Accessibility digest

Introduction

How accessible is the Human Rights Watch web page at https://www.hrw.org/?

This digest can help answer that question. Nine different tools (Alfa, ASLint, Axe, Equal Access, HTML CodeSniffer, Nu Html Checker, QualWeb, Testaro, and WAVE) tested the page to check its compliance with their accessibility rules. In all, the tools define about 915 rules, which are classified here into about 300 accessibility issues.

The results were interpreted to yield a score, with 0 being ideal. The score for this page was 3770, the sum of 730 for the count of issues, 2166 for specific issues, 754 for tool-by-tool ratings, 0 for the page preventing tools from running, 120 for browser warnings, and 0 for delayed page responses.

Issue summary

Itemized issues

The reported rule violations are itemized below, issue by issue. Additional details can be inspected in the full report.

Issue: text contrast improvable

Impact: Text is difficult to read

WCAG: 1.4.6

Score: 367

Violations of alfa rules

Rule r66

Description: Text contrast less than AAA requires

Count of instances: 184

Violations of aslint rules

Rule color_contrast_aaa

Description: Text contrast may be less than enhanced but the element is invisible

Count of instances: 106

Rule color_contrast_aaa7

Description: Text has contrast less than 7:1

Count of instances: 252

Rule color_contrast_aaa4

Description: Text has contrast less than 4.5:1

Count of instances: 9

Violations of axe rules

Rule color-contrast-enhanced

Description: Element has insufficient color contrast (Level AAA)

Count of instances: 175

Violations of htmlcs rules

Rule AAA.1_4_6.G17.Fail

Description: Text has insufficient contrast

Count of instances: 37

Issue: link indication poor

Impact: User cannot differentiate a link from plain text

WCAG: 1.3.3

Score: 168

Violations of aslint rules

Rule links_not_visually_evident_without_color_vision

Description: Element is a link, but its style properties do not differentiate it from its parent

Count of instances: 33

Violations of axe rules

Rule link-in-text-block

Description: Element is not distinct from surrounding text without reliance on color

Count of instances: 1

Violations of testaro rules

Rule linkUl

Description: Inline links are not underlined

Count of instances: 84

Issue: image not named

Impact: User cannot get help to know what is in an image

WCAG: 1.1.1

Score: 128

Violations of aslint rules

Rule missing_alt_attribute

Description: Image has no alt attribute

Count of instances: 32

Violations of wave rules

Rule alt_spacer_missing

Description: Spacer image has no text alternative

Count of instances: 2

Issue: page language missing

Impact: Speaking helper may mispronounce the document text

WCAG: 3.1.1

Score: 124

Violations of ibm rules

Rule html_lang_exists

Description: Page detected as HTML, but has no lang attribute

Count of instances: 1

Issue: focus indication poor

Impact: Keyboard-only user cannot choose an item to operate

WCAG: 2.4.7

Score: 84

Violations of testaro rules

Rule focInd

Description: Focused element displays a nonstandard or no focus indicator

Count of instances: 21

Issue: focusable element hidden

Impact: Keyboard-only user cannot navigate properly to the operable items

WCAG: 4.1.2

Score: 80

Violations of aslint rules

Rule misused_aria_on_focusable_element

Description: Visible focusable element has a true aria-hidden attribute or a presentation role

Count of instances: 20

Violations of qualWeb rules

Rule QW-ACT-R13

Description: Element with aria-hidden has focusable content

Count of instances: 3

Issue: text and image link not combined

Impact: Keyboard-only user expends extra effort to skip a link

WCAG: 2.4.4

Score: 78

Violations of qualWeb rules

Rule QW-WCAG-T10

Description: Adjacent image and text links for the same resource are not combined

Count of instances: 1

Violations of wave rules

Rule link_redundant

Description: Adjacent links go to the same URL

Count of instances: 39

Issue: itemid invalid

Impact: User cannot get help to identify a referent

WCAG: 1.3.1

Score: 72

Violations of nuVal rules

Rule The itemid attribute must not be specified on elements that do not have both an itemscope attribute and an itemtype attribute specified.

