An Accessibility Checklist

When I’m doing something (usually something I don’t do regularly) I like to have a checklist to hand. Don’t :scream: just yet :sweat_smile:

I find a checklist a useful prompt to remind me to explore certain areas e.g.
:ballot_box_with_check: Use Spectrum

I don’t tell myself how or where to use it, just a reminder that I should.

I read this blog not too long ago

I went in search of a checklist for testers and found:

https://www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/cms-service/stream/asset/WCAG%202.0%20checklist%20and%20guidelines%20for%20Ajax,%20JavaScript,%20Flash,%20PDFs.pdf?asset_id=2712926
(A lovely 129 page document)

http://www.dhs.state.il.us/accessibility/references/web-accessibility-quick-test-checklist.html
A brief checklist with the option of expanding the options

And Web Accessibility Testing 101: A Checklist for Beginners.

None of them really help me. They’re super text heavy which is a format I find incredibly difficult to digest.

So, my question is, can we create a better accessibility checklist for testers? Something that could be stuck up beside your desk. Something that’s easy to digest.

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Hello Heather, I’ve been working for a while on something consumable for all testers on accessibility so they can offer useful feedback. Apart from the obvious WCAG Compliance, I believe for something to be accessible to all you also need to think about the content, how usable ‘it’ is and use inclusive language.

Given time and budget constraints the first compliance /things/ I look for are;
Keyboard only use - can I complete everything just using the keyboard?
Contrast checking - Using a tool like WAVE, is the contrast acceptable?
Alt Text - Do all images have alt-text and is it useful and understandable?
200% zoom - Can I zoom to 200% and everything is still usable and readable?
Tabbing - is the order sensible and predictable and includes a ‘Skip to main content’ link?
Links - do they describe where the user/customer will be taken? i.e. no ‘Click here’
Error messages - useful and helpful? (bearing security in mind)
Consistent layout - do all pages have common links/ menus in the same place.

In terms of understandable content I look for;
Long complicated words or acronyms that not all may understand
Use of all capital letters (screen readers say them as individual letters rather than shouted words)
Short sentences
Clear instructions

I also feedback on the use of inclusive language;
Do we really need titles and gender?
They / them; Everyone / Folks

I’ve tried to summarise this in a simple quadrant as a visual heuristic but it’s still a work in progress. Hope this helps. Cheers, Ady

Accessible%20to%20All%20Quadrants

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I use to do accessibility testing ‘back in the day’. With the new WCAG 2.1 guidelines that game out, I started collating information with the attempt of perhaps creating a useful checklist or some sort.

It’s a minefield though!

I have started collecting information here - http://testing.rosiesherry.com/collection/accessibility-testing/

I came across this nice accessibility map recently - http://intopia.digital/articles/intopia-launches-wcag-2-1-map/

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