Manual Checking

Checklist for manual checking

EPubs and PDFs

Reading Order and Navigation

1. Check that the reading/focus order when pressing TAB is correct
2. Check that the reading/focus order when pressing TAB retains meaning
3. Check that there are multiple ways to navigate the document correctly
4. We recommend books have a table of contents that consists of links to sections (rather than non-linked), this is just one way of meeting accessibility standards so isn't automatically checked for as a technique
5. Check that any repeating navigation sections are consistent throughout
6. EPubs: Check that static page breaks are navigable, check pagination

Semantic Tagging

1. Check that all headings are correct for their purpose and describe the section correctly
2. Check that non-decorative/real content is tagged correctly, and that decorative/artefact content is tagged correctly
3. PDFs: Check that tags support the separate reading order
4. Check that headers, footers, notes and references are tagged correctly
5. Check that lists, tables and TOCs are tagged correctly
6. Check that non-text features (figures, graphics, captions, links, mathematical expressions) are tagged and grouped correctly
7. Check that other structure elements tagged correctly
   
8. PDFs: Check that the role mapping is correct

Non-text Features

1. Check that all the non-text features (figures, graphics, captions, links, mathematical expressions) have meaningful ALT text
2. Check that non-text features (figures, graphics, captions, links, mathematical expressions) have multiple ways of conveying meaning, i.e. they're not just relying on colour or symbols etc.
3. Check that images of text have actual text as well
4. Check that links are accessible and meaningful
5. Check that list's numbers, letters or bullets are displayed and tagged correctly
6. Try to express tables expressed as simply as possible, and check that it's headers, rows and columns are tagged correctly
   

Text Features

1. Check there are no problems with changing the orientation, text size or text reflow
2. Check that line height and spacing, letter spacing and word spacing can all be changed without problems
3. We recommend avoiding justified text, which is beyond minimum legal accessibility requirements

Metadata and Conformance reporting

1. EPubs: Check that the source of pagination is identified
2. Check the language of the file and individual parts are tagged correctly
3. Check that the file metadata includes full accessibility conformance information

HTML and Web Pages

For HTML books and web pages, you would need to consider all of WCAG AA, rather than just the selected checklist above that only includes aspects of standards that apply to ebook files that need to be manually checked. Below are a list of already available widely used WCAG based checklists:

WebAIM's WCAG 2 Checklist

Checklist of Checkpoints for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0

Deque Accessibility Developer's Guide

 

Please note that completing these checklists does not equal full certified compliance with WCAG AA.