Dev Frontend Accessibility Testing (Gate 2)

Overview

Ensure all frontend components meet WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards through automated axe-core scanning, keyboard navigation testing, and focus management validation.

Core principle: Accessibility is not optional. All components MUST be accessible to all users, including those using keyboard navigation, screen readers, and assistive technologies.

<block_condition>

• Any WCAG AA violation = FAIL
• Missing keyboard navigation tests = FAIL
• Missing focus management for modals = FAIL </block_condition>

CRITICAL: Role Clarification

This skill ORCHESTRATES. Frontend QA Analyst Agent (accessibility mode) EXECUTES.

Who	Responsibility
This Skill	Gather requirements, dispatch agent, track iterations
QA Analyst Frontend Agent	Run axe-core, write keyboard tests, verify ARIA

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Standards Reference

Standards Source (Cache-First Pattern): This sub-skill reads standards from state.cached_standards populated by dev-cycle Step 1.5. If invoked outside a cycle (standalone), it falls back to direct WebFetch with a warning. See shared-patterns/standards-cache-protocol.md for protocol details.

MANDATORY: Load testing-accessibility.md standards using the cache-first pattern below.

Required URL: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/LerianStudio/ring/main/dev-team/docs/standards/frontend/testing-accessibility.md

For the required standards URL above:
  IF state.cached_standards[url] exists:
    → Read content from state.cached_standards[url].content
    → Log: "Using cached standard: {url} (fetched {state.cached_standards[url].fetched_at})"
  ELSE:
    → WebFetch url (fallback — should not happen if orchestrator ran Step 1.5)
    → Log warning: "Standard {url} was not pre-cached; fetched inline"

<fetch_required> https://raw.githubusercontent.com/LerianStudio/ring/main/dev-team/docs/standards/frontend/testing-accessibility.md </fetch_required>

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Step 1: Validate Input

REQUIRED INPUT:
- unit_id: [TASK id — this gate runs at task cadence, aggregating all subtasks]
- implementation_files: [union of changed files across all subtasks of the task]
- gate0_handoffs: [array of per-subtask implementation handoffs, one per subtask]
- language: [typescript only]

OPTIONAL INPUT:
- gate1_handoff: [full Gate 1 output]

if any REQUIRED input is missing:
  → STOP and report: "Missing required input: [field]"

if gate0_handoffs is not an array:
  → STOP and report: "gate0_handoffs must be an array of per-subtask handoffs"

if language != "typescript":
  → STOP and report: "Frontend accessibility testing only supported for TypeScript/React"

Step 2: Dispatch Frontend QA Analyst Agent (Accessibility Mode)

Task tool:
  subagent_type: "ring:qa-analyst-frontend"
  prompt: |
    **MODE:** ACCESSIBILITY TESTING (Gate 2)

    **Standards:** Load testing-accessibility.md

    **Input:**
    - Task ID: {unit_id} (task-level — aggregates all subtasks)
    - Implementation Files (union across all subtasks): {implementation_files}
    - Per-Subtask Gate 0 Handoffs: {gate0_handoffs}
    - Language: typescript

    **Scope:** Validate accessibility for the task (all subtasks aggregated), not a single subtask.

    **Requirements:**
    1. Run axe-core scans on all components (all states: default, loading, error, empty, disabled)
    2. Test keyboard navigation (Tab, Enter, Escape, Arrow keys)
    3. Test focus management (trap, restoration, auto-focus)
    4. Verify semantic HTML usage
    5. Check ARIA attributes
    6. Verify color contrast

    **Output Sections Required:**
    - ## Accessibility Testing Summary
    - ## Violations Report
    - ## Handoff to Next Gate

Step 3: Evaluate Results

Parse agent output:

if "Status: PASS" in output:
  → Gate 2 PASSED
  → Return success with metrics

if "Status: FAIL" in output:
  → Dispatch fix to implementation agent (ring:frontend-engineer or ring:ui-engineer)
  → Re-run accessibility tests (max 3 iterations)
  → If still failing: ESCALATE to user

Step 4: Generate Output

## Accessibility Testing Summary
**Status:** {PASS|FAIL}
**Components Tested:** {count}
**Violations Found:** {count}
**Keyboard Nav Tests:** {count}
**Focus Management Tests:** {count}

## Violations Report
| Component | States Scanned | Violations | Status |
|-----------|---------------|------------|--------|
| {component} | {states} | {count} | {PASS|FAIL} |

## Handoff to Next Gate
- Ready for Gate 3 (Unit Testing): {YES|NO}
- Iterations: {count}

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Severity Calibration

Severity	Criteria	Examples
CRITICAL	Legal compliance risk, users blocked	Missing alt text on images, no keyboard access, form without labels
HIGH	WCAG AA violation, significant barrier	Color contrast fails, missing focus indicators, no skip links
MEDIUM	Minor accessibility gaps	Non-semantic HTML, missing ARIA on complex widgets
LOW	Best practices, enhancements	Optional ARIA improvements, landmark suggestions

Report all severities. CRITICAL = immediate fix (legal risk). HIGH = fix before gate pass. MEDIUM = fix in iteration. LOW = document.

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Anti-Rationalization Table

See shared-patterns/shared-anti-rationalization.md for universal anti-rationalizations. Gate-specific:

Rationalization	Why It's WRONG	Required Action
"It's an internal tool"	WCAG compliance is mandatory for all applications.	Run accessibility tests
"The library handles it"	Components can be misused. axe-core catches misuse.	Run axe-core scans
"We'll fix accessibility later"	Retrofitting costs 10x. Fix now.	Fix violations now
"Only one violation, it's minor"	One violation = FAIL. No exceptions.	Fix all violations
"Keyboard nav works, I tested manually"	Manual ≠ automated. Tests must be repeatable.	Write automated tests

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