Skip to content
https://wisc.edu

Accessibility

· 13 checks — Landmarks, headings, alt text, forms, and link quality rolled into one auditable list.
SCORE
74
GRADE
C
FIX
4
REVIEW
2
PASS
7
INFO
0
Checks
13
7 PASS 2 REVIEW 4 FIX
F
Favicon & Branding
Action
1 icon(s) detected
FIX
1 icon(s) detected
Info::
favicon.ico present at site root
Info::
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'>.
favicon.ico Present
PNG Icons Missing
Apple Touch Missing
SVG Favicon Missing
Manifest Icons Missing
Multiple Sizes Missing
D
Web Manifest
Action
Not found
FIX
Not found
Info::
No web manifest found
No manifest at standard paths (/manifest.json, /site.webmanifest). A manifest is optional but enables PWA features like home screen installation and standalone display.

No web manifest found.

D
Dark Mode Support
Action
No dark mode signals
FIX
No dark mode signals
Info::
No dark mode signals detected
Consider adding CSS with @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) and <meta name='color-scheme' content='light dark'>.
Info::
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.

D
Navigation UX
Action
2 navigation pattern(s)
FIX
2 navigation pattern(s)
Info::
Search functionality detected
Got: role-search
Info::
Skip navigation link detected
Info::
2 navigation landmark(s) detected
Breadcrumbs
Search role='search' landmark
Skip Link Skip link detected
Labeled Navigation 2 <nav> element(s)
Back to Top
Hamburger Menu
Sticky Navigation Cannot reliably detect (CSS-based)
3 of 6 testable patterns navigation patterns detected. Strong navigation UX with multiple discovery paths.
B
404 Error Page
HTTP 404, custom page
REVIEW
HTTP 404, custom page
Info::
Correct 404 status code returned
Got: HTTP 404
Info::
Custom styled 404 page
Info::
Navigation links present on 404 page
Info::
Homepage link present on 404 page
404 Page Quality Custom 404 Page
Status Code HTTP 404 Page Title instagram Custom Styling Navigation Homepage Link Search Form
C
Color Contrast (Screenshot)
Action
20 text elements analyzed, 17 fail WCAG AA
REVIEW

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

3 pass 17 fail WCAG AA 2 pass AA only
h2 Search People and Pages
1.69:1
#000000
on
#323534
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · above the fold · over background image/gradient
h2 Utility Menu
1.64:1
#000000
on
#333233
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · mid-page
h2 Trending on campus
1.64:1
#000000
on
#333233
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 Our research solves mysteries and transf…
1.64:1
#000000
on
#333233
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 We’re a public university guided by pu…
1.64:1
#000000
on
#333233
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 We value a diversity of identities, idea…
1.64:1
#000000
on
#333233
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport · over background image/gradient
h2 We believe that one Badger can change th…
1.64:1
#000000
on
#333233
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 Madison, WI: The ultimate college town
1.64:1
#000000
on
#333233
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport · over background image/gradient
h2 Are you searching for something specific…
1.64:1
#000000
on
#333233
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 Footer links
1.64:1
#000000
on
#333233
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h3 Key next steps
1.64:1
#000000
on
#333233
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
19px · bottom of viewport
h3 More UW–Madison discoveries
1.64:1
#000000
on
#333233
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
19px · bottom of viewport
h3 Popular
1.64:1
#000000
on
#333233
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
19px · bottom of viewport
h3 Resources
1.64:1
#000000
on
#333233
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
19px · bottom of viewport
h3 Quick links
1.64:1
#000000
on
#333233
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
19px · bottom of viewport
title University of Wisconsin–Madison
3.40:1
#000000
on
#C5050C
needs 4.5:1 (normal text)
16px · top of page (header area)
div We use cookies on this site. By continui…
3.40:1
#000000
on
#C5050C
needs 4.5:1 (normal text)
16px · top of page (header area)

