NVDA AAA Audit Checklist

0. Setup (do once)

• Confirm modifier: Insert is NVDA key (or CapsLock in laptop layout). Read-all NVDA+↓, Elements List NVDA+F7.
• Test in Firefox FIRST (NVDA's strongest pairing), then Chrome — accname and live-region behavior differ between them.
• Understand browse mode vs focus mode (NVDA+Space). Most NVDA-only bugs hide in the wrong mode for a widget.
• Do a speech-only pass: turn off the monitor or use 'speech viewer' off. If you needed the screen, log it.
• Decide record format: per-page notes (URL, criterion, pass / N-A reason / defect + repro + which mode).

1. Browse vs Focus mode (NVDA-specific, highest value)

This is where NVDA diverges most from VoiceOver. Test every interactive widget in BOTH modes.

• [4.1.2 / 2.1.1] Custom widgets (combobox, tabs, menu) auto-switch to focus mode on entry and back to browse on exit — no manual NVDA+Space needed.
• [2.1.2] In focus mode, all keys reach the widget; in browse mode, single-key quick-nav (H, K, F) still works on static content.
• [4.1.2] No widget is stuck in the wrong mode: a text input you can't type into (stuck in browse) or a page you can't quick-nav (stuck in focus) is a defect.
• [1.3.1] Forms: entering an edit field switches to focus mode automatically so typed characters aren't swallowed as quick-nav commands.

2. Global / every-page

Test on home plus 2–3 interior pages. Use the Elements List (NVDA+F7) for sweeps.

• [2.4.1] Skip link: first Tab reaches it; activating moves focus into main content, announced on next read.
• [1.3.1 / 2.4.1] Landmark nav (D key): banner, nav, main, contentinfo present and named; no duplicate unlabeled regions.
• [1.3.1 / 2.4.10] Heading nav (H / 1–6 / NVDA+F7): one h1, no skipped levels, coherent outline by ear.
• [2.4.4 / 2.4.9] Links list (NVDA+F7 → Links): each link makes sense out of context; no 'click here / read more'.
• [1.1.1] Logo link announces a text name (graphic + link), not a filename or just 'graphic'.
• [1.3.2] Read-all (NVDA+↓) order is logical and matches the visual layout.
• [2.4.7 / 2.4.13] Tabbing: focus indicator visible and NVDA focus follows it; focus never lands on an unlabeled/empty control.
• [3.1.1 / 3.1.2] html lang set so NVDA picks the right synth voice; inline foreign phrases marked with lang so pronunciation is right.
• [2.1.2] No keyboard trap: Tab through and back out of every region; Escape closes dialogs/menus and restores focus.

3. Windows High Contrast Mode (NVDA-platform-specific)

NVDA users frequently run Windows Contrast Themes. Desktop VoiceOver testing never catches this.

• [1.4.3 / 1.4.6] Enable a Windows Contrast Theme: all text and controls remain visible; nothing disappears (icon-only buttons, CSS-bg images conveying meaning).
• [1.4.11] Focus indicators and control borders survive forced colors (use forced-colors media query / system colors where needed).
• [1.4.1] Information conveyed by color alone (chart series, status) still distinguishable when forced colors flatten the palette.

4. How-to guide pages (content + embedded examples)

• [1.3.1] Tables page: table nav (Ctrl+Alt+Arrows) announces row/column headers per cell; caption announced; T jumps to next table.
• [1.1.1 / 1.3.1] Charts page (Chart.js): canvas labeled/hidden, sibling data table reachable in browse mode; numbers available by ear.
• [1.1.1 / 2.1.1] Charts page (OpenStreetMap): text/data equivalent exists; map isn't an unnavigable pile of graphics in browse mode.
• [1.1.1] Images page: informative images announce useful text; decorative ones silent; SVGs have reachable text equivalent.
• [1.2.x / 4.1.2] Videos page: player controls reachable in focus mode, named with state; captions toggle works; transcript readable in browse mode.
• [3.1.3 / 3.1.4 / 3.1.5] Plain-language by ear at Grade 8; abbreviations expanded or have accessible expansion (NVDA reads acronyms unpredictably).

5. Custom ARIA components

Test each in browse AND focus mode, and via the Elements List.

• [4.1.2 / 1.3.1] Accordion: headers are buttons with aria-expanded announced; activation announces change; collapsed content not in browse-mode flow.
• [4.1.2 / 2.1.1] Tabs: focus mode entered; arrow keys move tabs; selected state announced; panel associated. Test auto AND manual activation.
• [4.1.2 / 2.1.1 / 2.1.2] Combobox: NVDA enters focus mode, announces role/expanded/active option; arrows move options; Escape closes and restores focus to browse.
• [4.1.3] Live regions: aria-live updates announced in browse mode without stealing focus, once, correct politeness. (NVDA live-region timing is finicky — verify.)

6. Forms (where present)

Audit, contact, search, model API request — N/A with reason if none.

• [1.3.1 / 3.3.2] Each field announces a label on focus (focus mode), required state announced; placeholder is NOT the only label.
• [3.3.1 / 3.3.3] Errors announced; NVDA can navigate to the field in error (F key / focus); error text associated via aria-describedby.
• [3.3.5 / 2.2.6] AAA help available where claimed (3.3.5); timeout warned (2.2.6).
• [1.3.5] autocomplete attributes set so field purpose is programmatically determinable.

7. AAA-specific by-ear checks

• [2.4.8] Location: breadcrumb / current-page indicator announced.
• [2.4.12 / 2.4.13] Focus not obscured by sticky header/footer; focus indicator substantial.
• [2.1.3] Everything operable by keyboard incl. map and charts, or a documented accessible alternative.
• [2.2.3 / 2.3.2] No timed content; no flashing in chart animations.
• [3.2.5] Font/theme switch and nav don't trigger unexpected context changes.
• [1.4.6 / 1.4.8] Enhanced contrast holds across theme + font combos; check OpenDyslexic + dark + Windows HCM together.

8. Wrap-up

• Re-run a speech-only pass end-to-end on the two most complex pages (charts page, one component demo).
• For every AAA criterion you cannot meet, write the N/A rationale into the accessibility statement; match VPAT/ACR.
• Anything NVDA flagged that axe/Alfa/Insights/VoiceOver passed → new Playwright assertion or permanent manual line-item.
• Record versions: NVDA build, Firefox + Chrome versions, Windows version, and which Contrast Theme (if any).