NPR npr.org
Accessibility score
League position
6thof 10
Issues found
12
Audits passed
46
Accessibility score over time
weekly scans · last 6 months- Good · 90+
- Needs improvement · 70–89
- Poor · Below 70
This month's scan
Issues found
CriticalButtons must have discernible text12 elements
Screen reader users cannot determine the purpose of buttons without an accessible name. Without a name, users don't know what action the button will perform when activated.
Failing Elements
<button class="audio-module-queue">
Fix any of the following:
- Element does not have inner text that is visible to screen readers
- aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty
- aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty
- Element has no title attribute
- Element does not have an implicit (wrapped) <label>
- Element does not have an explicit <label>
- Element's default semantics were not overridden with role="none" or role="presentation"
<button class="audio-module-queue">
Fix any of the following:
- Element does not have inner text that is visible to screen readers
- aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty
- aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty
- Element has no title attribute
- Element does not have an implicit (wrapped) <label>
- Element does not have an explicit <label>
- Element's default semantics were not overridden with role="none" or role="presentation"
<button class="audio-module-queue">
Fix any of the following:
- Element does not have inner text that is visible to screen readers
- aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty
- aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty
- Element has no title attribute
- Element does not have an implicit (wrapped) <label>
- Element does not have an explicit <label>
- Element's default semantics were not overridden with role="none" or role="presentation"
<button class="audio-module-queue">
Fix any of the following:
- Element does not have inner text that is visible to screen readers
- aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty
- aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty
- Element has no title attribute
- Element does not have an implicit (wrapped) <label>
- Element does not have an explicit <label>
- Element's default semantics were not overridden with role="none" or role="presentation"
<button class="audio-module-queue">
Fix any of the following:
- Element does not have inner text that is visible to screen readers
- aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty
- aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty
- Element has no title attribute
- Element does not have an implicit (wrapped) <label>
- Element does not have an explicit <label>
- Element's default semantics were not overridden with role="none" or role="presentation"
<button class="audio-module-queue">
Fix any of the following:
- Element does not have inner text that is visible to screen readers
- aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty
- aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty
- Element has no title attribute
- Element does not have an implicit (wrapped) <label>
- Element does not have an explicit <label>
- Element's default semantics were not overridden with role="none" or role="presentation"
<button class="audio-module-queue">
Fix any of the following:
- Element does not have inner text that is visible to screen readers
- aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty
- aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty
- Element has no title attribute
- Element does not have an implicit (wrapped) <label>
- Element does not have an explicit <label>
- Element's default semantics were not overridden with role="none" or role="presentation"
<button class="audio-module-queue">
Fix any of the following:
- Element does not have inner text that is visible to screen readers
- aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty
- aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty
- Element has no title attribute
- Element does not have an implicit (wrapped) <label>
- Element does not have an explicit <label>
- Element's default semantics were not overridden with role="none" or role="presentation"
<button class="audio-module-queue">
Fix any of the following:
- Element does not have inner text that is visible to screen readers
- aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty
- aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty
- Element has no title attribute
- Element does not have an implicit (wrapped) <label>
- Element does not have an explicit <label>
- Element's default semantics were not overridden with role="none" or role="presentation"
<button class="audio-module-queue">
Fix any of the following:
- Element does not have inner text that is visible to screen readers
- aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty
- aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty
- Element has no title attribute
- Element does not have an implicit (wrapped) <label>
- Element does not have an explicit <label>
- Element's default semantics were not overridden with role="none" or role="presentation"
Showing first 10 of 12 failing elements.
CriticalImages must have alternative text10 elements
Screen readers cannot translate images into text without alt attributes. Alternative text is essential for blind users and beneficial for users with low vision or color blindness, providing the same information that sighted users get from viewing the image.
