navigation | Keyboard |
|
|
Easy | Quick |
|
| 2.4.2 Page Titles | A | Page titles are unique and reflect the purpose of the page | Screen reader |
|
|
Easy | Quick |
|
| 2.4.3 Focus Order | A | The focus order is logical and intuitive | Keyboard | Moderate |
|
Easy | Quick |
|
| 2.4.4 Link Purpose | A | Ambiguous link phrases have not been used. The purpose of the link can be determined from the link text alone or it has been programmatically defined. |
|
Moderate |
|
Medium | Quick |
|
| 2.4.5 Multiple Ways | AA | More than one method is available to locate a Web page within a set of Web pages | Cognition | Moderate | Designer | Medium | Quick |
|
| 2.4.6 Headings and Labels | AA | Headings and labels clearly describe the topic or purpose |
|
Moderate | Content | Quick | Quick |
|
| 2.4.7 Focus Visible | AA | The location of the keyboard focus is visually obvious | Keyboard |
|
|
Easy | Quick |
|
| 2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured (Minimum) | AA | A focus indicator is not restricted in any way | Keyboard | Moderate |
|
Easy | Quick |
|
| 2.4.13 Focus Appearance | AAA | The focus indicator has a clear thickness and colour contrast |
|
Moderate | Designer | Medium | Medium |
|
| 2.5.1 Pointer Gestures | A | Touch gestures (e.g. swipe) are not relied on | Mobile | Blocker | Designer | Easy | Quick |
|
| 2.5.2 Pointer Cancellation | A | Down events for links/buttons are not used unless there is a cancel method | Mobile | Severe | Developer | Easy | Quick |
|
| 2.5.3 Label in Name | A | The visible label must be included in the accessible name (mostly applies to images and where labels are over-ridden) |
|
Severe | Developer | Medium | Medium |
|
| 2.5.4 Motion Actuation | A | Motion sensors are not relied on for functionality (e.g. shake to undo) | Mobile |
|
Designer | Easy |
|
|
| 2.5.5 Target Size (Enhanced) | AAA | Touch targets are large enough to touch accurately (at least 44px x 44px) | Mobile | Moderate |
|
Easy |
|
|
| 2.5.7 Dragging Movements | AA | No click and drag function is required, or an alternative is provided |
|
Moderate |
|
Medium | Medium |
|
| 2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum) | AA | Components have a minimum target size | Mobile | Moderate |
|
Medium |
|
|
| 3.1.1 Language of Page | A | The default human language of each web page has been set | Screen reader | Moderate | Developer | Medium | Quick |
|
| 3.1.2 Language of Parts | AA | Correct language codes for different languages on the page has been set where applicable | Screen reader | Moderate |
|
Medium | Quick |
|
| 3.2.1 On Focus | A | Landing on an element does not change the context | Keyboard | Blocker | Developer | Easy | Quick |
|
| 3.2.2 On Input | A | Changing a widget (e.g. drop down) doesn't automatically take you somewhere else | Keyboard | Severe | Developer | Easy | Quick |
|
| 3.2.3 Consistent Navigation | AA | Navigation is consistently ordered across pages | Keyboard | Moderate | Designer | Easy | Quick |
|
| 3.2.4 Consistent Identification | AA | Terms used for functionality are consistently used | Cognition | Moderate |
|
Easy | Quick |
|
| 3.2.6 Consistent Help | A | Any help provided is done so consistently | Cognition | Moderate |
|
Medium | Medium |
|
| 3.3.1 Error Identification | A | Where an error occurs, the issue can be identified and is described to the user in text | Cognition | Moderate |
|
Medium | Medium |
|
| 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions | A | Appropriate labels or instructions are provided when content requires user input, form labels are always visible | Cognition | Moderate | Content | Medium | Medium |
|
| 3.3.3 Error suggestion | AA | Error messages are actually useful, e.g. provide a useful next step or way of entering valid data | Cognition | Medium |
|
Medium | Medium |
|
| 3.3.4 Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data) | AA | Legal and financial actions can be either reversed, checked or confirmed | Cognition | Severe | Designer | Medium | Medium |
|
| 3.3.7 Redundant Entry | A | Users do not have to enter the same information more than once | Cognition | Moderate |
|
Medium | Medium |
|
| 3.3.8 Accessible Authentication (Minimum) | AA | Users are not required to complete a function test, except under certain conditions | Cognition | Severe |
|
Medium | Medium |
|
| 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value | A | Custom controls have expected keyboard interactions | Keyboard |
|
Developer | Expert | Medium |
|
| 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value | A | Use standard controls appropriately and ensure that non-standard controls are properly marked up using WAI-ARIA and thoroughly tested | Screen reader |
|
Developer | Expert | Medium |
|
| 4.1.3 Status Messages | AA | Important dynamic changes in content, that are not given focus, are announced by screen readers | Screen reader | Blocker | Developer | Medium | Quick |
|
| 1.4.10 Reflow | Best practice | Magnification software users do not have to unnecessarily scroll horizontal to find content | Magnification |
|
Designer | Easy | Quick |
|
| None | Best practice | The interface is usable in Windows High Contrast mode | Contrast | Moderate | Developer | Easy | Quick |
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