Description: Element has an itemid attribute without both an itemscope and an itemtype attribute

Count of instances: 18

Issue: links named identically

Impact: User cannot get help differentiating links

WCAG: 2.4.4

Score: 70

Violations of aslint rules

Rule links_same_content_different_url

Description: Links with the same text content have different destination URLs

Count of instances: 35

Violations of testaro rules

Rule linkAmb

Description: Links with the same text content have different destinations

Count of instances: 8

Issue: multiple banners

Impact: User cannot get help on how some of the document is organized

WCAG: 1.3.6

Score: 62

Violations of axe rules

Rule landmark-no-duplicate-banner

Description: Page has more than 1 banner landmark

Count of instances: 1

Issue: multiple contentinfos

Impact: User cannot get help on how some of the document is organized

WCAG: 1.3.6

Score: 62

Violations of axe rules

Rule landmark-no-duplicate-contentinfo

Description: Page has more than 1 contentinfo landmark (footer)

Count of instances: 1

Issue: text contrast poor

Impact: Text is difficult to read

WCAG: 1.4.3

Score: 60

Violations of alfa rules

Rule r69

Description: Text outside widget has subminimum contrast

Count of instances: 4

Violations of axe rules

Rule color-contrast

Description: Element has insufficient color contrast

Count of instances: 15

Violations of htmlcs rules

Rule AAA.1_4_6.G18.Fail

Description: Contrast between the text and its background is less than 4.5:1

Count of instances: 7

Violations of wave rules

Rule contrast

Description: Very low contrast

Count of instances: 4

Issue: parent invalid

Impact: User cannot properly operate an item

WCAG: 1.3.1

Score: 48

Violations of nuVal rules

Rule ^Element .+ not allowed as child of element .+ in this context.*$

Description: Element has an invalid parent

Count of instances: 12

Issue: image dubiously named

Impact: Helper may describe an image inadequately

WCAG: 1.1.1

Score: 45

Violations of aslint rules

Rule alt_color_convey_information

Description: Text alternative may fail to give information provided by colors

Count of instances: 8

Violations of qualWeb rules

Rule QW-WCAG-T8

Description: Text alternative is not an alternative

Count of instances: 45

Issue: button not named

Impact: User cannot get help explaing a button

WCAG: 4.1.2

Score: 44

Violations of aslint rules

Rule empty_button_description

Description: Button has no visible accessible name

Count of instances: 11

Issue: CSS bans rotation

Impact: User must read sideways after rotating a device

WCAG: 1.3.4

Score: 40

Violations of aslint rules

Rule orientation

Description: CSS media query specifies an orientation

Count of instances: 10

Issue: error reference invalid

Impact: User cannot correct a form error

WCAG: 3.3.1

Score: 40

Violations of qualWeb rules

Rule QW-ACT-R41

Description: Error message describes no invalid form field value

Count of instances: 10

Issue: color missing

Impact: Content is impossible to perceive under some conditions

WCAG: 1.4.3

Score: 40

Violations of qualWeb rules

Rule QW-WCAG-T31

Description: Foreground or background color is specified but not both

Count of instances: 10

Issue: image alt long

Impact: Helper gives a user an overly verbose explanation of an image

WCAG: 1.1.1

Score: 38

Violations of wave rules

Rule alt_long

Description: Long text alternative

Count of instances: 19

Issue: figure not named

Impact: User cannot get help on the topic of a figure

WCAG: 1.1.1

Score: 36

Violations of ibm rules

Rule figure_label_exists

Description: figure element has no associated label

Count of instances: 9

Issue: presentational child focusable

Impact: Keyboard-only user cannot navigate properly to the operable items