Failing Elements
<img class="playlist-thumbnail" src="https://npr.brightsp..." loading="lazy">
Fix any of the following:
- Element does not have an alt attribute
- aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty
- aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty
- Element has no title attribute
- Element's default semantics were not overridden with role="none" or role="presentation"
<img class="playlist-thumbnail" src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/9504x5344+0+0/resize/800/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F24%2F6c%2Fefdeb49044ff87f24c385e6b383a%2Fbernardes-egillis-2.jpg" loading="lazy">
Fix any of the following:
- Element does not have an alt attribute
- aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty
- aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty
- Element has no title attribute
- Element's default semantics were not overridden with role="none" or role="presentation"
<img class="playlist-thumbnail" src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2000x1125+0+0/resize/800/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F14%2F58%2F2019dd944f4898eba223aeaa1d54%2Fpanteon-rococo.jpg" loading="lazy">
Fix any of the following:
- Element does not have an alt attribute
- aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty
- aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty
- Element has no title attribute
- Element's default semantics were not overridden with role="none" or role="presentation"
<img class="playlist-thumbnail" src="https://npr.brightsp..." loading="lazy">
Fix any of the following:
- Element does not have an alt attribute
- aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty
- aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty
- Element has no title attribute
- Element's default semantics were not overridden with role="none" or role="presentation"
<img class="playlist-thumbnail" src="https://npr.brightsp..." loading="lazy">
Fix any of the following:
- Element does not have an alt attribute
- aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty
- aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty
- Element has no title attribute
- Element's default semantics were not overridden with role="none" or role="presentation"
<img class="playlist-thumbnail" src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2000x1125+0+0/resize/800/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F78%2F42%2Fec2087a647099a3e3183edc883d2%2F20260819-yendry-credit-zayrharodriguez-5.jpg" loading="lazy">
Fix any of the following:
- Element does not have an alt attribute
- aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty
- aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty
- Element has no title attribute
- Element's default semantics were not overridden with role="none" or role="presentation"
<img class="playlist-thumbnail" src="https://npr.brightsp..." loading="lazy">
Fix any of the following:
- Element does not have an alt attribute
- aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty
- aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty
- Element has no title attribute
- Element's default semantics were not overridden with role="none" or role="presentation"
<img class="playlist-thumbnail" src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3857x2168+0+0/resize/800/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3e%2F8a%2F773776ac41e8a4fea05cb663dc6b%2F0910-tdc-torikelly-mz18.jpg" loading="lazy">
Fix any of the following:
- Element does not have an alt attribute
- aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty
- aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty
- Element has no title attribute
- Element's default semantics were not overridden with role="none" or role="presentation"
<img class="playlist-thumbnail" src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4500x2531+0+0/resize/800/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F80%2F57%2Fdc1bbc7c4e25a771b730e34c783a%2F20260908-ratboys-tdc-mz11.jpg" loading="lazy">
Fix any of the following:
- Element does not have an alt attribute
- aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty
- aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty
- Element has no title attribute
- Element's default semantics were not overridden with role="none" or role="presentation"
<img class="playlist-thumbnail" src="https://npr.brightsp..." loading="lazy">
Fix any of the following:
- Element does not have an alt attribute
- aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty
- aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty
- Element has no title attribute
- Element's default semantics were not overridden with role="none" or role="presentation"
SeriousARIA hidden element must not be focusable or contain focusable elements1 element
Elements with aria-hidden="true" are removed from the accessibility API but remain keyboard-focusable, creating confusion about their visibility state. When users tab to these hidden elements, screen readers stay silent, leaving users unaware of what they've focused on or why nothing is being announced.
Failing Elements
<div class="npr-player__programmatic-buttons" aria-hidden="true">
Fix all of the following:
- Focusable content should be disabled or be removed from the DOM
SeriousElements must meet minimum color contrast ratio thresholds3 elements
People with low vision or color blindness cannot read text that lacks sufficient contrast with its background. With nearly three times more people having low vision than total blindness, and 8% of men and 0.4% of women having color deficiencies, adequate contrast is essential for making text readable to millions of users.
