Pathwise

Manuals / Accessibility Testing / Guide 1

Start · beginner · ~25 min · Guide 1 of 6

Why accessibility is quality

Accessibility is not “extra.” It’s whether people can complete the job. Legal risk matters; dignity matters more. This chapter sets the mindset before tools.

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Step 1 of 2

Meet real barriers

Name four barriers: vision, hearing, motor, cognitive. Map each to a product failure you’ve seen (or imagine).

Meet real barriersDrag stickies · tap for tips
Study mapDrag stickies · tap for tipsKeep it shortdrag · tap →Name the waitdrag · tap →Scope locatorsdrag · tap →Trace when stuckdrag · tap →One browser firstdrag · tap →Isolate statedrag · tap →Assert the UIdrag · tap →Retry wiselydrag · tap →Seed datadrag · tap →Close the loopdrag · tap →Keep it shortdrag · tap →Name the waitdrag · tap →Scope locatorsdrag · tap →Trace when stuckdrag · tap →One browser firstdrag · tap →Isolate statedrag · tap →Pathwise hackdrag · tap →Meet real barriersdrag · tap →Try thisdrag · tap →Follow the dashed drag · tap →

Do this now

Pick your product. List one barrier a user would hit today.

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Chapter learning outcomes
  • Who is affected
  • POUR principles
  • How a11y bugs differ

Clear these before you leave

Side quest

Barrier memo

Half-page note: who is blocked, where, and what “done” looks like.