WCAG: 4.1.2

Score: 36

Violations of qualWeb rules

Rule QW-ACT-R65

Description: Element with presentational children has focusable content

Count of instances: 9

Issue: nav links not list

Impact: User cannot get help recognizing a list of navigation links

WCAG: 1.3.1

Score: 32

Violations of htmlcs rules

Rule AAA.1_3_1.H48

Description: Navigation links are not coded as a list

Count of instances: 1

Violations of qualWeb rules

Rule QW-WCAG-T32

Description: ol, ul or dl is not used for a list or group of links

Count of instances: 16

Issue: inconsistent heading, link, or button styles

Impact: User cannot easily distinguish items of different types

WCAG: 3.2.4

Score: 32

Violations of testaro rules

Rule styleDiff

Description: Heading, link, and button style inconsistencies

Count of instances: 32

Issue: large visible-element count

Impact: User cannot easily find items in the document

WCAG: 2.4

Score: 31

Violations of testaro rules

Rule bulk

Description: Page contains many visible elements

Count of instances: 1

Issue: tab-opening link action possibly unstated

Impact: Following a link opens a new window, possibly surprising a user

WCAG: 3.2.5

Score: 21

Violations of aslint rules

Rule links_new_window_mark

Description: Indicator that the link opens a new window or tab may be missing

Count of instances: 21

Violations of htmlcs rules

Rule AAA.3_2_5.H83.3

Description: Link text may fail to indicate that the link will open in a new window

Count of instances: 17

Violations of testaro rules

Rule linkExt

Description: Link opens a new window or tab

Count of instances: 21

Issue: svg image not named

Impact: User cannot get help understanding an image

WCAG: 1.1.1

Score: 20

Violations of aslint rules

Rule accessible_svg

Description: Element has no title, description, text, attribute label, or role description

Count of instances: 5

Issue: aria-controls or -owns invalid

Impact: Keyboard-only user cannot reach an item

WCAG: 1.3.1

Score: 20

Violations of nuVal rules

Rule The aria-controls attribute must point to an element in the same document.

Description: aria-controls attribute references an element not in the document

Count of instances: 5

Issue: operable element not focusable

Impact: Keyboard-only user cannot navigate properly to an operable item

WCAG: 2.1.1

Score: 20

Violations of testaro rules

Rule opFoc

Description: Operable element is not Tab-focusable

Count of instances: 5

Issue: line height low

Impact: Text is difficult to read

WCAG: 1.4.8

Score: 18

Violations of alfa rules

Rule r73

Description: Text line height is not at least 1.5

Count of instances: 1

Violations of testaro rules

Rule lineHeight

Description: Text has a line height less than 1.5 times its font size

Count of instances: 9

Issue: element closure invalid

Impact: Document contains invalid code

WCAG: 4.1.1

Score: 18

Violations of nuVal rules

Rule ^Stray end tag .+$

Description: Invalid closing tag

Count of instances: 6

Issue: control not named

Impact: User cannot get help on how to operate a form item

WCAG: 4.1.2

Score: 16

Violations of qualWeb rules

Rule QW-ACT-R16

Description: Form control has no accessible name

Count of instances: 1

Violations of wave rules

Rule label_missing

Description: form element has no label

Count of instances: 4

Issue: landmarks not distinctly named

Impact: User cannot get help on how some of the document is organized

WCAG: 1.3.6

Score: 15

Violations of axe rules

Rule landmark-unique

Description: Landmark has a role and an accessible name that are identical to another

Count of instances: 2

Violations of ibm rules

Rule aria_landmark_name_unique

Description: Multiple landmarks with the same parent region are not distinguished from one another