Failing Elements
<p>Los Texmaniacs: Tiny Desk Concert</p>
Fix any of the following:
- Element has insufficient color contrast of 3.04 (foreground color: #ffffff, background color: #5a95e7, font size: 10.5pt (14px), font weight: normal). Expected contrast ratio of 4.5:1
<a href="https://www.npr.org/..." data-metrics-ga4="{"action":"homepage_...">Fix any of the following:
- Element has insufficient color contrast of 1.38 (foreground color: #dbdbdb, background color: #ffffff, font size: 13.5pt (18px), font weight: normal). Expected contrast ratio of 4.5:1
<b class="audio-module-listen-duration"><span>·</span> 16:23</b>
Fix any of the following:
- Element has insufficient color contrast of 1.26 (foreground color: #ffffff, background color: #d8e6f9, font size: 10.5pt (14px), font weight: normal). Expected contrast ratio of 4.5:1
SeriousLinks must have discernible text1 element
Keyboard users and screen reader users can only interact with links that have accessible names and can receive focus. Without proper names, users don't know where links lead. Without keyboard focus, users who cannot use a mouse cannot activate the links at all.
Failing Elements
<a href="https://wpln.org/post/as-blackburn-refuses-to-debate-tennessee-democrat-jerri-green-holds-empty-podium-forum/?utm_source=npr.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=national_highlight&utm_content=homepage">
Fix all of the following:
- Element is in tab order and does not have accessible text
Fix any of the following:
- Element does not have text that is visible to screen readers
- aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty
- aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty
- Element has no title attribute
Serious<li> elements must be contained in a <ul> or <ol>3 elements
Lists require proper semantic hierarchy with ul or ol parent elements and li child elements. This structure allows screen readers to announce when users enter a list, how many items it contains, and which item they're currently on, providing essential context for understanding the content.
Failing Elements
<li>
Fix any of the following:
- List item parent element has a role that is not role="list"
<li>
Fix any of the following:
- List item parent element has a role that is not role="list"
<li>
Fix any of the following:
- List item parent element has a role that is not role="list"
SeriousText must remain readable when spacing is increased8 elements
People with low vision and dyslexia increase line height, letter spacing, word spacing, and paragraph spacing so they can read. Fixed-height boxes and overflow: hidden containers clip or overlap that text, which is a loss of content under WCAG 1.4.12.
Failing Elements
<b class="tag-one program-stream">
<span class="vertical-video-playlist__title">
<span class="vertical-video-playlist__title">
<span class="vertical-video-playlist__title">
<span class="vertical-video-playlist__title">
<span class="vertical-video-playlist__title">
<span class="vertical-video-playlist__title">
<span class="vertical-video-playlist__title">
ModerateHeading levels should only increase by one2 elements
Headings convey page structure for screen reader users the same way text size does for sighted users. Properly ordered headings (h1 through h6) allow screen reader users to quickly navigate and understand content structure, saving significant time and frustration while also improving search engine optimization.
Failing Elements
<h4 class="localization__header">Pick Your NPR Station</h4>
Fix any of the following:
- Heading order invalid
<h6 class="npr-footer__header">Read & Listen</h6>
Fix any of the following:
- Heading order invalid
ModerateContentinfo landmark should not be contained in another landmark1 element
The contentinfo landmark must be at the top level to help screen reader users quickly navigate to footer information. When nested inside another landmark, it becomes harder to find, defeating its purpose of providing quick access to content information.
Failing Elements
<footer id="npr-footer" class="npr-footer" role="contentinfo" aria-label="NPR footer">
Fix any of the following:
- The contentinfo landmark is contained in another landmark.
ModerateLandmarks should have a unique role or role/label/title (i.e. accessible name) combination1 element
Each landmark on a page must have either a unique role or a unique accessible name. Duplicate landmarks confuse screen reader users about which section they're navigating to, making it difficult to efficiently move through the page structure.
