accessibility-testing

---
name: accessibility-testing
description: WCAG 2.2 compliance testing, screen reader validation, and inclusive design verification. Use when ensuring legal compliance (ADA, Section 508), testing for disabilities, or building accessible applications for 1 billion disabled users globally.
license: MIT
---

# Accessibility Testing

> **Consolidated**: For comprehensive WCAG auditing with multi-tool testing (axe-core + pa11y + Lighthouse), video accessibility, and remediation, prefer [`/a11y-ally`](../a11y-ally/). This skill provides a quick reference card for basic accessibility testing patterns.

## Browser engine

Browser-driven a11y checks should go through the **qe-browser** fleet skill. `vibium a11y-tree --json` returns the full accessibility tree without visual rendering — feed it into axe-core via `vibium eval --stdin` for ruleset enforcement. See `.claude/skills/qe-browser/SKILL.md`.

<default_to_action>
When testing accessibility or ensuring compliance:
1. APPLY POUR principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust
2. TEST with keyboard-only navigation (Tab, Enter, Escape)
3. VALIDATE with screen readers (VoiceOver, NVDA, JAWS)
4. CHECK color contrast (4.5:1 for text, 3:1 for large text)
5. AUTOMATE with axe-core, integrate in CI/CD pipeline

**Quick A11y Checklist:**
- All images have alt text (or alt="" for decorative)
- All form fields have labels
- Color is never the only indicator
- Focus visible on all interactive elements
- Keyboard navigation works throughout

**Critical Success Factors:**
- Automated testing catches 30-50% of issues
- Manual testing with real assistive tech required
- Include users with disabilities in testing
</default_to_action>

## Quick Reference Card

### When to Use
- Legal compliance (ADA, Section 508, EU Directive)
- New feature development
- Before release validation
- Accessibility audits

### WCAG 2.2 Levels
| Level | Requirement | Target |
|-------|-------------|--------|
| **A** | Basic accessibility | Minimum legal |
| **AA** | Standard (most orgs) | Industry standard |
| **AAA** | Enhanced | Specialized sites |

### POUR Principles
| Principle | Meaning | Key Tests |
|-----------|---------|-----------|
| **Perceivable** | Can perceive content | Alt text, contrast, captions |
| **Operable** | Can operate UI | Keyboard, no seizures, navigation |
| **Understandable** | Can understand | Clear labels, predictable, errors |
| **Robust** | Works with assistive tech | Valid HTML, ARIA |

### Color Contrast Requirements
| Content | AA Ratio | AAA Ratio |
|---------|----------|-----------|
| Normal text | 4.5:1 | 7:1 |
| Large text (18pt+) | 3:1 | 4.5:1 |
| UI components | 3:1 | - |

---

## Keyboard Navigation Testing

```javascript
// Test all interactive elements reachable via keyboard
test('all interactive elements keyboard accessible', async ({ page }) => {
  await page.goto('/');

  const focusableElements = await page.$$('button, a, input, select, textarea, [tabindex]');

  for (const element of focusableElements) {
    await element.focus();
    const isFocused = await element.evaluate(el => document.activeElement === el);
    expect(isFocused).toBe(true);
  }
});

// Verify visible focus indicator
test('focus indicator visible', async ({ page }) => {
  await page.goto('/');
  await page.keyboard.press('Tab');

  const focusedElement = await page.locator(':focus');
  const outline = await focusedElement.evaluate(el =>
    getComputedStyle(el).outline
  );

  expect(outline).not.toBe('none');
});
```

---

## Automated Testing with axe-core

### Preferred: via the `a11y-ally` AQE skill (qe-browser + Vibium)

For new work, use the `a11y-ally` skill — it composes `qe-browser` (Vibium
WebDriver BiDi) with `axe-core`, `pa11y`, and Lighthouse and produces a
WCAG-tagged JSON report with remediation guidance. It avoids the 300MB
Playwright install and is already wired into the AQE fleet.

```bash
# Runs axe-core + pa11y + Lighthouse via qe-browser (Vibium) engine
aqe skill run a11y-ally -- --url https://example.com --wcag AA
```

### Fallback: Playwright + @axe-core/playwright

Keep this path when you have an existing Playwright suite and don't want to
introduce a second browser runner, or when you need Firefox/Safari coverage
that Vibium's Chrome-only BiDi backend can't provide today.

```javascript
import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';
import AxeBuilder from '@axe-core/playwright';

test('page has no accessibility violations', async ({ page }) => {
  await page.goto('/');

  const results = await new AxeBuilder({ page })
    .withTags(['wcag2a', 'wcag2aa', 'wcag22aa'])
    .analyze();

  expect(results.violations).toEqual([]);
});

// CI/CD integration
test('checkout flow accessible', async ({ page }) => {
  await page.goto('/checkout');

  const results = await new AxeBuilder({ page })
    .include('#checkout-form')
    .disableRules(['color-contrast']) // Fix in next sprint
    .analyze();

  expect(results.violations.filter(v =>
    v.impact === 'critical' || v.impact === 'serious'
  )).toHaveLength(0);
});
```

---

## Screen Reader Testing Checklist

```markdown
## VoiceOver (macOS) Testing
- [ ] Page title announced on load
- [ ] Headings hierarchy correct (h1 → h2 → h3)
- [ ] Landmarks present (nav, main, footer)
- [ ] Images have descriptive alt text
- [ ] Form labels read correctly
- [ ] Error messages announced
- [ ] Dynamic content updates announced (aria-live)
```

---

## Agent-Driven Accessibility

```typescript
// Comprehensive a11y validation
await Task("Accessibility Validation", {
  url: 'https://example.com/checkout',
  standard: 'WCAG2.2',
  level: 'AA',
  checks: ['keyboard', 'screen-reader', 'color-contrast'],
  includeScreenReaderSimulation: true
}, "qe-visual-tester");

// Fleet coordination for comprehensive testing
const a11yFleet = await FleetManager.coordinate({
  strategy: 'comprehensive-accessibility',
  agents: [
    'qe-visual-tester',     // Visual & keyboard checks
    'qe-test-generator',    // Generate a11y tests
    'qe-quality-gate'       // Enforce compliance
  ],
  topology: 'parallel'
});
```

---

## Agent Coordination Hints

### Memory Namespace
```
aqe/accessibility/
├── wcag-results/*       - WCAG audit results
├── screen-reader/*      - Screen reader test logs
├── remediation/*        - Fix recommendations
└── compliance/*         - Compliance reports
```

### Fleet Coordination
```typescript
const a11yFleet = await FleetManager.coordinate({
  strategy: 'accessibility-testing',
  agents: [
    'qe-visual-tester',   // axe-core, keyboard, focus
    'qe-test-generator',  // Generate a11y test cases
    'qe-quality-gate'     // Block non-compliant builds
  ],
  topology: 'parallel'
});
```

---

## Related Skills
- [visual-testing-advanced](../visual-testing-advanced/) - Visual a11y checks
- [mobile-testing](../mobile-testing/) - Mobile a11y (VoiceOver, TalkBack)
- [compliance-testing](../compliance-testing/) - Legal compliance

---

## Remember

**1 billion people have disabilities. Inaccessible software excludes 15% of humanity.** Legal requirements: ADA, Section 508, EU Directive 2016/2102. $13T purchasing power. 250%+ increase in lawsuits.

**Automated testing catches only 30-50% of issues.** Combine with manual keyboard testing, screen reader testing, and real user testing with people with disabilities.

**With Agents:** Agents automate WCAG 2.2 compliance checking, screen reader simulation, and focus management validation. Use agents to enforce accessibility standards in CI/CD and catch violations before production.