IDENT.INK ACCESSIBILITY RELEASE GATE
Access is a release condition.
This is the public operating standard used to decide whether a customer-facing change is ready to ship. It is a test process, not a claim that automated software can certify accessibility.THE RULE
The gate opens only when the evidence passes.
A release is blocked when a changed journey has a serious automated finding, an inaccessible keyboard path, unreadable content, an unlabelled control, a trapped focus state, or a known assistive-technology failure.
Automated checks support the decision. They never replace human review. Any exception must reduce an active security, legal, outage or data-loss risk, record the remaining barrier and schedule the smallest safe correction.
REQUIRED CHECKS
What must work.
- 01
Keyboard
Every action must be reachable, visible in focus order and usable without a pointer.
- 02
Names and structure
Headings, landmarks, labels, status messages and control names must describe their purpose.
- 03
Vision
Text targets WCAG AA contrast, controls remain distinguishable, and meaning never relies on colour alone.
- 04
Zoom and reflow
Core journeys must remain readable and operable when text is enlarged and the viewport narrows.
- 05
Forms and errors
Instructions appear before they are needed. Errors identify the field, the problem and a recovery action.
- 06
Motion and media
Reduced-motion preferences are respected. Meaningful audio or video needs an equivalent alternative.
- 07
Email and codes
Transactional mail keeps a plain-text alternative. Authentication codes are labelled, copyable and shown in large high-contrast type.
- 08
Assistive technology
A human checks representative journeys with keyboard navigation and a screen reader before sign-off.
RELEASE EVIDENCE
What opens the gate.
- Automated WCAG 2 A and AA checks at phone, tablet and desktop widths
- A keyboard-focus check and browser runtime-error check
- Screenshots for human visual and responsive review
- Focused tests for the changed journey, including failure and recovery states
- A named result, time and retained release report
HONEST LIMITS
A pass is not a permanent guarantee.
Browsers, assistive technology and customer needs change. A passing report applies to the version and journeys tested. Reported barriers reopen the gate for the affected journey, are triaged by impact and remain recorded until verified closed.