Failing Elements
<aside id="ad-centerstage-wrap" class="ad-wrap centerstage" aria-label="advertisement">
Fix any of the following:
- The landmark must have a unique aria-label, aria-labelledby, or title to make landmarks distinguishable
ModerateAll page content should be contained by landmarks2 elements
Content should be organized within high-level landmark regions like <header>, <navigation>, <main>, and <footer>. Content outside these sections is difficult to find and its purpose may be unclear, making navigation inefficient for screen reader users who rely on landmarks to understand page structure.
Failing Elements
<span>Accessibility links</span>
Fix any of the following:
- Some page content is not contained by landmarks
<li><a href="https://help.npr.org/contact/s/article?name=what-are-the-keyboard-shortcuts-for-using-the-npr-org-audio-player" class="skiplink">Keyboard shortcuts for audio player</a></li>
Fix any of the following:
- Some page content is not contained by landmarks
MinorARIA role should be appropriate for the element1 element
Invalid ARIA role and HTML element combinations can break accessibility for entire sections of your application. When roles are used incorrectly, assistive technologies may report confusing or nonsensical information to users, making it impossible for them to understand and interact with the interface properly.
Failing Elements
<ul class="player-extras" role="navigation" aria-label="audio player navigation">
Fix any of the following:
- ARIA role navigation is not allowed for given element
Passed audits46 across 1 page
<html> element must have a lang attribute1 element
Screen readers need language information to switch between pronunciation libraries. Without a specified language, screen readers default to the user's preferred language, resulting in incorrect pronunciation that sounds like a strange accent and makes content difficult or impossible to understand.
Audit Elements
<html class="js no-touch csstransforms3d video audio has-page-expanded-player audio-modules-mounted" lang="en" style="">
<html> element must have a valid value for the lang attribute1 element
Screen readers use language-specific sound libraries for proper pronunciation. Invalid language attributes cause screen readers to use the wrong library, making text sound like a confusing accent or completely unintelligible, especially for multilingual users who access content in multiple languages.
Audit Elements
<html class="js no-touch csstransforms3d video audio has-page-expanded-player audio-modules-mounted" lang="en" style="">
<li> elements must be contained in a <ul> or <ol>82 elements
Lists require proper semantic hierarchy with ul or ol parent elements and li child elements. This structure allows screen readers to announce when users enter a list, how many items it contains, and which item they're currently on, providing essential context for understanding the content.
Audit Elements
<li><a href="#mainContent" class="skiplink">Skip to main content</a></li>
<li><a href="https://help.npr.org/contact/s/article?name=what-are-the-keyboard-shortcuts-for-using-the-npr-org-audio-player" class="skiplink">Keyboard shortcuts for audio player</a></li>
<li class="navigation__home">
<li id="navigation__station-mount"></li>
<li class="navigation__newsletters">
Showing first 5 of 82 audited elements.
<ul> and <ol> must only directly contain <li>, <script> or <template> elements20 elements
Lists must contain only li elements as direct children (besides non-content elements like script or style). When other content elements appear within ul or ol tags, screen readers cannot properly inform users they're listening to list items, breaking the expected list navigation experience.
Audit Elements
<ul>
<li><a href="#mainContent" class="skiplink">Skip to main content</a></li>
<li><a href="https://help.npr.org/contact/s/article?name=what-are-the-keyboard-shortcuts-for-using-the-npr-org-audio-player" class="skiplink">Keyboard shortcuts for audio player</a></li>
</ul><ul class="navigation__top-level">
<ul class="menu__list">
<ul>
<ul class="audio-module-more-tools">
Showing first 5 of 20 audited elements.
All page content should be contained by landmarks2284 elements
Content should be organized within high-level landmark regions like <header>, <navigation>, <main>, and <footer>. Content outside these sections is difficult to find and its purpose may be unclear, making navigation inefficient for screen reader users who rely on landmarks to understand page structure.
