accessibility-compliance

Accessibility Compliance

Master accessibility implementation to create inclusive experiences that work for everyone, including users with disabilities.

When to Use This Skill

• Implementing WCAG 2.2 Level AA or AAA compliance
• Building screen reader accessible interfaces
• Adding keyboard navigation to interactive components
• Implementing focus management and focus trapping
• Creating accessible forms with proper labeling
• Supporting reduced motion and high contrast preferences
• Building mobile accessibility features (iOS VoiceOver, Android TalkBack)
• Conducting accessibility audits and fixing violations

Core Capabilities

1. WCAG 2.2 Guidelines

• Perceivable: Content must be presentable in different ways
• Operable: Interface must be navigable with keyboard and assistive tech
• Understandable: Content and operation must be clear
• Robust: Content must work with current and future assistive technologies

2. ARIA Patterns

• Roles: Define element purpose (button, dialog, navigation)
• States: Indicate current condition (expanded, selected, disabled)
• Properties: Describe relationships and additional info (labelledby, describedby)
• Live regions: Announce dynamic content changes

3. Keyboard Navigation

• Focus order and tab sequence
• Focus indicators and visible focus states
• Keyboard shortcuts and hotkeys
• Focus trapping for modals and dialogs

4. Screen Reader Support

• Semantic HTML structure
• Alternative text for images
• Proper heading hierarchy
• Skip links and landmarks

5. Mobile Accessibility

• Touch target sizing (44x44dp minimum)
• VoiceOver and TalkBack compatibility
• Gesture alternatives
• Dynamic Type support

Quick Reference

WCAG 2.2 Success Criteria Checklist

| Level | Criterion | Description | | ----- | --------- | ---------------------------------------------------- | | A | 1.1.1 | Non-text content has text alternatives | | A | 1.3.1 | Info and relationships programmatically determinable | | A | 2.1.1 | All functionality keyboard accessible | | A | 2.4.1 | Skip to main content mechanism | | AA | 1.4.3 | Contrast ratio 4.5:1 (text), 3:1 (large text) | | AA | 1.4.11 | Non-text contrast 3:1 | | AA | 2.4.7 | Focus visible | | AA | 2.5.8 | Target size minimum 24x24px (NEW in 2.2) | | AAA | 1.4.6 | Enhanced contrast 7:1 | | AAA | 2.5.5 | Target size minimum 44x44px |

Key Patterns

Pattern 1: Accessible Button

interface ButtonProps extends React.ButtonHTMLAttributes<HTMLButtonElement> {
  variant?: "primary" | "secondary";
  isLoading?: boolean;
}

function AccessibleButton({
  children,
  variant = "primary",
  isLoading = false,
  disabled,
  ...props
}: ButtonProps) {
  return (
    <button
      // Disable when loading
      disabled={disabled || isLoading}
      // Announce loading state to screen readers
      aria-busy={isLoading}
      // Describe the button's current state
      aria-disabled={disabled || isLoading}
      className={cn(
        // Visible focus ring
        "focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-offset-2",
        // Minimum touch target size (44x44px)
        "min-h-[44px] min-w-[44px]",
        variant === "primary" && "bg-primary text-primary-foreground",
        (disabled || isLoading) && "opacity-50 cursor-not-allowed",
      )}
      {...props}
    >
      {isLoading ? (
        <>
          <span className="sr-only">Loading</span>
          <Spinner aria-hidden="true" />
        </>
      ) : (
        children
      )}
    </button>
  );
}

Pattern 2: Accessible Modal Dialog

import * as React from "react";
import { FocusTrap } from "@headlessui/react";

interface DialogProps {
  isOpen: boolean;
  onClose: () => void;
  title: string;
  children: React.ReactNode;
}

function AccessibleDialog({ isOpen, onClose, title, children }: DialogProps) {
  const titleId = React.useId();
  const descriptionId = React.useId();

  // Close on Escape key
  React.useEffect(() => {
    const handleKeyDown = (e: KeyboardEvent) => {
      if (e.key === "Escape" && isOpen) {
        onClose();
      }
    };
    document.addEventListener("keydown", handleKeyDown);
    return () => document.removeEventListener("keydown", handleKeyDown);
  }, [isOpen, onClose]);

  // Prevent body scroll when open
  React.useEffect(() => {
    if (isOpen) {
      document.body.style.overflow = "hidden";
    }
    return () => {
      document.body.style.overflow = "";
    };
  }, [isOpen]);

  if (!isOpen) return null;

  return (
    <div
      role="dialog"
      aria-modal="true"
      aria-labelledby={titleId}
      aria-describedby={descriptionId}
    >
      {/* Backdrop */}
      <div
        className="fixed inset-0 bg-black/50"
        aria-hidden="true"
        onClick={onClose}
      />

      {/* Focus trap container */}
      <FocusTrap>
        <div className="fixed inset-0 flex items-center justify-center p-4">
          <div className="bg-background rounded-lg shadow-lg max-w-md w-full p-6">
            <h2 id={titleId} className="text-lg font-semibold">
              {title}
            </h2>
            <div id={descriptionId}>{children}</div>
            <button
              onClick={onClose}
              className="absolute top-4 right-4"
              aria-label="Close dialog"
            >
              <X className="h-4 w-4" />
            </button>
          </div>
        </div>
      </FocusTrap>
    </div>
  );
}

Pattern 3: Accessible Form

function AccessibleForm() {
  const [errors, setErrors] = React.useState<Record<string, string>>({});

  return (
    <form aria-describedby="form-errors" noValidate>
      {/* Error summary for screen readers */}
      {Object.keys(errors).length > 0 && (
        <div
          id="form-errors"
          role="alert"
          aria-live="assertive"
          className="bg-destructive/10 border border-destructive p-4 rounded-md mb-4"
        >
          <h2 className="font-semibold text-destructive">
            Please fix the following errors:
          </h2>
          <ul className="list-disc list-inside mt-2">
            {Object.entries(errors).map(([field, message]) => (
              <li key={field}>
                <a href={`#${field}`} className="underline">
                  {message}
                </a>
              </li>
            ))}
          </ul>
        </div>
      )}

      {/* Required field with error */}
      <div className="space-y-2">
        <label htmlFor="email" className="block font-medium">
          Email address
          <span aria-hidden="true" className="text-destructive ml-1">
            *
          </span>
          <span className="sr-only">(required)</span>
        </label>
        <input
          id="email"
          name="email"
          type="email"
          required
          aria-required="true"
          aria-invalid={!!errors.email}
          aria-describedby={errors.email ? "email-error" : "email-hint"}
          className={cn(
            "w-full px-3 py-2 border rounded-md",
            errors.email && "border-destructive",
          )}
        />
        {errors.email ? (
          <p id="email-error" className="text-sm text-destructive" role="alert">
            {errors.email}
          </p>
        ) : (
          <p id="email-hint" className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
            We'll never share your email.
          </p>
        )}
      </div>

      <button type="submit" className="mt-4">
        Submit
      </button>
    </form>
  );
}

Pattern 4: Skip Navigation Link

function SkipLink() {
  return (
    <a
      href="#main-content"
      className={cn(