Count of instances: 5

Issue: title attribute redundant

Impact: Helper repeats the explanation of an item

WCAG: 1.3.1

Score: 15

Violations of testaro rules

Rule linkTitle

Description: Link title value is also contained in the link text

Count of instances: 15

Issue: no role-required name

Impact: User cannot get help understanding an item

WCAG: 4.1.2

Score: 12

Violations of ibm rules

Rule aria_accessiblename_exists

Description: Element has no accessible name, although its role requires one

Count of instances: 3

Issue: content beyond landmarks

Impact: User cannot get help on how some of the document is organized

WCAG: 1.3.6

Score: 9

Violations of alfa rules

Rule r57

Description: Perceivable text content is not included in any landmark

Count of instances: 9

Violations of axe rules

Rule region

Description: Some page content is not contained by landmarks

Count of instances: 7

Violations of ibm rules

Rule aria_content_in_landmark

Description: Content is not within a landmark element

Count of instances: 2

Issue: negative text-indent

Impact: Helper may hide content from the user

WCAG: 4.1

Score: 9

Violations of aslint rules

Rule incorrect_technique_for_hiding_content

Description: Element has a text-indent style with a negative value

Count of instances: 3

Issue: link not named

Impact: User cannot get help understanding what a link points to

WCAG: 2.4.4

Score: 8

Violations of alfa rules

Rule r11

Description: Link has no accessible name

Count of instances: 1

Violations of aslint rules

Rule empty_link_element

Description: Element has no visible and accessible name

Count of instances: 2

Violations of axe rules

Rule link-name

Description: Link has no discernible text

Count of instances: 1

Violations of htmlcs rules

Rule AAA.4_1_2.H91.A.Empty

Description: a element has an id attribute but no href attribute or text

Count of instances: 1

Rule AAA.4_1_2.H91.A.NoContent

Description: Link has an href attribute but not named

Count of instances: 1

Violations of ibm rules

Rule a_text_purpose

Description: Hyperlink has no link text, label, or image with a text alternative

Count of instances: 1

Violations of qualWeb rules

Rule QW-ACT-R12

Description: Link has no accessible name

Count of instances: 1

Violations of wave rules

Rule link_empty

Description: Link contains not named

Count of instances: 1

Issue: aria attribute invalid

Impact: Item behavior violates user expectations

WCAG: 4.1.2

Score: 8

Violations of alfa rules

Rule r18

Description: ARIA state or property is not allowed for the element on which it is specified

Count of instances: 2

Issue: skip method possibly missing or invalid

Impact: Keyboard-only user may be unable easily to reach the specific content of the document

WCAG: 2.4.1

Score: 8

Violations of alfa rules

Rule r87

Description: First focusable element is not a link to the main content

Count of instances: 1

Issue: abbr title missing

Impact: User cannot get help understanding an abbreviation

WCAG: 3.1.4

Score: 8

Violations of aslint rules

Rule title_for_abbr

Description: Element is an abbr but its defining title attribute is missing or empty

Count of instances: 2

Violations of qualWeb rules

Rule QW-WCAG-T7

Description: Definition for an abbreviation not provided with an abbr element

Count of instances: 2

Issue: attribute invalid

Impact: Item behaves improperly

WCAG: 1.3.1

Score: 8

Violations of axe rules

Rule aria-prohibited-attr

Description: Element has an attribute that is not valid for the role of the element

Count of instances: 1

Violations of ibm rules

Rule aria_attribute_valid

Description: ARIA attribute is invalid for the role of its element

Count of instances: 2

Violations of nuVal rules

Rule ^Attribute .+ not allowed on element .+ at this point.*$

Description: Attribute not allowed on this element

Count of instances: 1

Issue: text contrast issues not testable

Impact: Text may be difficult to read

WCAG: 1.4.3

Score: 8

Violations of htmlcs rules

Rule AAA.1_4_6.G17.Abs

Description: Contrast between the absolutely positioned text and its background may be less than 7:1

Count of instances: 7

Rule AAA.1_4_6.G18.Abs

Description: Contrast between the absolutely positioned text and its background may be less than 4.5:1

Count of instances: 1

Issue: fieldset missing

Impact: User cannot get help recognizing a group of related form items

WCAG: 1.3.1

Score: 8

Violations of ibm rules

Rule input_checkboxes_grouped

Description: checkbox input is not grouped with others with the same name

Count of instances: 4

Violations of testaro rules

Rule radioSet

Description: No or invalid grouping of radio buttons in fieldsets

Count of instances: 4

Violations of wave rules

Rule fieldset_missing

Description: fieldset element is missing

Count of instances: 1

Issue: visible label not in name

Impact: User cannot get help choosing a form control to operate

WCAG: 2.5.3

Score: 6

Violations of alfa rules

Rule r14

Description: Visible label is not in the accessible name

Count of instances: 1

Violations of axe rules

Rule label-content-name-mismatch

Description: Element visible text is not part of its accessible name

Count of instances: 1

Violations of htmlcs rules

Rule AAA.2_5_3.F96

Description: Visible label is not in the accessible name

Count of instances: 2

Violations of ibm rules

Rule label_name_visible

Description: Accessible name does not match or contain the visible label text

Count of instances: 1

Issue: fieldset possibly missing

Impact: User may be unable to get help recognizing a group of related form items

WCAG: 1.3.1

Score: 6

Violations of aslint rules

Rule group_elements_name_attribute

Description: Element is an input with a name attribute but has no fieldset parent

