Accessibility

· 13 checks — Landmarks, headings, alt text, forms, and link quality rolled into one auditable list.

SCORE

GRADE

FIX

REVIEW

PASS

INFO

Checks

7 PASS 2 REVIEW 4 FIX

Favicon & Branding

Action

3 icon(s) detected

FIX

3 icon(s) detected

favicon.ico present at site root

No apple-touch-icon detected

iOS devices use this when users add your site to their home screen. Add <link rel='apple-touch-icon' sizes='180x180' href='/apple-touch-icon.png'>.

Multiple icon sizes detected

✓ favicon.ico Present

✗ PNG Icons Missing

✗ Apple Touch Missing

✗ SVG Favicon Missing

✓ Manifest Icons Present

✓ Multiple Sizes Present

Dark Mode Support

Action

No dark mode signals

FIX

No dark mode signals

No dark mode signals detected

Consider adding CSS with @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) and <meta name='color-scheme' content='light dark'>.

Detection limited to meta tags and inline styles

External CSS files may contain prefers-color-scheme rules not visible to this scan.

Dark ModeNo Dark Mode Detected

color-scheme meta Not set ✗Dark theme-color Not set ✗CSS indicators Not detected ✗

Detection limited to meta tags and inline styles.

Print Stylesheet

Action

No print styles

FIX

No print styles

No print-specific styles detected

When users print this page, they get the screen layout including navigation and non-essential elements. Add @media print rules to hide navigation and optimize layout for paper.

Print Stylesheet No Print Styles

Print stylesheet Not found ✗Inline @media print Not detected ✗

Web Manifest

Action

Valid manifest

REVIEW

Valid manifest

No name or short_name

Add a name field to identify the app.

192x192 icon present

512x512 icon present

Display mode: standalone

PWA Install Criteria Not Installable

Name ✗192×192 icon ✓512×512 icon ✓Start URL ✗Display Mode standalone ✓

Display Mode standalone Theme Color #c8102e Background Color #c8102e Icons 2 icon(s)

Color Contrast (Screenshot)

Action

20 text elements analyzed, 5 fail WCAG AA

REVIEW

Analyzes text contrast against the actual rendered page, including background images, gradients, and overlays that CSS-based tools cannot detect.

15 pass 5 fail WCAG AA 1 pass AA only

title University of Houston

3.57:1

#000000

#C8102E

needs 4.5:1 (normal text)

16px · top of page (header area)

a Skip to main content

3.57:1

#000000

#C8102E

needs 4.5:1 (normal text)

16px · top of page (header area)

label Search Field

4.34:1

#000000

#6D7370

needs 4.5:1 (normal text)

16px · top of page (header area) · over background image/gradient

a Visit

1.76:1

#000000

#393822

needs 4.5:1 (normal text)

16px · top of page (header area)

a Apply

1.57:1

#000000

#322F23

needs 4.5:1 (normal text)

16px · above the fold

1 contrast failures on background images/gradients

These failures are invisible to CSS-based accessibility tools like Lighthouse. The text may be fine on a solid background, but fails when rendered over an image or gradient.

Show all checked elements (20)

Element	Ratio	Required	FG	BG	Result
h1 Where Learning Meets…	19.26:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F5F5F5	Pass
h2 World-Class Faculty	19.26:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F5F5F5	Pass
h2 Accessible	19.26:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F5F5F5	Pass
h2 and Affordable	19.26:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F5F5F5	Pass
h2 Career	19.26:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F5F5F5	Pass
h2 Readiness	19.26:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F5F5F5	Pass
h2 Research	19.26:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F5F5F5	Pass
h2 Excellence	19.26:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F5F5F5	Pass
h2 Featured	19.26:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F5F5F5	Pass
h2 Events	19.26:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F5F5F5	Pass
h2 UH Newsroom	19.26:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F5F5F5	Pass
h2 Campus Tour	19.26:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F5F5F5	Pass
title University of Housto…	3.57:1	4.5:1	#000000	#C8102E	Fail
a Skip to main content	3.57:1	4.5:1	#000000	#C8102E	Fail
label Search Field	4.34:1	4.5:1	#000000	#6D7370	Fail
a Visit	1.76:1	4.5:1	#000000	#393822	Fail
a Apply	1.57:1	4.5:1	#000000	#322F23	Fail
a Give	5.10:1	4.5:1	#000000	#79832C	Pass
span Toggle …	9.28:1	4.5:1	#000000	#AAB42F	Pass
a Visit	7.83:1	4.5:1	#000000	#99A61D	Pass

Methodology: The top 20 text elements by font size were checked. Background color was sampled from the desktop screenshot using a 5-point pattern. WCAG 2.1 AA requires 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.