Audit Elements
<svg id="npr-sprite" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" style="position: absolute; width: 0; height: 0; overflow: hidden;">
<defs>
<symbol id="icon-play" viewBox="0 0 28 29">
<g fill="currentColor" stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill-rule="evenodd">
<g fill="currentColor" transform="translate(-72.000000, -224.000000)">
Showing first 5 of 2284 audited elements.
Alternative text of images should not be repeated as text62 elements
Duplicating alternative text adjacent to an image or link forces screen readers to announce the same information twice. This redundancy is unnecessary and confusing, especially when image buttons repeat their labels in nearby text.
Audit Elements
<img src="https://prod-eks-static-assets.npr.org/chrome_svg/npr-logo-2025.svg" alt="NPR logo">
<img src="https://npr.brightsp..." data-template="https://npr.brightsp..." data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg" alt="jyoti and father-2.j..." loading="lazy">
<img src="https://npr.brightsp..." data-template="https://npr.brightsp..." data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg" alt="Harmeet Dhillon, ass..." loading="lazy">
<img src="https://npr.brightsp..." data-template="https://npr.brightsp..." data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg" alt="A driver look at his..." loading="lazy">
<img src="https://npr.brightsp..." data-template="https://npr.brightsp..." data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg" alt="President Donald Tru..." loading="lazy">
Showing first 5 of 62 audited elements.
ARIA attributes must be used as specified for the element's role82 elements
Using ARIA attributes where they're not expected causes unpredictable behavior in assistive technologies. Following the ARIA specification ensures that screen readers and other tools can properly interpret and communicate your content's meaning to people with disabilities.
Audit Elements
<section id="npr-player" class="npr-player has-expanded-pane" aria-label="NPR audio player">
<ul class="player-extras" role="navigation" aria-label="audio player navigation">
<header class="npr-header" id="globalheader" aria-label="NPR header">
<li class="menu__item menu__item--news menu__item--has-submenu" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">
<li class="menu__item menu__item--culture menu__item--has-submenu" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">
Showing first 5 of 82 audited elements.
ARIA attributes must conform to valid names82 elements
Misspelled or non-existent ARIA attributes cannot perform their intended accessibility function. Assistive technologies rely on correctly spelled, current ARIA attributes to convey proper user interface behaviors and structural information to people with disabilities.
Audit Elements
<section id="npr-player" class="npr-player has-expanded-pane" aria-label="NPR audio player">
<ul class="player-extras" role="navigation" aria-label="audio player navigation">
<header class="npr-header" id="globalheader" aria-label="NPR header">
<li class="menu__item menu__item--news menu__item--has-submenu" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">
<li class="menu__item menu__item--culture menu__item--has-submenu" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">
Showing first 5 of 82 audited elements.
ARIA attributes must conform to valid values82 elements
ARIA attributes must contain correctly spelled values that match the attribute's expected options. Invalid values prevent the accessibility feature from working, making content inaccessible to assistive technology users who depend on these attributes for navigation and interaction.
Audit Elements
<section id="npr-player" class="npr-player has-expanded-pane" aria-label="NPR audio player">
<ul class="player-extras" role="navigation" aria-label="audio player navigation">
<header class="npr-header" id="globalheader" aria-label="NPR header">
<li class="menu__item menu__item--news menu__item--has-submenu" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">
<li class="menu__item menu__item--culture menu__item--has-submenu" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">
Showing first 5 of 82 audited elements.
ARIA commands must have an accessible name1 element
Screen reader users cannot determine the purpose of interactive elements with role="link", role="button", or role="menuitem" that lack an accessible name. Without a name, these controls are essentially invisible to assistive technology users.
Audit Elements
<div class="jw-icon jw-icon-display jw-button-color jw-reset" role="button" tabindex="0" aria-label="Play">
ARIA hidden element must not be focusable or contain focusable elements7 elements
Elements with aria-hidden="true" are removed from the accessibility API but remain keyboard-focusable, creating confusion about their visibility state. When users tab to these hidden elements, screen readers stay silent, leaving users unaware of what they've focused on or why nothing is being announced.
