Pre-Launch Website Accessibility Checklist for Developers, Designers and QA

Before any website goes live, a rigorous pre-launch checklist is essential to ensure accessibility for all users. For web developers, designers, and QA professionals, overlooking website accessibility can lead not only to lost users and reputational harm, but also to legal challenges. In today’s digital landscape, making sure your site is accessible isn’t just a best practice—it’s a fundamental requirement of responsible web design. Picture this: a visually impaired user attempts to navigate your newly launched site with a screen reader, only to find missing alt text and confusing link labels. Such oversights are common when manual accessibility checks and automated accessibility scans aren’t integrated into your workflow. This scenario highlights the importance of comprehensive QA accessibility testing before launch. This guide walks you through the ultimate developer accessibility checklist, tailored specifically for the dev, design, and QA teams. We’ll explore practical steps for integrating web design accessibility from the earliest wireframes through final deployment. From structuring semantic HTML and running automated accessibility scans, to conducting detailed manual checks across key journeys, every stage is covered. By following this checklist, your team can confidently deliver an inclusive website experience that meets both ethical standards and regulatory requirements.

Why Accessibility Matters Before Launch

Incorporating website accessibility into your pre-launch checklist is essential to ensure your site is usable by everyone, regardless of ability. Addressing accessibility requirements at this stage allows you to identify and resolve issues before they affect real users, and helps avoid costly post-launch fixes. For developers and QA professionals, integrating both automated accessibility scans and manual accessibility checks into your workflow leads to a more robust, compliant product. Manual accessibility checks are vital for detecting issues that automated tools may miss. For instance, test keyboard navigation by tabbing through all interactive elements—such as forms, menus, and buttons—to verify that each can be reached and visually identified. If focus indicators are missing or unclear, add clear styling:

button:focus, a:focus {
  outline: 2px solid #005fcc;
  outline-offset: 2px;
}

This ensures users navigating with a keyboard can always see where their focus is. Automated accessibility scans using tools like Axe or Lighthouse should supplement manual testing. These tools efficiently flag issues such as missing alternative text or insufficient colour contrast but may overlook context-specific problems like vague link text. Your developer accessibility checklist should include:

• Keyboard navigation testing for all interactive elements
• Automated scans for code-level issues
• Manual review of link text clarity and heading structure
• QA accessibility testing with screen readers when possible

Effective web design accessibility requires close collaboration between designers, developers, and testers to address identified issues before launch. Systematically tracking each item in your checklist ensures comprehensive coverage and a smoother release process.

Understanding Accessibility Standards and Guidelines

Ensuring website accessibility before launch requires practical knowledge of established standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. These guidelines break down accessibility into perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust content, all of which should be addressed in your developer accessibility checklist. Implementing these standards is not only a legal requirement in many jurisdictions but also crucial for reaching all users, including those with disabilities. To integrate accessibility into your pre-launch checklist, use a combination of automated accessibility scans and manual accessibility checks. For example, automated tools like Axe or Lighthouse can quickly flag missing alt text or insufficient contrast ratios, but they might miss issues like ambiguous link text or improper heading structure. Therefore, always supplement automation with manual review: navigate your site using only a keyboard to ensure all interactive elements are reachable and usable. A practical way to check semantic structure is by inspecting the HTML headings. For instance, ensure heading levels are used in order and not skipped for styling reasons:

<h1>Main Title</h1>
<h2>Section Heading</h2>
<h3>Subsection</h3>

This hierarchy aids screen reader users in navigating content efficiently. During QA accessibility testing, ask team members unfamiliar with the design to perform basic tasks using assistive technology or keyboard navigation—this can reveal usability barriers overlooked by the original developers. Key points for your web design accessibility review:

• Confirm logical heading structure
• Test keyboard-only navigation
• Use both automated and manual checks
• Check link and button clarity
• Ensure adequate colour contrast

By systematically applying these steps, you’ll catch critical issues before launch and provide an inclusive experience for all users.

