Date: November 2025.

Project Description

This accessibility audit evaluates the African Career Network (ACN) web application to identify and address barriers that may hinder access for users with disabilities. The assessment focuses on two primary user-facing pages—the homepage and the welcome page—analyzing their compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Levels A and AA. The goal of this audit is to enhance the platform’s inclusivity, usability, and alignment with global accessibility standards.

Testing Methodology

Approach: Hybrid testing combining manual inspection and automated tools

Automated Tools Used:

• WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool)
• Stylus (for custom CSS inspection)
• Web Developer Toolbar

Manual Testing:

• Screen reader testing with JAWS 2026 and NVDA 2025
• Keyboard-only navigation
• Visual inspection for semantic structure and contrast
• Browser: Google Chrome (latest version)

Tested URLs:

• ACN Homepage
• ACN Wellcom page

Key Findings

Login Page Link Error: The login link directs users to a WordPress admin page, resulting in a 403 error. This violates WCAG 2.4.4 and 3.2.4.

Missing ARIA Labels: Landmark regions lack aria-label or aria-labelledby, making navigation difficult for screen reader users (WCAG 1.3.1, 4.1.2).

Ambiguous Toggle Link: A toggle control lacks descriptive text, impairing its discoverability (WCAG 2.4.4, 4.1.2).

Unclear Upload Process: The “Crop” button functions as the final upload action, which is misleading (WCAG 3.2.4, 3.3.2).

Heading Hierarchy Issues: Inconsistent heading levels on the welcome page disrupt semantic structure and screen reader navigation (WCAG 1.3.1, 2.4.6).

Positive Observations

Semantic HTML: Most headings are logically structured, with minor exceptions.

Color Contrast: No contrast issues were detected, meeting WCAG 1.4.3.

Recommendations

1. Replace the login link with the correct user-facing URL.
2. Add descriptive ARIA labels to all landmark regions.
3. Provide accessible names for interactive elements like toggle links.
4. Clarify button labels to reflect their actual function.
5. Reorganize heading levels to follow a logical hierarchy.

This audit provides a roadmap for improving the ACN platform’s accessibility. Implementing the recommendations will enhance the experience for users with visual, cognitive, and motor impairments, and demonstrate the platform’s commitment to inclusive design.