Accessibility Checklists

Use these comprehensive checklists to evaluate and improve your website's accessibility. Checklists are organized by WCAG level and by role to help you focus on the most relevant requirements.

WCAG Level Checklists

WCAG 2.1 Level A

30

Success Criteria

Minimum accessibility requirements. These are the baseline requirements that all websites should meet.

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WCAG 2.1 Level AA

50

Success Criteria (A + AA)

Legal compliance standard. Most laws and policies require Level AA compliance.

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WCAG 2.1 Level AAA

78

Success Criteria (All)

Highest level of accessibility. Recommended for specialized content or audiences.

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Quick Start Checklist

Start with these essential checks that catch the most common accessibility issues:

Images
  • All meaningful images have alt text
  • Decorative images have empty alt=""
  • Complex images have detailed descriptions
  • Text in images has sufficient contrast
Headings & Structure
  • Page has one H1 describing main content
  • Headings follow logical hierarchy (H1, H2, H3...)
  • No heading levels are skipped
  • Landmark regions identify page sections
Keyboard
  • All interactive elements are keyboard accessible
  • Focus indicator is visible on all elements
  • Tab order follows logical reading sequence
  • No keyboard traps exist
Forms
  • All form fields have visible labels
  • Labels are programmatically associated
  • Error messages identify the field with error
  • Required fields are clearly marked
Color & Contrast
  • Text has 4.5:1 contrast ratio (3:1 for large text)
  • Information isn't conveyed by color alone
  • Links are distinguishable from surrounding text
  • Focus indicators have sufficient contrast
Links
  • Link text describes the destination
  • Links to same destination have consistent text
  • Links that open new windows are identified
  • Skip link allows bypassing navigation

Role-Based Checklists

For Developers
  • Semantic HTML elements used
  • ARIA roles and properties correct
  • Keyboard event handlers present
  • Focus management implemented
  • Live regions announce changes
  • Custom components accessible
  • Touch targets 44x44px minimum
For Designers
  • Color contrast meets requirements
  • Focus states designed for all interactive elements
  • Text scalable without breaking layout
  • Visual hierarchy clear
  • Error states use more than color
  • Touch targets appropriately sized
  • Animations can be paused
For Content Authors
  • Alt text written for all images
  • Heading structure logical
  • Link text is descriptive
  • Plain language used
  • Tables used for data only
  • Videos have captions
  • Documents are accessible
For QA/Testers
  • Automated scan completed
  • Keyboard testing performed
  • Screen reader tested
  • Zoom testing at 200%, 400%
  • Color contrast verified
  • Mobile tested
  • User flows completed with AT

Testing Process

Recommended Testing Order:
  1. Automated Testing: Run axe DevTools, WAVE, or similar tool to catch quick-win issues
  2. Keyboard Testing: Navigate entire site using only Tab, Enter, and Arrow keys
  3. Visual Inspection: Check headings, labels, color contrast manually
  4. Screen Reader Testing: Test key user flows with NVDA or VoiceOver
  5. Zoom Testing: Verify content at 200% and 400% zoom
  6. Mobile Testing: Test on actual mobile devices with touch and AT
Most Common Standard

WCAG 2.1 AA

Required by DOJ, Section 508, and most accessibility laws

WCAG Checklists
Testing Tools
Templates