The Developer's Accessibility Checklist

A comprehensive developer accessibility checklist is vital before launching any website to ensure it meets accessibility requirements and offers an inclusive experience. Effective implementation involves both automated accessibility scans and manual accessibility checks, as each method identifies different types of issues. Automated tools can efficiently flag missing alt text or insufficient contrast, but manual reviews are necessary to detect problems such as keyboard traps or ambiguous link text. Begin by reviewing your site's semantic HTML structure. Use heading elements (<h1> to <h6>) in a logical sequence to establish a clear content hierarchy. Each page should contain only one <h1> that accurately reflects its primary topic, supporting both screen reader navigation and SEO. Next, perform keyboard navigation tests by moving through the site without a mouse. All interactive components—such as links, buttons, and form fields—must be accessible via the keyboard and should display a visible focus indicator. For example:

button:focus {
  outline: 3px solid #005ea5;
  outline-offset: 2px;
}

This CSS ensures focus states are clearly visible for users navigating with a keyboard, which is fundamental for web design accessibility. Additionally, check that all meaningful images include descriptive alt attributes, while purely decorative images use alt="". Form inputs must have programmatically associated labels to assist users of screen readers. Use this concise pre-launch checklist for QA accessibility testing:

• Correct use of semantic HTML and headings
• Keyboard navigation with visible focus indicators
• Clear and descriptive link text
• Appropriate image alt attributes
• Labeled form fields
• Sufficient colour contrast for readability

Applying these specific checks during development helps create a more accessible website and supports ongoing compliance with accessibility standards.

Designing for Accessibility: Key Considerations

Integrating accessibility from the outset of your project is essential for an inclusive user experience. A comprehensive pre-launch checklist should encompass both automated accessibility scans and manual accessibility checks, since some aspects—such as keyboard navigation order and visible focus indicators—require human evaluation. Begin by implementing semantic HTML. Structure content using correct heading levels (<h1> to <h6>) and landmark elements like <nav>, <main>, and <footer> to enhance navigation for assistive technology users. For instance, when creating icon-only buttons, supply an accessible label:

<button aria-label="Submit search">
  <svg aria-hidden="true"></svg>
</button>

This approach ensures screen readers announce the button’s function, not just its visual icon. Web design accessibility also relies on sufficient colour contrast and clear text. Confirm that foreground and background colours meet WCAG standards (at least 4.5:1 for normal text), using both browser-based tools and manual spot checks in varied conditions. During QA accessibility testing, prioritise keyboard navigation. Verify that all interactive elements are reachable and usable via the Tab key alone, with visible focus states throughout. Manual accessibility checks here are indispensable, as automated scans may miss contextual issues. A focused developer accessibility checklist should cover:

• Semantic HTML with appropriate ARIA attributes
• Colour contrast and font size validation
• Descriptive alt text for meaningful images
• Keyboard-only navigation functionality
• Thorough automated and manual accessibility scans

Applying these measures systematically will strengthen your website accessibility before launch and support all users effectively.

QA Accessibility Testing: Manual and Automated Approaches

Robust QA accessibility testing is essential to ensure website accessibility before launch. Integrate both manual accessibility checks and automated accessibility scans into your pre-launch checklist for comprehensive coverage. Automated tools such as Axe or Lighthouse efficiently identify technical issues, including missing alt attributes, low colour contrast, or incorrect heading levels. For example, a Lighthouse audit in Chrome DevTools highlights common accessibility violations directly in the browser. Manual accessibility checks address usability aspects that automated scans cannot detect. Test your site using only a keyboard to verify the logical order of focusable elements and the visibility of focus indicators. Additionally, use screen readers like NVDA or VoiceOver to confirm that interactive elements—such as buttons, links, and forms—are correctly announced. A concrete step for web design accessibility is to structure headings semantically so assistive technologies can interpret content hierarchy. For example:

<h1>Welcome</h1>
<h2>Login Form</h2>
<form>...</form>

This approach supports both users and automated QA processes. For an effective developer accessibility checklist, ensure you:

• Run automated scans on all key pages
• Manually test keyboard navigation and focus order
• Validate screen reader output for critical workflows
• Check semantic HTML structure for clarity

By systematically combining these methods in your workflow, you enhance web design accessibility and reduce the risk of overlooked issues during QA accessibility testing.

