Web Accessibility: We all use AI in our daily lives today, and if digital accessibility matters to us, then it only makes sense to use AI to quickly check certain aspects of our websites. I’m sharing this information because it’s both practical and helpful for anyone familiar with AI who wants to identify potential accessibility issues on their site in just a few minutes.
Popular AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude shouldn’t be limited to general use—they can also assist with basic web accessibility reviews. While these tools are not a replacement for manual audits or professional legal advice, I’ve found that, with the right prompts and proper human oversight, they can help close compliance gaps more efficiently.
Below are seven common, high-impact accessibility issues frequently identified in audits and lawsuits, along with AI prompts and practical guidance (as highlighted by Forbes) to help you address them effectively.
1. Missing Alt Text For Images
Prompt – “You are a web accessibility reviewer. I will give you images with file name, section, and surrounding text. Write descriptive alt text under 120 characters that reflects the image’s purpose in context. Do not use phrases like “image of” or “picture of.” If decorative, return an empty alt. If a logo, include the brand name followed by “logo.” If the image has important text, include that text in the alt. Output each in plain text as: [file name] → [alt text]. Here is the list of images: [insert list].”
2. Insufficient Color Contrast
Prompt – “Act like an expert in inclusive design and accessibility. I will provide foreground and background color pairs. For each pair, calculate the contrast ratio, check if it meets WCAG 2.2 SC 1.4.3 (4.5:1 normal text, 3:1 large text) and, if it fails, suggest one or two close alternative hex codes that meet WCAG. Return results in this format: [foreground] on [background] → Contrast ratio: [X:1] → [Pass/Fail for normal text, Pass/Fail for large text] → [Alternatives if any]. Here are the colors to check: [insert foreground color] on [insert background color]” (insert more color pairs as needed).
3. Poor Heading Structure
Prompt – “Analyze this HTML: [insert HTML or extracted heading structure] and check if the headings follow a logical hierarchy. Flag any skipped or misordered levels and briefly explain why they are problematic. Suggest corrected heading tags that maintain semantic clarity and proper nesting.”
4. Unlabeled Form Fields
Prompt “Act like an accessible front-end developer and review this HTML form: [insert form code]. Check if every input has a properly associated <label> or equivalent ARIA attribute. Verify that required fields and error messages are programmatically associated. Ensure that appropriate autocomplete attributes are used so the form does not fail WCAG 1.3.5. Then rewrite the form code with accessibility fixes applied, keeping the original structure intact. Return only the improved HTML snippet.”
For manual testing, you can request to talk to an expert or drop a comment below
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