As a manager, you don't need to inspect the code. You need to inspect the experience. Use this checklist to catch the most common accessibility errors before you hit "Publish" or "Send."
- 1. The Link Test
- 2. The Image Test
- 3. The Video & Audio Test
- 4. The PDF Test
- 5. The Color Test
How to use this checklist
If the answer to any of these questions is "No," return the content to the creator for revision. It is much cheaper and faster to fix these issues in the draft phase than to remediate them after publication.
1. The Link Test
Scan the text for hyperlinks.
Are the links descriptive?
Fail: "Click here" or "Read more."
Pass: "Download the 2024 Budget Report" or "Register for the City Council Meeting."
Do the links open safely?
If a link opens a PDF or a new window, does the text say so? (e.g., "Application Form [PDF]").
2. The Image Test
Hover over images or ask the creator.
Is there text trapped in the image?
Fail: A JPEG flyer that contains all the event details (date, time, location) with no text version available.
Pass: The event details are typed out in the email or webpage body, not just inside the graphic.
Do images have Alt Text?
Ask your creator: "If I close my eyes, does this image have a description attached that tells me what it is?"
3. The Video & Audio Test
Check any multimedia files.
Is there a transcript?
If it is a podcast or audio clip, is there a text version available?
Are there captions (CC)?
Turn the sound off. Can you still understand exactly what is being communicated in the video? Auto-generated captions often fail on names and technical terms-check that they have been edited.
4. The PDF Test
Open the document.
Is the text selectable?
Try to highlight a specific sentence with your mouse. If you can't highlight individual words, it is likely a "scanned image" (picture of text) and is completely invisible to screen readers. Send it back.
Does it have a real title?
Look at the tab name in your browser or PDF reader. Does it say "Annual_Report_Final_v2.pdf" or does it say "2024 Annual Report"? It should be the latter.
5. The Color Test
Look at charts, graphs, or colored text.
Is color the only signal?
Fail: A map where "Safe Zones" are green and "Danger Zones" are red, with no labels.
Pass: The zones are Green/Red AND have text labels or different patterns (striped vs. solid) so colorblind users can tell them apart.
About the Author
Craig Boassaly is the Founder and President of Eliquo Training & Development and a digital accessibility educator who has been teaching accessible document creation and WCAG best practices since 2003. He specializes in training content creators to build accessible PDFs and documents using real-world workflows.