Common Accessibility Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Many websites experience accessibility issues at launch due to insufficient testing beyond automated tools. Automated accessibility scans are valuable but frequently overlook issues such as incorrect heading hierarchy, ambiguous alt text, and keyboard traps. To counter this, supplement your pre-launch checklist with manual accessibility checks—navigate your website using only a keyboard and a screen reader to identify usability barriers that automation may miss. In web design accessibility, inadequate colour contrast is a persistent problem. Designers should verify colour choices with a contrast checker throughout development; WCAG 2.1 specifies a minimum ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text. Pay particular attention to interactive elements—buttons, links, and form controls—to ensure they remain distinct and legible against their backgrounds. Navigation aids like skip links and visible focus indicators are often neglected or inconsistently styled. These features are essential for users relying on keyboards or assistive technology. Always provide a clearly visible focus outline and an accessible “skip to main content” link at the top of each page. For example:

button:focus, a:focus {
  outline: 3px solid #005ea5;
  outline-offset: 2px;
}

This ensures users can see which element is currently focused as they tab through the interface. QA accessibility testing should include checks that all form fields have associated labels, and that error messages are properly conveyed to assistive technology. As part of your developer accessibility checklist, require testers to complete forms using only keyboard navigation and a screen reader. To summarise, concrete steps to avoid common pitfalls:

• Combine automated scans with thorough manual accessibility checks
• Verify colour contrast for all text and interactive elements
• Implement visible focus indicators and skip links
• Test forms for label associations and accessible error messages
• Include real user journeys in QA accessibility testing before launch

Tools and Resources for Accessibility Checks

Ensuring website accessibility before launch is a collaborative effort that benefits from the right mix of tools and techniques. A robust pre-launch checklist should include both automated accessibility scans and manual accessibility checks to catch a wide range of issues. Automated tools can quickly identify missing alt text, insufficient colour contrast, and improper heading structure, but manual review is essential for aspects such as logical tab order and meaningful link descriptions. For developers and designers, browser extensions like axe DevTools or WAVE provide immediate feedback within the development environment. For instance, running axe DevTools on a page highlights issues directly in the browser, allowing you to address them before moving on to QA accessibility testing. Meanwhile, keyboard navigation tests—where you use only the Tab key to navigate—can reveal problems with focus indicators or inaccessible interactive elements. QA professionals should complement these efforts with screen reader testing. Using NVDA (Windows) or VoiceOver (macOS), try navigating your site as a non-sighted user would. For example, check that all form fields have properly associated labels. Here’s a quick HTML snippet showing correct label association:

<label for="email">Email Address</label>
<input type="email" id="email" name="email">

A practical developer accessibility checklist might include:

• Run automated scans with axe or Lighthouse
• Test all user flows via keyboard only
• Verify semantic HTML usage
• Check colour contrast using tools like Colour Contrast Analyser
• Perform basic screen reader navigation

Combining these tools and resources ensures your web design accessibility meets current standards, supporting an inclusive experience for all users at launch.

Final Pre-Launch Review: Bringing It All Together

Before launching your website, conduct a structured final review involving web developers, designers, and QA professionals. Prioritise website accessibility as a key aspect of quality assurance, ensuring the site is usable by everyone. Start with manual accessibility checks. For example, use only the Tab and Shift+Tab keys to move through all interactive elements such as menus, forms, and buttons. If focus order is inconsistent or certain elements are inaccessible, adjust your HTML to correct these issues. Automated accessibility scans using tools like Axe or Lighthouse can quickly highlight common problems—such as missing alt text or poor colour contrast—but manual testing remains essential for identifying issues that automation cannot detect. Implement a practical developer accessibility checklist during this review. Focus on the following:

• Check semantic HTML structure for logical content flow
• Verify ARIA roles are present and correctly used
• Ensure every image has an accurate alt attribute
• Test keyboard navigation throughout the website
• Confirm sufficient colour contrast for text and UI elements

To identify images missing alt text, use this browser console snippet:

document.querySelectorAll('img:not([alt])').length

This command returns the number of images without alt attributes—a common issue in web design accessibility. During the review, involve QA in running user journey scenarios with assistive technologies like screen readers. Establish rapid feedback between design and development to resolve any outstanding problems. By combining automated scans, thorough manual checks, and collaborative QA accessibility testing, you ensure your site meets accessibility requirements before launch.