Landmark Structure

8 landmarks

PASS

8 landmarks

<main> landmark present

5 <nav> landmark(s) found

3 of 5 <nav> elements are unlabeled

Multiple navigations need aria-label to distinguish them for screen readers.

Skip navigation link present

Page Structure — as a screen reader sees it

Multiple navigations need aria-label to distinguish them for screen readers.

Why this matters

Some <nav> elements lack aria-label — screen-reader users hear 'navigation' multiple times with no way to distinguish them.

Learn more ▾

When a page has multiple <nav> regions (primary, footer, breadcrumb), each needs aria-label or aria-labelledby. AT users navigate by landmark; identical 'navigation' announcements force them to enter each one to discover purpose.

Source: WAI-ARIA Authoring Practices

Heading Hierarchy

71 headings, 1 skip(s)

PASS

71 headings, 1 skip(s)

Single H1 present

Heading level skipped: H1 → H3 (missing H2)

Skipping heading levels breaks the document outline. Screen readers may interpret missing levels as structural errors.

H4 About UH
H5 About UH
H5 UH Strategic Plan Goals
H5 UH Institution Initiatives
H4 Academics
H5 Colleges & Libraries
H5 Graduate & Professional Education
H5 Online & Special Programs
H5 Academic Affairs
H5 Resources
H4 Undergraduate Admissions
H5 Undergraduate Admissions
H5 Financial & Emergency Aid
H5 Resources
H4 Graduate Admissions
H5 Graduate Admissions
H5 Financial & Emergency Aid
H5 Resources
H4 Campus
H5 Destinations
H5 Arts & Culture
H5 Student Housing & Residential Life
H5 Virtual Tour
H4 Coogs
H5 Students
H5 Graduate Students
H5 Faculty/Staff
H5 Alumni
H5 Resources & Support
H4 Health & Well-Being
H5 Student Health Center & Campus Pharmacy
H5 Health Services & Support
H5 Safe & Security
H5 UH Initiatives
H4 News & Events
H5 News
H5 Other Campus News Source
H5 Events
H5 Event Tickets
H5 UH Initiatives
H4 Research & Innovation
H5 Research at UH
H5 Research Resources
H5 Centers, Institutes, & Consortia
H5 Core Facilities
H5 Innovation at UH
H4 Athletics
H3 UH Biology Student Awarded Prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship
H3 Inventors Drive University of Houston’s Status as Innovation Leader
H1 Where Learning Meets Opportunity
H3 University of Houston Professor Named Guggenheim Fellow skipped
H3 UH Graduate Programs Surge in U.S. News & World Report Rankings
H3 UH Biology Student Awarded Prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship
H2 World-Class Faculty
H2 Accessible and Affordable
H2 Career Readiness
H2 Research Excellence
H2 Featured Events
H3 Reconstruction of A Survivor Office of Neighborhood & Strategic Initiatives Pampering with a Twist Health Initiative
H3 Stress Free Finals Kickoff
H3 Coffee N Cars
H3 Coffee With A Cop
H3 CRASE Training (Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events)
H2 UH Newsroom
H3 UH Biology Student Awarded Prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship
H3 Inventors Drive University of Houston’s Status as Innovation Leader
H3 Diehl Family Establishes $2.1 Million Gift for Scholarships at UH’s Fertitta College of Medicine
H3 UH Professor Warns of Dangers of Red-Light Laser Myopia Therapy for Children
H3 UH Leads Texas with Seven Senior Members Named to National Academy of Inventors
H3 University of Houston Scientist Helps Rethink Microbial Future of Space Travel
H2 Campus Tour

Skipping heading levels breaks the document outline. Screen readers may interpret missing levels as structural errors.

Why this matters

Skipping heading levels breaks the document outline — screen-reader users lose track of section nesting.

Learn more ▾

Screen reader users navigate by jumping between headings (H1 → H2 → H3). Skipping (H1 → H3) breaks the sense of hierarchy. Use sequential levels even if you don't like the default styling — restyle with CSS instead. WCAG 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships) treats this as an A failure.

