Digital Accessibility Compliance Under ADA Title II and WCAG 2.1 AA

Remediation Checklist

The Digital Accessibility Remediation Checklist has been designed to align with WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines, ADA requirements, and other accessibility best practices. It focuses on four key principles of accessibility: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (P.O.U.R.), and provides guidance for both automated and manual testing.

  • Text Alternatives:
    • Ensure all non-text content (images, icons, videos) has appropriate alt text.
    • Check for proper labeling of form controls, input elements, and interactive components.
  • Time-Based Media:
    • Provide captions for all video content.
    • Ensure audio descriptions are available for video content.
    • Transcripts should be available for audio-only content.
  • Adaptable Content:
    • Ensure content is adaptable to different devices and screen sizes.
    • Verify that content can be presented in simpler layouts without losing information.
  • Distinguishable:
    • Confirm sufficient color contrast between text and background (minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text).
    • Ensure text can be resized up to 200% without loss of content or functionality.
    • Avoid using color alone to convey information.
  • Keyboard Accessibility:
    • Verify that all functionality is accessible via keyboard.
    • Ensure there are no keyboard traps.
  • Enough Time:
    • Provide mechanisms for users to adjust time limits on content.
    • Ensure content does not auto-update or refresh without warning.
  • Seizures and Physical Reactions:
    • Avoid content that flashes more than three times per second.
    • Ensure content does not cause physical reactions (e.g., motion sickness).
  • Navigable:
    • Provide clear and consistent navigation.
    • Implement logical heading structures (H1, H2, H3, etc.) for content organization.
    • Use descriptive and meaningful link text.
    • Ensure there are multiple ways to navigate (e.g., search function, site map).
  • Input Modalities:
    • Ensure interactive elements are easily accessible and operable using various input methods (mouse, touch, stylus, etc.).
  • Readable:
    • Ensure readability of content.
    • Provide definitions for unusual words, idioms, and jargon.
    • Use clear and simple language.
  • Predictable:
    • Ensure web pages behave in predictable ways.
    • Avoid unexpected changes in context.
  • Input Assistance:
    • Provide clear instructions for form fields and input elements.
    • Implement error identification and suggestions for correction.
    • Ensure forms have labels and error messages are clear and descriptive.
  • Compatible:
    • Ensure content is compatible with current and future user agents, including assistive technologies.
    • Use valid HTML and CSS code.
    • Follow ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) guidelines for dynamic content and interactions.

Audit Tools

 
  • DubBot: Offers automated accessibility testing, reporting, and monitoring for registered websites.
  • Axe: An accessibility testing tool that integrates with web browsers (Chrome, Firefox) and development environments.
  • WAVE: A browser extension that provides visual feedback on accessibility issues directly on the web page.
  • Lighthouse: An open-source tool from Google that audits web pages for performance, accessibility, SEO, and more.
  • ANDI: An accessibility and Section 508 compliance testing tool
  • Screen Readers: Test with screen readers like JAWS, NVDA, and VoiceOver to ensure content is accessible to visually impaired users.
  • Keyboard Testing: Navigate through web pages using only the keyboard to ensure all interactive elements are accessible.
  • Color Contrast Analyzers: Use tools like the Colour Contrast Analyser to check for sufficient color contrast.