Accessibility QA Checklist

What is an Accessibility QA Checklist?

An accessibility QA checklist is a structured list of criteria used by quality assurance teams to evaluate whether digital content—websites, apps, and documents—meets accessibility standards. 

It guides testers through a consistent evaluation process covering aspects like keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, visual contrast, and semantic structure.

By using a checklist during testing cycles, teams can:

• Catch issues early in development
• Standardize accessibility evaluations across sprints
• Ensure alignment with global compliance standards (like WCAG and ADA)
• Reduce rework and legal risk post-launch

A comprehensive checklist makes accessibility testing repeatable, scalable, and easy to integrate into existing QA workflows.

Why Accessibility Testing is a Must for QA Teams

Accessibility testing ensures that digital products are usable by everyone, including individuals with visual, auditory, cognitive, or motor disabilities. 

For QA teams, it’s not just about compliance; it's about delivering a better, more inclusive experience for all users.

Key reasons to include accessibility in QA:

• Regulatory Compliance: Helps meet legal obligations such as WCAG, ADA, and Section 508.
• Inclusive Design Validation: Verifies that users relying on assistive technologies can access critical functionality.
• Reduced Technical Debt: Identifies issues early, reducing the cost and complexity of fixes.
• Improved User Experience: Enhances usability for all users, including those in low-bandwidth or mobile-only environments.
• Brand Trust and Reach: Demonstrates commitment to inclusive practices, building loyalty and expanding audience reach.

Accessibility Guidelines and Legal Standards to Consider

Accessibility compliance is grounded in well-established global standards and legal mandates. These guidelines provide the technical and ethical framework for building inclusive digital experiences.

QA teams must be familiar with the following key frameworks to ensure accessibility testing aligns with legal expectations and industry best practices:

• The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
• Country-specific regulations like the ADA, Section 508, and AODA
• International frameworks including EN 301 549

Adhering to these standards not only reduces legal risk but also improves usability for a broader audience.

WCAG 2.1 / 2.2 Key Success Criteria

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), developed by the W3C, are the most widely adopted set of technical standards for digital accessibility. 

WCAG is organized around four core principles: content must be Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR).

Here are key success criteria QA teams should test for:

• Text Alternatives: Provide meaningful alt text for non-text elements like images and icons.
• Keyboard Accessibility: Ensure all functionality is usable via keyboard alone.
• Navigable Content: Maintain logical heading structures, focus order, and skip links.
• Readable Content: Use clear language, support text resizing, and avoid complex jargon.
• Contrast and Visual Design: Maintain sufficient contrast between text and background.
• Responsive Behavior: Content must be accessible on different screen sizes and orientations.
• Error Prevention and Identification: Form errors should be clear, and input fields must be properly labeled.
• Compatibility with Assistive Technologies: Content must function with screen readers, voice control, and other assistive tools.

WCAG 2.2 builds on 2.1 with additional criteria to better support users with cognitive and mobility disabilities, making it essential for QA teams to adopt the latest version.

ADA, Section 508, AODA, and Global Regulations

In addition to WCAG, several regional laws enforce digital accessibility requirements:

• ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act): Applies to businesses, public services, and organizations in the U.S., requiring accessible websites and applications.
• Section 508 (U.S. Federal Law): Requires all federal agencies and contractors to ensure their digital content complies with WCAG standards.
• AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act): Mandates WCAG compliance for public and private organizations in Ontario with more than 50 employees.
• EN 301 549 (European Union): Governs accessibility of ICT products and services in the EU, referencing WCAG as the baseline.
• The Equality Act (UK): Requires reasonable adjustments to digital services, aligned with WCAG guidelines.

Essential Accessibility QA Checklist for Digital Products

Testing for accessibility requires a structured and consistent approach. This checklist covers key areas QA teams should evaluate when testing websites and applications to ensure usability for all users, including those with disabilities.

Semantic HTML Structure and Landmarks

Proper HTML semantics help assistive technologies interpret content accurately.

• Use elements like <header>, <nav>, <main>, and <footer> to define page regions.
• Avoid using <div> or <span> for interactive elements—use semantic tags like <button> or <a>.
• Ensure landmarks are not duplicated unnecessarily.

Logical Focus Order and Tab Navigation

A predictable focus order is essential for keyboard users and screen reader navigation.

• All interactive elements should be reachable via Tab key in a logical sequence.
• Avoid skipping or trapping focus within components like modals.
• Use tabindex only when necessary and avoid positive values.

Headings, Lists, and Structural Hierarchy

Clear structure makes content easier to navigate and understand.

• Use heading tags (<h1> to <h6>) in a hierarchical, logical order.
• Do not skip heading levels or use headings for styling only.
• Use proper list tags (<ul>, <ol>, <li>) for grouped content.

Link Purpose, Button Names, and Click Areas

Descriptive and accessible interactions are critical for both screen reader users and general usability.

• Ensure link text clearly describes the destination or action (avoid “click here”).
• Use ARIA labels or aria-labelledby for icon-only buttons.
• Maintain a sufficient hit area (at least 48x48px on mobile).

Form Labels, Input Errors, and Validation Messages

Forms must be fully accessible for all users to input and review data.

