The Complete Accessibility Testing Checklist for QA Teams

A well-structured accessibility QA checklist helps identify usability barriers for individuals with disabilities and ensures your digital product meets compliance standards across web and mobile platforms.

Use the following checklist to guide your accessibility QA process:

1. Use semantic HTML elements (e.g., <header>, <nav>, <main>, <footer>) for meaningful structure.
2. Apply ARIA roles only when semantic HTML does not suffice.
3. Ensure all interactive elements are reachable and operable using only a keyboard.
4. Maintain logical focus order and visible focus indicators for all focusable elements.
5. Use heading tags (<h1> to <h6>) in a hierarchical and consistent order.
6. Ensure links have clear, descriptive text that indicates their purpose.
7. Provide unique, meaningful labels for all buttons and icons.
8. Add proper <label> elements or aria-label attributes to all form fields.
9. Display clear error messages and guidance for form input validation.
10. Include descriptive alt text for all informative images and icons.
11. Avoid using images of text; if necessary, provide a text alternative.
12. Provide captions for all video content and transcripts for audio-only media.
13. Ensure color contrast ratio meets minimum WCAG AA standards (4.5:1 for normal text).
14. Avoid using color as the only means of conveying information.
15. Ensure text remains readable when zoomed up to 200% without loss of content or functionality.
16. Test responsiveness and layout consistency across screen sizes and orientations.
17. Ensure all custom components (modals, carousels, accordions) are accessible via keyboard and assistive tech.
18. Use ARIA live regions where dynamic content updates occur (e.g., alerts, notifications).
19. Validate that tooltips, dropdowns, and menus are accessible and dismissible.
20. Avoid autoplaying content or provide controls to pause/stop media.
21. Ensure skip navigation links are present and functional.
22. Confirm focus is correctly managed when modals, dialogs, or pop-ups open or close.
23. Avoid flashing content that could trigger seizures (no more than 3 flashes per second).
24. Use consistent layout and navigation patterns across pages.
25. Verify accessibility with screen readers (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver) and other assistive tools.
26. Test on both desktop and mobile devices across major browsers.
27. Ensure touch targets meet minimum size requirements on mobile (48x48px recommended).
28. Validate orientation and zoom support across devices.
29. Confirm that all functionality is available using a keyboard and without relying on gestures.

This checklist helps QA teams build inclusive digital experiences by identifying common accessibility failures before release.