Source: WCAG 2.1 SC 1.3.1 / W3C WAI

Alt Text Quality

2 of 16 images have issues

PASS

2 of 16 images have issues

2 image(s) with generic alt text

2 decorative image(s) correctly marked

12 image(s) with good alt text

16 images 12 good alt text 2 decorative 2 generic

Issue	Count
generic	2 image(s)

A+

Form Accessibility

All 5 controls labeled

PASS

All 5 controls labeled

5 control(s) properly labeled

5 controls

5 labeled

0 placeholder only

0 unlabeled

Control	Type	Label	Method
#globalSearchField	text	Search Field	for/id
#globalSearchField	text	Search Field	for/id
#undergraduate-admissions	radio	Undergraduate Admissions	for/id
#graduate-admissions	radio	Graduate Admissions	for/id
#searchq	text	Search News Archive	for/id

Link & Button Quality

619 links, 5 buttons — all OK

PASS

619 links, 5 buttons — all OK

15 link(s) open in new tab without warning

Add '(opens in new tab)' to link text or aria-label.

Got: https://www.facebook.com/universityofhouston; https://instagram.com/universityofhouston; https://www.linkedin.com/company/university-of-houston; https://www.threads.com/@universityofhouston; https://bsky.app/profile/uh.edu; https://x.com/UHouston; https://www.youtube.com/@UniversityOfHouston; https://www.texas.gov/; https://gov.texas.gov/organization/hsgd; https://www.tsl.texas.gov/trail/index.html (+5 more)

604 link(s) with descriptive text

619 links

0 empty

0 generic text

15 new tab

0 empty buttons

Element	Text	Issue	Suggested Fix
https://www.facebook.com/universityofhou…	Facebook	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://instagram.com/universityofhousto…	Instagram	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://www.linkedin.com/company/univers…	LinkedIn	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://www.threads.com/@universityofhou…	Threads	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://bsky.app/profile/uh.edu	Bluesky	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://x.com/UHouston	X	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://www.youtube.com/@UniversityOfHou…	YouTube	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://www.texas.gov/	Texas.gov	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://gov.texas.gov/organization/hsgd	Texas Homeland Security	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://www.tsl.texas.gov/trail/index.ht…	TRAIL	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://sao.fraud.texas.gov/ReportFraud/	Fraud Reporting	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://www.uhsystem.edu/fraud-non-compl…	Fraud & Non-Compliance Hotline	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://www.sos.state.tx.us/linkpolicy.s…	Linking Notice	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://uhsystem.edu/privacy-notice/	Privacy Notice	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://uhsystem.edu/offices/legal-affai…	Open Records/Public Informatio…	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text

609 links and buttons have descriptive text

Add '(opens in new tab)' to link text or aria-label.

https://www.facebook.com/universityofhouston; https://instagram.com/universityofhouston; https://www.linkedin.com/company/university-of-houston; https://www.threads.com/@universityofhouston; https://bsky.app/profile/uh.edu; https://x.com/UHouston; https://www.youtube.com/@UniversityOfHouston; https://www.texas.gov/; https://gov.texas.gov/organization/hsgd; https://www.tsl.texas.gov/trail/index.html (+5 more)

Why this matters

Links with target="_blank" without rel="noopener" leak the originating page's window context — security and UX issue.

Learn more ▾

Without rel="noopener", the new tab can navigate the original tab via window.opener (tab-nabbing attack). Modern browsers default to noopener for target=_blank but only since recent versions. Always set rel="noopener noreferrer" explicitly.

Source: MDN target / OWASP

404 Error Page

HTTP 404, custom page

PASS

HTTP 404, custom page

Correct 404 status code returned

Got: HTTP 404

Custom styled 404 page

Navigation links present on 404 page

Homepage link present on 404 page

Search form present on 404 page

404 Page Quality ✓ Custom 404 Page

Status Code HTTP 404 ✓Page Title Not Found | University of Houston ✓Custom Styling ✓Navigation ✓Homepage Link ✓Search Form ✓

A+

Lighthouse Accessibility Audits

Score 95/100 — 2 failing, 25 passed

PASS

Accessibility

These checks highlight opportunities to improve the accessibility of your web app. Automatic detection can only detect a subset of issues and does not guarantee the accessibility of your web app, so manual testing is also encouraged.

Navigation

A value greater than 0 implies an explicit navigation ordering. Although technically valid, this often creates frustrating experiences for users who rely on assistive technologies. Learn more about the `tabindex` attribute.

