SayPro Accessibility Audit Report

SayPro Accessibility Audit:
Conduct a comprehensive review of the SayPro website using automated tools and manual assessments to identify accessibility barriers from SayPro Monthly January SCMR-17 SayPro Monthly Inclusive Design: Ensure the site is accessible to users with disabilities by SayPro Online Marketplace Office under SayPro Marketing Royalty SCMR

Date of Audit: January 2025
Audit Conducted By: SayPro Online Marketplace Office
Audit Scope: SayPro Website Accessibility Review
Project Title: SayPro Monthly Inclusive Design
Report Version: SCMR-17

Objective:

This accessibility audit aims to provide a detailed assessment of the SayPro website, identifying potential accessibility barriers that could affect users with disabilities. The audit employs both automated tools and manual testing to ensure that the site aligns with accessibility standards and best practices, especially for individuals with disabilities. The ultimate goal is to guarantee that the SayPro website is inclusive, ensuring equal access to all users, regardless of their abilities or disabilities.

1. Automated Accessibility Tools:

To start, a series of automated accessibility tools were used to analyze the SayPro website. These tools offer a quick and standardized approach to identifying common accessibility issues. The following tools were used:

• Google Lighthouse
• WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool)
• axe Accessibility Checker

Findings:

1.1. Missing Alt Text for Images:

• Issue: Several images across the website were found to lack descriptive alt text.
• Impact: Users who rely on screen readers are unable to understand the content or context of the images, which hinders their experience and understanding.
• Recommendation: Ensure all images have clear and descriptive alt text. If the image is purely decorative, use an empty alt attribute (alt="") to indicate that it does not convey meaningful content.

1.2. Color Contrast Issues:

• Issue: Some text and background color combinations do not meet the minimum contrast ratio required by WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines).
• Impact: Users with low vision or color blindness may have difficulty reading the content.
• Recommendation: Adjust color combinations to ensure a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.

1.3. Form Labels Missing:

• Issue: Several form elements (such as text inputs and buttons) were not properly labeled, making them confusing for screen reader users.
• Impact: Users who depend on screen readers may not know what information is being asked of them, leading to confusion and frustration.
• Recommendation: Ensure all form fields have proper <label> elements associated with them. This should also apply to checkboxes, radio buttons, and select fields.

1.4. Keyboard Navigation Issues:

• Issue: Some interactive elements could not be accessed or navigated using keyboard-only controls.
• Impact: Users with motor disabilities who rely on keyboard navigation may be unable to interact with all parts of the website.
• Recommendation: Ensure that all interactive elements are focusable and navigable using the keyboard (e.g., form fields, buttons, and links). Use tabindex to ensure a logical tab order.

1.5. Inconsistent Heading Structure:

• Issue: The website uses inconsistent heading structure, with some pages missing proper <h1>, <h2>, etc.
• Impact: Screen reader users rely on heading structures to navigate through the page easily. An inconsistent or missing heading structure can confuse users.
• Recommendation: Ensure headings follow a clear and hierarchical structure. Each page should have one <h1> heading, followed by <h2>, <h3>, etc., for subsections.

2. Manual Accessibility Testing:

While automated tools help identify obvious issues, manual testing is required to uncover more subtle accessibility barriers that tools may miss.

Findings:

2.1. Image Descriptions and Context:

• Issue: Some images used for decorative purposes do not have proper alt text and some images lack context or are used ambiguously.
• Impact: Screen reader users cannot infer the meaning or context of images, and images may also create a cluttered and confusing experience.
• Recommendation: Ensure all images serve a purpose and have meaningful alt text. For purely decorative images, provide alt="". For informative images (charts, graphs), provide clear and concise descriptions in accompanying text or ARIA attributes.

2.2. Audio and Video Content:

• Issue: Videos and audio files on the website do not include transcripts, captions, or subtitles.
• Impact: Deaf or hard-of-hearing users are unable to fully understand or engage with multimedia content.
• Recommendation: Provide transcripts and captions for all audio and video content. For live broadcasts, offer real-time captions or sign language interpretation.

2.3. Error Prevention and Validation in Forms:

• Issue: Form validation messages are either not present or not clearly linked to the fields that caused the error.
• Impact: Users may not be aware of errors they need to correct, making the form difficult or impossible to submit.
• Recommendation: Implement clear error messages that are tied to the relevant form fields. Additionally, use ARIA live regions to announce validation errors to screen reader users.

2.4. Mobile Accessibility:

• Issue: The mobile version of the website has small clickable areas and content that does not scale well on smaller screens.
• Impact: Users with limited dexterity may find it difficult to interact with smaller clickable areas. Additionally, some users with low vision may struggle with the site’s layout on mobile devices.
• Recommendation: Ensure touch targets are large enough (at least 44px by 44px) and that the website is responsive and adaptable to various screen sizes. Consider adding a larger font size for mobile users.

2.5. ARIA Landmark Roles:

• Issue: The website does not consistently use ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) roles, landmarks, or states for navigation and dynamic content.
• Impact: Screen reader users may find it harder to navigate the website and understand the layout.
• Recommendation: Use ARIA landmarks (e.g., role="navigation", role="main", role="banner") to improve navigation for screen reader users. Additionally, use ARIA states (e.g., aria-expanded, aria-live) for dynamic content updates.

3. Conformance with WCAG 2.1 Guidelines:

In accordance with WCAG 2.1 guidelines, the following areas of focus were addressed:

• Perceivable: Ensure all content is accessible through multiple sensory modalities (e.g., text alternatives for images, video captions).
• Operable: Ensure that the website can be navigated using a keyboard, and all interactive elements are easily accessible.
• Understandable: Provide clear and simple navigation, with a consistent and predictable layout and language.
• Robust: Ensure that the website is compatible with current and future assistive technologies and web browsers.

4. Recommendations Summary:

• Text Contrast: Adjust color contrast ratios to meet accessibility standards.
• Alt Text: Provide meaningful alt text for all images, or mark decorative images with empty alt attributes.
• Form Accessibility: Ensure all form elements are properly labeled and include clear error messages and validation.
• Keyboard Navigation: Ensure that all interactive elements are fully keyboard accessible.
• Mobile Optimization: Enhance mobile accessibility, including touch target sizing and content scaling.
• Video & Audio Accessibility: Provide captions and transcripts for all multimedia content.
• ARIA Implementation: Use ARIA landmarks and roles for better screen reader navigation.

5. Conclusion:

The SayPro website has several areas where accessibility can be significantly improved, particularly in areas such as form labeling, color contrast, multimedia content, and keyboard navigation. By implementing the recommended changes, SayPro can ensure its website is fully accessible to users with disabilities, providing a more inclusive experience for all visitors. It is crucial to regularly monitor and assess the site’s accessibility to maintain ongoing compliance with WCAG standards and provide an equitable digital experience.