Screen Reader Testing

What it does

This skill enables AI agents to perform automated accessibility testing specifically for screen readers. It validates how web interfaces are interpreted and announced to users relying on assistive technologies, ensuring semantic correctness and proper ARIA implementation.

When to use it

• Pre-launch validation: Verify that critical user flows (e.g., checkout processes) are fully navigable via screen reader before public release.
• WCAG compliance checks: Audit websites against accessibility standards like WCAG 2.1 to identify missing labels or incorrect roles.
• Dynamic content testing: Ensure real-time updates, such as live chat notifications or form error messages, are announced correctly.
• Cross-browser verification: Confirm consistent behavior across different screen reader software (e.g., NVDA, VoiceOver) on various platforms.

Key capabilities

• Analyzes HTML structure for semantic correctness and accessibility best practices.
• Detects missing alt text, improper heading hierarchies, and unlabeled interactive elements.
• Simulates screen reader navigation to identify broken links or inaccessible form controls.
• Generates detailed reports highlighting specific areas requiring remediation for assistive technology users.

Example prompts

• "Run a full screen reader compatibility audit on this landing page and list all missing ARIA labels."
• "Test the checkout flow with NVDA and report any steps where the user gets stuck or receives incorrect announcements."
• "Identify form inputs that lack associated error messages when validation fails, as seen by a screen reader user."

Tips & gotchas

Ensure the target website is fully loaded and JavaScript-rendered content is accessible before testing, as some tools may miss dynamically injected elements. This skill complements visual testing but should not replace manual testing with actual human users relying on screen readers.