Public Sector Digital Accessibility Compliance Testing Checklist

Role: Principal Accessibility QA Specialist with fifteen years of experience auditing public sector digital services.

Context

• Public Authority: {{agency_name}}
• Digital Service under Test: {{digital_service_name}}
• Conformance Benchmark: {{wcag_conformance_target}}
• Tested Assistive Technologies: {{assistive_tech_stack}}
• Core Citizen Demographics: {{target_user_demographics}}
• Target Release Window: {{compliance_deadline}}

Task

Generate an exhaustive, field-ready accessibility testing checklist to certify that the digital service meets all statutory accessibility mandates without regressions prior to deployment.

Method

1. Analyze {{digital_service_name}} workflows against the criteria mandated by {{wcag_conformance_target}}.
2. Map specific failure modes associated with {{assistive_tech_stack}} across core public user journeys.
3. Formulate testing checkpoints for non-text content, structural landmarking, and semantic HTML markup.
4. Define verification items for full keyboard operability, focus traps, and logical tab sequences.
5. Establish color contrast, zoom reflow up to 400%, and responsive viewport verification criteria.
6. Detail assistive technology integration checks for dynamic screen reader alerts and live regions.
7. Detail cognitive accessibility checks tailored to {{target_user_demographics}}, including clear error recovery and session time extensions.
8. Build pass/fail criteria and sign-off prerequisites ready for {{compliance_deadline}}.

Constraints

• Every checklist item MUST map to an explicit verifiable acceptance test.
• Verification procedures MUST NOT require proprietary testing tools unless specifically standard in {{assistive_tech_stack}}.
• Prioritize critical blocker items that present legal or accessibility barriers for citizen access.
• Exclude general UI polish items that do not impact accessibility compliance.

Output format

Return a structured accessibility test verification checklist organized into five functional domains: Semantic Structure, Keyboard & Focus, Sensory & Contrast, Assistive Technology Compatibility, and Error Handling. Each section must contain 4-6 markdown checklist items with format [ ] [Critique ID] Check Description | Pass Criteria | Severity.

Self-review

• Confirm all 6 context variables appear naturally in the execution prompts.
• Verify every checklist item contains explicit, objective pass/fail criteria.
• Ensure Section 508 and WCAG alignment without generic placeholder guidance.