handoff

Accessibility Decision Handoff

Package accessibility decisions into a clear specification that engineers can implement against — because "make it accessible" is not a specification.

Process

Step 1: Compile Decisions

Using decision-documentation, gather all accessibility decisions for the feature:

• Interaction patterns and keyboard behaviour
• Screen reader announcements and ARIA requirements
• Visual specifications (contrast, colour independence, motion)
• Content requirements (reading level, alt text, link text)
• Adaptive behaviour (preferences, zoom, density)

Step 2: Map to Implementation

Using compliance-mapping, translate each design decision into specific implementation requirements:

For each interactive element specify:

• HTML element or ARIA role
• Keyboard behaviour (which keys do what)
• Focus management (where focus goes after actions)
• Screen reader name, role, and state announcements
• Visual states (default, hover, focus, active, disabled, error)

For each content element specify:

• Heading level
• Alt text (exact text or strategy)
• Link text
• Language attributes if multilingual

For each adaptive behaviour specify:

• Media query and expected response
• Preference detected and what changes
• Breakpoints and reflow behaviour

Step 3: Define Test Criteria

Using accessibility-testing-strategy, provide specific test cases for each requirement:

• Keyboard test: "Tab to the submit button, press Enter, verify focus moves to the confirmation message"
• Screen reader test: "Navigate to the error, verify it announces: 'Error: email address is required'"
• Visual test: "Verify contrast ratio of body text is at least 4.5:1 in both light and dark modes"
• Zoom test: "At 200% zoom, verify the form reflows to single column with no horizontal scroll"

Step 4: Flag Risks and Dependencies

Note anything engineers need to be aware of:

• Components that need custom keyboard handling
• Places where framework defaults aren't accessible
• Third-party components that may need wrapping or replacing
• Areas where automated testing won't catch the issue

Output

Deliver a handoff document containing:

1. Accessibility specification — element-by-element requirements with HTML, ARIA, keyboard, and visual specifications
2. Test cases — specific, executable test scenarios for keyboard, screen reader, visual, and zoom testing
3. WCAG mapping — which success criteria each requirement addresses
4. Risk register — known challenges and recommended approaches
5. Definition of done — the specific accessibility criteria that must pass before the feature ships