• Every input field should have an associated <label> or aria-label.
• Error messages should be descriptive and announced to assistive tech.
• Ensure form validation does not rely solely on color indicators.

Alt Text for Images and Informative Icons

Alternative text ensures that visual content is accessible to screen reader users.

• Add concise, meaningful alt attributes to all informative images.
• Decorative images should have empty alt text (alt="").
• Use ARIA labels for icon fonts and SVGs when conveying information.

Captions, Transcripts, and Media Alternatives

Audio and video content must include accessible alternatives.

• Provide synchronized captions for videos with spoken content.
• Include transcripts for audio-only files.
• Label media controls and ensure they are keyboard-accessible.

Contrast Ratios, Fonts, and Visual Elements

Good visual design improves readability and reduces strain for all users.

• Maintain a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.
• Use readable fonts with adequate spacing and size (16px or larger recommended).
• Avoid flashing content or overly dynamic visual transitions.

Responsive Design and Zoom Functionality

Accessibility applies across devices, orientations, and user settings.

• Ensure content remains usable when zoomed up to 200%.
• Layout should adjust correctly on mobile, tablet, and desktop.
• Avoid fixed pixel dimensions that break content flow.

Dynamic UI Elements (Dropdowns, Alerts, Tooltips)

Interactive elements must be coded and tested for accessibility.

• Ensure dropdowns and tooltips are operable via keyboard.
• Use ARIA roles and properties to label dynamic components clearly.
• Provide accessible alerts using ARIA live regions so screen readers can detect updates.

Device and Browser Compatibility for Accessible Interfaces

Accessibility must be tested across the same environments your users rely on—real devices, real browsers, and assistive technologies. A consistent experience across platforms ensures that no user is left behind.

Use this checklist to verify compatibility:

• Test your product across major browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge) using platforms like BrowserStack Accessibility Testing to simulate real-world conditions.
• Validate layout, focus, and keyboard interactions across screen sizes—mobile, tablet, and desktop.
• Use BrowserStack to identify issues like missing labels, contrast failures, and focus traps across multiple browser-device combinations.
• Ensure that screen readers, zoom functionality, and custom components behave consistently in cross-browser environments.
• Automate part of the testing process by integrating BrowserStack’s accessibility checks into your QA workflow to flag high-impact usability issues early.

BrowserStack offers free accessibility scans that include real device testing, screen reader compatibility checks, and WCAG compliance validation.

How to Conduct Accessibility QA With Real Assistive Tech

Testing with real assistive technologies is essential for understanding how users with disabilities actually experience your product. Automated tools can catch code-level issues, but only real assistive tech reveals how usable and intuitive the experience truly is.

• Simulate user workflows with tools like screen readers, switch devices, and screen magnifiers.
• Verify that key interactions such as navigation, form submissions, modal triggers are accessible without a mouse.
• Focus on usability, not just compliance, by evaluating real-life accessibility scenarios.

Testing With Popular Screen Readers

Screen reader testing is vital for users who rely on audio to navigate digital content. QA teams should verify how content is announced and how interactive elements behave with different screen readers.

• Test on widely used screen readers like NVDA and JAWS (Windows), and VoiceOver (macOS/iOS).
• Ensure correct reading order based on the document structure and focus flow.
• Confirm that ARIA roles, labels, and dynamic updates are announced correctly.
• Check for redundant, missing, or confusing spoken output across content types.

Navigating With Keyboard or Switch Devices

Many users depend entirely on keyboards or alternative input devices due to motor limitations. Interfaces must be fully navigable without relying on touch, gestures, or a mouse.

• Ensure all interactive elements are focusable and operable using only a keyboard.
• Verify that the focus order follows a logical and intuitive sequence.
• Make sure visible focus indicators are present and clearly visible.
• Test common UI patterns like dropdowns, accordions, modals, and tab panels for keyboard operability.

Zoom, Voice, and Alternative Input Devices

Alternative input methods like zoom, voice control, and adaptive hardware are often overlooked in accessibility testing, but are essential for a fully inclusive experience.

• Confirm that text and interface elements remain readable and usable when zoomed up to 200%.
  
• Ensure that all functions are accessible via voice input tools like or native mobile voice controls.
• Avoid gesture-dependent interactions that lack accessible alternatives.
• Test with custom setups used by people with mobility impairments (e.g., eye tracking, head pointers).

Accessibility Testing in Agile QA and DevOps

In fast-moving Agile and DevOps environments, accessibility must be treated as an integral part of the development lifecycle.

• Include accessibility acceptance criteria in user stories and QA test plans.
• Add automated accessibility scans (e.g., via BrowserStack or CI/CD tools) to regression test suites.
• Collaborate across design, development, and QA to resolve accessibility issues early in the sprint.
• Maintain accessible components in your design system to promote consistency and reusability.
• Track accessibility issues in your defect management system, and prioritize them based on severity and user impact.

Conclusion

By following a structured accessibility QA checklist, testing with real devices and assistive technologies, and integrating accessibility into Agile workflows, QA teams can identify and fix barriers before they reach users.

Tools like BrowserStack Accessibility Testing help streamline this process, enabling free, real-world accessibility validation across browsers and devices.