Count of instances: 6

Violations of htmlcs rules

Rule AAA.1_3_1.H71.SameName

Description: Radio buttons or check boxes may require a group description via a fieldset element

Count of instances: 1

Issue: code obsolete

Impact: Document contains code that is no longer standard

WCAG: 4.1

Score: 6

Violations of ibm rules

Rule element_attribute_deprecated

Description: Element or attribute is obsolete

Count of instances: 2

Issue: banners not distinctly named

Impact: User cannot get help on how some of the document is organized

WCAG: 1.3.6

Score: 6

Violations of ibm rules

Rule aria_banner_label_unique

Description: Multiple elements with a banner role have no unique labels

Count of instances: 2

Issue: contentinfos not distinctly named

Impact: User cannot get help on how some of the document is organized

WCAG: 1.3.6

Score: 6

Violations of ibm rules

Rule aria_contentinfo_label_unique

Description: Multiple elements with a contentinfo role have no unique labels

Count of instances: 2

Issue: tabindex redundant

Impact: Revision risks interfering with navigation by a keyboard-only user

WCAG: 1.3.1

Score: 5

Violations of aslint rules

Rule misused_tabindex_attribute

Description: Element has an implicit tabIndex value 0, but also has a tabindex attribute

Count of instances: 5

Issue: link destination not URL

Impact: Helper cannot properly explain a link to a user

WCAG: 1.3.1

Score: 5

Violations of aslint rules

Rule unclear_anchor_uri

Description: Link destination is #, a script, or empty

Count of instances: 5

Issue: font size absolute

Impact: User cannot adjust the text size for readability

WCAG: 1.4.4

Score: 4

Violations of alfa rules

Rule r74

Description: Paragraph text has an absolute font size

Count of instances: 2

Issue: internal link broken

Impact: User cannot reach a promised document location

WCAG: 1.3.1

Score: 4

Violations of aslint rules

Rule broken_same_page_link

Description: Same-page destination of the link does not exist

Count of instances: 1

Issue: title attribute empty

Impact: Hovering does not get the promised explanation of an item

WCAG: 1.3.1

Score: 4

Violations of aslint rules

Rule empty_title_attribute

Description: title attribute of the element is empty or only whitespace

Count of instances: 7

Issue: control label invisible

Impact: User cannot understand how to operate a form item

WCAG: 2.4.6

Score: 4

Violations of aslint rules

Rule label_visually_hidden_only

Description: Form control has a label but it is not visible

Count of instances: 1

Issue: image dubiously marked decorative

Impact: Helper ignores an image that is apparently informative

WCAG: 1.1.1

Score: 4

Violations of htmlcs rules

Rule AAA.1_1_1.H67.2

Description: Image marked as decorative may be informative

Count of instances: 4

Issue: input not named

Impact: User cannot get help on what information to enter in a form item

WCAG: 4.1.2

Score: 4

Violations of htmlcs rules

Rule AAA.4_1_2.H91.InputNumber.Name

Description: Number input has no accessible name

Count of instances: 1

Issue: type redundant

Impact: Document includes unnecessary code

WCAG: 1.3.1

Score: 4

Violations of nuVal rules

Rule The type attribute is unnecessary for JavaScript resources.

Description: type attribute is unnecessary for a JavaScript resource

Count of instances: 3

Rule The type attribute for the style element is not needed and should be omitted.