Post-Launch: Maintaining Accessibility

Once your website has passed the pre-launch checklist and is live, ongoing attention to accessibility is essential. It's not enough to conduct manual accessibility checks or run automated accessibility scans only before launch—continuous monitoring ensures your site remains inclusive as content evolves and new features are added. A practical strategy involves integrating accessibility into your standard QA processes. For example, when updating interactive components, developers should verify keyboard navigation and focus management. Designers can periodically review colour contrast and font scalability in real user contexts. Using browser extensions or tools like Axe or Lighthouse as part of your developer accessibility checklist helps spot regressions early. Consider setting up a routine, such as a monthly accessibility audit sprint, involving both manual and automated tests. During these sessions, test with real assistive technologies like screen readers (NVDA or VoiceOver) and keyboard-only navigation to catch issues that automated scans may miss. For instance, after a recent blog redesign, our team discovered that automated tools missed missing ARIA labels on dynamically injected buttons—manual review flagged this immediately. Here's a quick snippet for tracking focus outlines, which are crucial for web design accessibility:

button:focus {
  outline: 2px solid #005ea5;
  outline-offset: 2px;
}

This CSS ensures that keyboard users can clearly see which button is focused, improving navigation for those relying on keyboards. To sustain QA accessibility testing post-launch:

• Schedule regular accessibility reviews alongside content updates.
• Maintain documentation of known issues and remediation progress.
• Encourage user feedback regarding accessibility barriers.
• Stay updated on evolving WCAG standards and browser support changes.

By treating website accessibility as an ongoing commitment rather than a one-off task, you safeguard usability for all visitors and reduce costly retrofits down the line.

As you approach the final stages of your website project, now is the moment to translate your accessibility ambitions into real-world results. Take the next practical step by assembling your team—developers, designers, and QA specialists—for a focused accessibility review session. Walk through your pre-launch checklist together: ensure all images include meaningful alt text, verify keyboard navigation across menus and forms, and test colour contrasts against WCAG standards. Use screen readers or browser emulators to experience your site as users with disabilities might. These hands-on checks not only surface issues that automated tools may miss but also foster a culture of shared responsibility for inclusion.

Empowering your team with practical knowledge and clear roles during this process will make each launch smoother and more confident. By embedding accessibility checks into your workflow—such as adding ARIA labels to dynamic content or checking for semantic HTML structure—you minimise last-minute surprises and ensure a broader audience can engage fully with your site from day one. Commit to these best practices now, and you’ll not only deliver a polished, compliant website but also set the standard for accessible design in every project that follows.

FAQ

What is a website accessibility checklist?

A website accessibility checklist is a structured set of criteria used by developers, designers, and QA professionals to ensure that a website is usable by people with disabilities. It covers aspects such as keyboard navigation, colour contrast, alternative text for images, and compatibility with assistive technologies.

Why should accessibility be checked before launching a website?

Checking accessibility pre-launch ensures that all users, including those with disabilities, can access and interact with your site. It also helps organisations comply with legal requirements and avoid costly fixes post-launch.

What are the key differences between manual and automated accessibility testing?

Automated testing uses tools to quickly identify common accessibility issues, while manual testing involves human evaluation of user experience elements that automation may miss. Both approaches are vital for comprehensive accessibility coverage.

Which roles are responsible for website accessibility?

Accessibility is a shared responsibility among developers, designers, and QA professionals. Each role addresses different aspects, from code implementation to visual design and final testing.

What are some essential tools for pre-launch accessibility checks?

Popular tools include axe, WAVE, Lighthouse, and screen readers such as NVDA or VoiceOver. These help identify issues ranging from missing alt text to poor keyboard navigation.

Further reading

• Web Accessibility Best Practices
• Accessible Web Design Guidelines
• QA Process for Accessibility