Why this matters

Performance issues directly impact user engagement and conversion rates.

Failing Elements
Skip to main content `body > header > div.site-navigation > a.skipToContent`

Properly ordered headings that do not skip levels convey the semantic structure of the page, making it easier to navigate and understand when using assistive technologies. Learn more about heading order.

Why this matters

Performance issues directly impact user engagement and conversion rates.

Failing Elements
University of Houston Professor Named Guggenheim Fellow `div.col > div.section-grid > div.col-sm-12 > h3.article-title`

These are opportunities to improve keyboard navigation in your application.

○Interactive controls are keyboard focusable

○Interactive elements indicate their purpose and state

○The page has a logical tab order

○Visual order on the page follows DOM order

○User focus is not accidentally trapped in a region

○The user's focus is directed to new content added to the page

○HTML5 landmark elements are used to improve navigation

○Offscreen content is hidden from assistive technology

○Custom controls have associated labels

○Custom controls have ARIA roles

●`[aria-*]` attributes match their roles

●`[aria-hidden="true"]` is not present on the document `<body>`

●`[role]`s have all required `[aria-*]` attributes

●`[role]` values are valid

●`[aria-*]` attributes have valid values

●`[aria-*]` attributes are valid and not misspelled

●Buttons have an accessible name

●Image elements have `[alt]` attributes

●Form elements have associated labels

●`[user-scalable="no"]` is not used in the `<meta name="viewport">` element and the `[maximum-scale]` attribute is not less than 5.

●ARIA attributes are used as specified for the element's role

●`[aria-hidden="true"]` elements do not contain focusable descendents

●Elements use only permitted ARIA attributes

●Background and foreground colors have a sufficient contrast ratio

●Document has a `<title>` element

●`<html>` element has a `[lang]` attribute

●`<html>` element has a valid value for its `[lang]` attribute

●Links have a discernible name

●Lists contain only `<li>` elements and script supporting elements (`<script>` and `<template>`).

●List items (`<li>`) are contained within `<ul>`, `<ol>` or `<menu>` parent elements

●Touch targets have sufficient size and spacing.

●Skip links are focusable.

●Document has a main landmark.

●Deprecated ARIA roles were not used

●ARIA IDs are unique

○`[accesskey]` values are unique

○`button`, `link`, and `menuitem` elements have accessible names

○Elements with `role="dialog"` or `role="alertdialog"` have accessible names.

○ARIA input fields have accessible names

○ARIA `meter` elements have accessible names

○ARIA `progressbar` elements have accessible names

○Elements with an ARIA `[role]` that require children to contain a specific `[role]` have all required children.

○`[role]`s are contained by their required parent element

○Elements with the `role=text` attribute do not have focusable descendents.

○ARIA toggle fields have accessible names

○ARIA `tooltip` elements have accessible names

○ARIA `treeitem` elements have accessible names

○The page contains a heading, skip link, or landmark region

○`<dl>`'s contain only properly-ordered `<dt>` and `<dd>` groups, `<script>`, `<template>` or `<div>` elements.

○Definition list items are wrapped in `<dl>` elements

○No form fields have multiple labels

○`<frame>` or `<iframe>` elements have a title

○`<html>` element has an `[xml:lang]` attribute with the same base language as the `[lang]` attribute.

○Input buttons have discernible text.

○`<input type="image">` elements have `[alt]` text

○Links are distinguishable without relying on color.

○The document does not use `<meta http-equiv="refresh">`

○`<object>` elements have alternate text

○Select elements have associated label elements.

○Cells in a `<table>` element that use the `[headers]` attribute refer to table cells within the same table.

○`<th>` elements and elements with `[role="columnheader"/"rowheader"]` have data cells they describe.

○`[lang]` attributes have a valid value

○`<video>` elements contain a `<track>` element with `[kind="captions"]`

○Tables have different content in the summary attribute and `<caption>`.

○All heading elements contain content.

○Uses ARIA roles only on compatible elements

○Image elements do not have `[alt]` attributes that are redundant text.

○Identical links have the same purpose.

○Elements with visible text labels have matching accessible names.

○Tables use `<caption>` instead of cells with the `[colspan]` attribute to indicate a caption.

○`<td>` elements in a large `<table>` have one or more table headers.

All checks on this page are automated. Results are estimates - run targeted manual reviews when the score affects a release decision.