Insights · Checklist
Accessibility pre-launch checklist
Automated tools find a fraction of accessibility issues. This checklist combines them with the manual testing that finds the rest, fixes problems in the design system so every page inherits the fix, and publishes the statement the organization can stand behind.
How to use it
Before the first step.
- Test templates and components, then representative pages of each type.
- Record every test, including the ones that pass.
Steps
Each one owned and evidenced.
| # | Step | Owner | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Run an automated scan across all templates and a sample of pages; log every finding by criterion. | Technical owner | Scan report |
| 02 | Check color contrast for text, links, buttons and states against AA ratios in the design tokens. | Designer | Contrast table |
| 03 | Verify a visible focus indicator on every interactive element and a logical focus order. | Technical owner | Keyboard test record |
| 04 | Navigate every template with keyboard only: menus, drawers, forms, links, skip link. | Tester | Keyboard test record |
| 05 | Test every template with a screen reader on desktop and mobile; confirm headings, landmarks, labels and announcements. | Tester | Screen reader test record |
| 06 | Confirm heading hierarchy, one h1 per page, and meaningful link text on every page type. | Editorial lead | Crawl report of headings and links |
| 07 | Confirm alternative text for informative images and empty alt for decorative ones. | Editorial lead | Image audit |
| 08 | Confirm forms have labels, error messages tied to fields and no time limits without control. | Technical owner | Form test record |
| 09 | Confirm motion is reduced when the user prefers reduced motion, and nothing flashes. | Technical owner | Preference test record |
| 10 | Confirm text resizes to 200 percent and the page reflows at 320 pixels without horizontal scrolling. | Tester | Reflow screenshots |
| 11 | Confirm documents and videos are accessible: tagged PDFs, captions, transcripts. | Editorial lead | Media audit |
| 12 | Publish the accessibility statement with the standard claimed, known exceptions and a reporting route. | Marketing lead | Statement URL |
| 13 | Add automated checks to the build and schedule manual re-testing after template changes. | Technical owner | Build check and schedule |
By David Selakovic · Published 2026-10-16 · Revised 2026-10-16 · Reviewed every 180 days