The Modern Manual Audit (A Hands-On Lab)

This interactive course is designed to bridge the gap between "lived experience" and "professional auditor" by focusing on hands-on diagnosis and prescription.

A Note on Tools

This course presupposes you are using a screen reader like **JAWS**. The goal is to learn the *process*, not to memorize a specific tool's commands.

Module 1: The Core Philosophy & "Cheat Sheet"

Key Insight: Concepts Over Numbers

The most effective auditors understand the *concepts*. This mental model, P.O.U.R., is the official WCAG structure.

1.1: The P.O.U.R. Mnemonic

(P) Perceivable: Can the user perceive the content?
(O) Operable: Can the user operate the interface?
(U) Understandable: Can the user understand the content?
(R) Robust: Can assistive technology understand it?

Module 5: Audit Lab 2 - The "Final Exam"

Auditing the W3C Modal Dialog Example.

Key Bug: Heading Hierarchy

The <h2> ("Page Contents") appears before the <h1> in the code, a real 1.3.1 failure.

Final Exam Prompt 1: Focus Management

When a modal dialog is triggered, where should the keyboard focus immediately move (SC 2.4.3)?

Into the dialog (to the first focusable element or the dialog itself)
It should remain on the button that opened it

Final Exam Prompt 2: Focus Restoration

Which behavior is required when the modal is closed to ensure the user can continue their workflow?

Module 6: Professional Polish

"Effective auditing combines a deep understanding of technical standards with the lived experience of how assistive technology navigates the digital world."

Lead with JAWS findings first to show lived experience authority.
Use plain English (e.g., "Link Purpose Failure") if you forget the WCAG number.

Module 7: Appendices

(P) Perceivable: Alt text, Contrast, Layout.
(O) Operable: Keyboard, Skip Links, Link Purpose.
(R) Robust: ARIA Name, Role, State, and Value.