Description: type attribute is unnecessary for a style element

Count of instances: 1

Issue: noscript element possibly not equivalent

Impact: User who has disabled JavaScript may be denied some content

WCAG: 4.1

Score: 4

Violations of wave rules

Rule noscript

Description: noscript element may fail to contain an accessible equivalent or alternative

Count of instances: 4

Issue: autocomplete invalid

Impact: User cannot get help entering personal information in a form item

WCAG: 1.3.5

Score: 3

Violations of aslint rules

Rule identify_input_purpose

Description: autocomplete attribute has an invalid value

Count of instances: 1

Issue: role redundant

Impact: Document includes unnecessary code

WCAG: 4.1.2

Score: 3

Violations of ibm rules

Rule aria_role_redundant

Description: Explicitly assigned ARIA role is redundant with the implicit role of the element

Count of instances: 3

Violations of nuVal rules

Rule ^The .+ role is unnecessary for element .+$

Description: explicit role is redundant for its element

Count of instances: 3

Violations of testaro rules

Rule role

Description: Invalid, native-replacing, or redundant role

Count of instances: 3

Issue: navigations not distinctly named

Impact: User cannot get help on how some of the document is organized

WCAG: 1.3.6

Score: 3

Violations of ibm rules

Rule aria_navigation_label_unique

Description: Multiple elements with the navigation role do not have unique labels

Count of instances: 1

Issue: code invalid

Impact: Invalid code in the document may prevent a helper from working

WCAG: 4.1

Score: 3

Violations of nuVal rules

Rule ^The element .+ must not appear as a descendant of the .+ element.*$

Description: Element has an invalid ancestor

Count of instances: 1

Issue: element beyond display when focused

Impact: Keyboard-only user cannot navigate properly to the operable items

WCAG: 1.4.10

Score: 3

Violations of testaro rules

Rule focVis

Description: Element when focused is off the display

Count of instances: 1

Issue: audio or video alternatives possibly missing

Impact: User may be unable to get help reading video content as text

WCAG: 1.2.2

Score: 3

Violations of wave rules

Rule youtube_video

Description: YouTube video may have no or incorrect captions

Count of instances: 3

Issue: link href missing

Impact: Helper cannot properly explain a link to a user

WCAG: 1.3.1

Score: 2

Violations of aslint rules

Rule missing_href_on_a

Description: Link has no href attribute

Count of instances: 1

Issue: position sticky

Impact: User may be unable to see needed content or may be forced to scroll in both dimensions

WCAG: 1.4.10

Score: 2

Violations of aslint rules

Rule position_sticky

Description: Element has a sticky position

Count of instances: 2

Violations of htmlcs rules

Rule AAA.1_4_10.C32,C31,C33,C38,SCR34,G206

Description: Fixed-position element may force bidirectional scrolling

Count of instances: 2

Issue: underlining dubious

Impact: User may be misled into believing some text is a link

WCAG: 1.3.1

Score: 2

Violations of wave rules

Rule underline

Description: CSS underline on text that is not a link

Count of instances: 2

Issue: labeling risky

Impact: User may misunderstand a form control

WCAG: 3.3.2

Score: 1

Violations of aslint rules

Rule missing_labelN

Description: Element has an id attribute but no explicit label references it

Count of instances: 1

Issue: links dubiously share name

Impact: User may be unable to get help differentiating links

WCAG: 2.4.4

Score: 1

Violations of axe rules

Rule identical-links-same-purpose

Description: Links with the same accessible name may serve dissimilar purposes

Count of instances: 1

Issue: no option focusable

Impact: Keyboard-only user cannot choose an option

WCAG: 2.1.1

Score: 1

Violations of ibm rules

Rule aria_child_tabbable

Description: No descendent element with an option role is tabbable

Count of instances: 1

Issue: text distortion

Impact: Text is difficult to read

WCAG: 3.1.5

Score: 1

Violations of testaro rules

Rule distortion

Description: Element text is distorted by a transform style property

Count of instances: 1

Issue: false aria-hidden value risky

Impact: User may be misled by erroneously hidden or revealed document content

WCAG: 2.4.6

Score: 0

Violations of aslint rules

Rule aria_hidden_false

Description: aria-hidden attribute has the value false

Count of instances: 2

Issue: all-capital text

Impact: Text is difficult to read

WCAG: 3.1.5

Score: 0

Violations of aslint rules

Rule capital_letters_words

Description: Element or its title has entirely upper-case words

Count of instances: 38