Getting Started with Accessibility

Quick Start Guide

This guide will help you get started with accessibility testing in CodeFrog. Follow these steps to begin making your website more accessible.

Step 1: Run Your First Accessibility Test

1. Open CodeFrog and navigate to the Web Testing section
2. Choose your test source:
   • Local HTML file: Select a file from your project
   • URL: Enter a localhost, staging, or production URL
   • Sitemap: Provide a sitemap URL to test your entire site
3. Click “Run Accessibility Test”
4. Review the results: CodeFrog will show you all accessibility issues found

Step 2: Understand the Results

Severity Levels

Accessibility findings are categorized by severity:

• Critical: Must be fixed immediately (e.g., missing form labels, keyboard traps)
• Serious: Should be fixed soon (e.g., low contrast, missing alt text)
• Moderate: Should be addressed (e.g., improper heading hierarchy)
• Minor: Nice to have improvements (e.g., redundant alt text)

Common First Issues

When you run your first test, you’ll likely see:

1. Missing Alt Text: Images without descriptive alt attributes
2. Low Contrast: Text that doesn’t meet WCAG contrast requirements
3. Missing Form Labels: Input fields without associated labels
4. Heading Hierarchy: Skipped heading levels (H1 → H3)
5. Missing ARIA Labels: Interactive elements without proper labels

Step 3: Fix the Most Critical Issues First

Priority Fixes

Start with these high-impact fixes:

1. Add Alt Text to Images

   <!-- Bad -->
   <img src="logo.png">
      
   <!-- Good -->
   <img src="logo.png" alt="CodeFrog logo">
   

2. Label Form Inputs

   <!-- Bad -->
   <input type="email" name="email">
      
   <!-- Good -->
   <label for="email">Email Address</label>
   <input type="email" id="email" name="email">
   

3. Fix Heading Hierarchy

   <!-- Bad: Skipping from H1 to H3 -->
   <h1>Main Title</h1>
   <h3>Subsection</h3>
      
   <!-- Good: Proper hierarchy -->
   <h1>Main Title</h1>
   <h2>Subsection</h2>
   

4. Improve Color Contrast
   • Use a contrast checker tool
   • Aim for at least 4.5:1 for normal text (WCAG AA)
   • Use 7:1 for AAA compliance
5. Add ARIA Labels Where Needed

   <!-- Bad -->
   <button>×</button>
      
   <!-- Good -->
   <button aria-label="Close dialog">×</button>
   

Step 4: Test Again

After making fixes:

1. Re-run the accessibility test in CodeFrog
2. Compare results: See how many issues you’ve resolved
3. Focus on remaining issues: Continue fixing in priority order

Step 5: Test with Real Tools

Automated testing catches many issues, but manual testing is essential:

Screen Reader Testing

1. macOS: Use VoiceOver (Cmd + F5 to enable)
2. Windows: Use NVDA (free) or JAWS (commercial)
3. iOS: VoiceOver is built-in
4. Android: TalkBack is built-in

Keyboard Navigation Testing

1. Disconnect your mouse (or put it away)
2. Navigate using only Tab and arrow keys
3. Verify:
   • All interactive elements are reachable
   • Focus indicators are visible
   • Tab order is logical
   • No keyboard traps

Step 6: Integrate into Your Workflow

During Development

• Run accessibility tests before committing code
• Fix issues as you build, not after
• Use CodeFrog’s real-time feedback

Before Launch

• Run a comprehensive accessibility scan
• Test with actual screen readers
• Review the Launch Checklist

Continuous Improvement

• Schedule regular accessibility audits
• Monitor for regressions
• Keep up with WCAG updates

Common Beginner Mistakes

1. Decorative Images

Mistake: Adding alt text to decorative images

<!-- Unnecessary -->
<img src="decorative-line.png" alt="Decorative line">

Solution: Use empty alt text for decorative images

<img src="decorative-line.png" alt="">

2. Redundant Alt Text

Mistake: Repeating information already in text

<p>Click <img src="download.png" alt="Download button"> to download</p>

Solution: Use empty alt text when context is clear

<p>Click <img src="download.png" alt=""> to download</p>

3. Generic Link Text

Mistake: Using “click here” or “read more”

<a href="/article">Click here</a>

Solution: Use descriptive link text

<a href="/article">Read our accessibility guide</a>

4. Color-Only Information

Mistake: Conveying information only through color

<span style="color: red">Error</span>

Solution: Add text or icons

<span style="color: red">⚠️ Error: Please check your input</span>

Quick Reference Checklist

Use this checklist for each page:

• All images have appropriate alt text
• All form inputs have labels
• Heading hierarchy is logical (H1 → H2 → H3)
• Color contrast meets WCAG AA (4.5:1)
• All interactive elements are keyboard accessible
• Focus indicators are visible
• ARIA labels are used where needed
• Page can be navigated with keyboard only
• Tested with a screen reader

Next Steps

Now that you’ve started with accessibility:

• WCAG Levels Explained - Understand WCAG A, AA, and AAA conformance levels
• Accessibility Testing Guide - Detailed guide on all accessibility features
• Why Accessibility Matters - Understand the importance
• Accessibility Best Practices - Learn advanced techniques
• Benefits of Valid HTML and Accessibility - Discover additional benefits

Resources

• WCAG 2.1 Quick Reference
• WebAIM Contrast Checker
• WAVE Browser Extension

Accessibility is a journey, not a destination. Start with these basics and gradually improve your site’s accessibility over time.