3 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)
ElementRatioRequiredFGBGResult
h2 Cookie Notice3.40:13.0:1
#000000
#C5050C
Pass
h2 Search People and Pa…1.69:13.0:1
#000000
#323534
Fail
h2 Main Menu3.40:13.0:1
#000000
#C5050C
Pass
h2 Utility Menu1.64:13.0:1
#000000
#333233
Fail
h2 Trending on campus1.64:13.0:1
#000000
#333233
Fail
h2 Our research solves …1.64:13.0:1
#000000
#333233
Fail
h2 We’re a public uni…1.64:13.0:1
#000000
#333233
Fail
h2 We value a diversity…1.64:13.0:1
#000000
#333233
Fail
h2 We believe that one …1.64:13.0:1
#000000
#333233
Fail
h2 Madison, WI: The ult…1.64:13.0:1
#000000
#333233
Fail
h2 Are you searching fo…1.64:13.0:1
#000000
#333233
Fail
h2 Footer links1.64:13.0:1
#000000
#333233
Fail
h3 Key next steps1.64:13.0:1
#000000
#333233
Fail
h3 More UW–Madison di…1.64:13.0:1
#000000
#333233
Fail
h3 Popular1.64:13.0:1
#000000
#333233
Fail
h3 Resources1.64:13.0:1
#000000
#333233
Fail
h3 Quick links1.64:13.0:1
#000000
#333233
Fail
title University of Wiscon…3.40:14.5:1
#000000
#C5050C
Fail
div We use cookies on th…3.40:14.5:1
#000000
#C5050C
Fail
a UW–Madison Cookie …20.82:14.5:1
#000000
#FEFEFE
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.

A+
Landmark Structure
10 landmarks
PASS
10 landmarks
Info::
<main> landmark present
Info::
2 <nav> landmark(s) found
Info::
All <nav> elements are properly labeled
Info::
Skip navigation link present
Info::
Search landmark present
Page Structure — as a screen reader sees it
BANNER header NAV "Main menu" SEARCH MAIN CONTENTINFO footer
A+
Heading Hierarchy
29 headings
PASS
29 headings
Info::
Single H1 present
  • H2 Cookie Notice
  • H1 University of Wisconsin–Madison .cls-12{fill:#c5050c;}.cls-1{fill:#c5050c;}.cls-2{fill:#282728;}.cls-200{fill:#282728;}.cls-30{fill:url(#Web_Shield_blend);}.cls-4{fill:#fff;}
  • H2 Search People and Pages
  • H2 Main Menu
  • H2 Utility Menu
  • H2 Launch your future at UW
  • H3 Key next steps
  • H2 Trending on campus
  • H3 World’s best-selling author James Patterson will give this year’s Spring Commencement keynote
  • H3 ‘Custodians of Wonder’ is 2026–27 Go Big Read choice
  • H3 UW’s Center for Health Disparities Research aims to improve people’s health, wherever they live
  • H3 UW–Madison again named a ‘new Ivy’ by Forbes
  • H3 UW–Madison students ‘step into the professional world with a purpose’
  • H2 Our research solves mysteries and transforms lives
  • H3 More UW–Madison discoveries
  • H4 Discovering stem cells
  • H4 Origins of life in South Africa
  • H4 Cosmic rays at the South Pole
  • H4 Tomorrow’s Yellowstone
  • H2 We’re a public university guided by public service
  • H2 We value a diversity of identities, ideas, and experiences
  • H2 We believe that one Badger can change the world
  • H2 Madison, WI: The ultimate college town
  • H2 Are you searching for something specific?
  • H2 Footer links
  • H3 Popular
  • H3 Resources
  • H3 Quick links
  • H3 envelopeContact us
A
Alt Text Quality
All 13 images OK
PASS
All 13 images OK
Info::
4 image(s) with alt text over 125 characters
Info::
9 image(s) with good alt text
13 images 9 good alt text
IssueCount
too long4 image(s)
A+
Form Accessibility
All 2 controls labeled
PASS
All 2 controls labeled
Info::
2 control(s) properly labeled
2 controls
2 labeled
0 placeholder only
0 unlabeled
ControlTypeLabelMethod
#uw-q-toptextSearch People and Pagesfor/id
#uw-q-bottomtextSearch People and Pagesfor/id
A+
Print Stylesheet
Print styles detected
PASS
Print styles detected
Info::
External print stylesheet detected
Got: /css/print.85b35cb7d814b15abbc88d55dcda53c8.css
Print Stylesheet Print Optimized
Print stylesheet /css/print.85b35cb7d814b15abbc88d55dcda53c8.css Inline @media print Not detected
A+
Lighthouse Accessibility Audits
Score 100/100 — 0 failing, 28 passed
PASS
100

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.

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
Elements with `role="dialog"` or `role="alertdialog"` have accessible names.
`[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 are distinguishable without relying on color.
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
No element has a `[tabindex]` value greater than 0
Touch targets have sufficient size and spacing.
Heading elements appear in a sequentially-descending order
Document has a main landmark.
Deprecated ARIA roles were not used
Elements with visible text labels have matching accessible names.
`[accesskey]` values are unique
`button`, `link`, and `menuitem` elements 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
ARIA IDs are unique
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
The document does not use `<meta http-equiv="refresh">`
`<object>` elements have alternate text
Select elements have associated label elements.
Skip links are focusable.
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.
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.

Send Feedback