Audit Elements
<svg class="icon icon--user" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><use href="#icon-user"></use></svg>
<svg class="icon icon--heart" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><use href="#icon-heart"></use></svg>
<svg class="icon icon--user" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><use href="#icon-user"></use></svg>
<div class="jw-slider-volume jw-volume-tip jw-reset jw-slider-vertical" aria-hidden="true">
<div class="jw-slider-volume jw-reset jw-slider-horizontal" aria-hidden="true">
Showing first 5 of 7 audited elements.
ARIA role should be appropriate for the element125 elements
Invalid ARIA role and HTML element combinations can break accessibility for entire sections of your application. When roles are used incorrectly, assistive technologies may report confusing or nonsensical information to users, making it impossible for them to understand and interact with the interface properly.
Audit Elements
<iframe src="about:blank" title="" role="presentation" loading="eager" style="width: 0px; height: 0px; border: 0px; display: none;"></iframe>
<svg role="img" aria-label="NPR Music" class="icon icon--music-logo"><use href="#icon-music-logo"></use></svg>
<div id="player-shelf12345698..." class="jwplayer jw-reset jw..." tabindex="0" aria-label="Video Player" role="application" aria-describedby="jw-shortcuts-tooltip..." style="width: 100%;">
<div class="jw-reset jw-icon jw-icon-inline jw-related-close jw-button-color" role="button" tabindex="0" aria-label="Close">
<div class="jw-reset jw-icon jw-icon-inline jw-related-page jw-related-page-left jw-button-color" role="button" tabindex="0" aria-label="Previous">
Showing first 5 of 125 audited elements.
ARIA roles used must conform to valid values4 elements
Invalid ARIA role values prevent assistive technologies from understanding and communicating the element's purpose to users. Without valid roles, screen readers cannot provide information about the element's features, properties, or how users should interact with it.
Audit Elements
<ul class="player-extras" role="navigation" aria-label="audio player navigation">
<div id="player-shelf12345698..." class="jwplayer jw-reset jw..." tabindex="0" aria-label="Video Player" role="application" aria-describedby="jw-shortcuts-tooltip..." style="width: 100%;">
<div class="jw-icon jw-icon-display jw-button-color jw-reset" role="button" tabindex="0" aria-label="Play">
<footer id="npr-footer" class="npr-footer" role="contentinfo" aria-label="NPR footer">
aria-hidden="true" must not be present on the document body1 element
Setting <body aria-hidden="true" hides all page content from assistive technologies while leaving it visible on screen. This creates a confusing experience where keyboard users can still tab to elements, but screen readers remain completely silent, providing no information about what's focused.
Audit Elements
<body id="news" class="news tmplHomePage ag..." data-pjax-modules="util/env images/lazy..." data-nav-overlay-men...="false">
Banner landmark should not be contained in another landmark1 element
Banner landmarks must be top-level to effectively designate the header portion of the page. Nested banner landmarks fail to provide the structural information screen reader users need to navigate efficiently through the page layout.
Audit Elements
<header class="npr-header" id="globalheader" aria-label="NPR header">
Buttons must have discernible text71 elements
Screen reader users cannot determine the purpose of buttons without an accessible name. Without a name, users don't know what action the button will perform when activated.
Audit Elements
<button class="play-initial ">
<button class="btn-newscast" data-metrics-ga4="{"category":"player","action":"player_click_pane","clickType":"hourly news","currentPane":"ON_DEMAND","currentSubpane":"SUBPANE_NPR_ONE_MIX"}"><button class="btn-live-radio" data-metrics-ga4="{"category":"player","action":"player_click_pane","clickType":"listen live","currentPane":"ON_DEMAND","currentSubpane":"SUBPANE_NPR_ONE_MIX"}"><button class="btn-playlist" data-metrics-ga4="{"category":"player","action":"player_click_pane","clickType":"playlist","currentPane":"ON_DEMAND","currentSubpane":"SUBPANE_NPR_ONE_MIX"}"><button class="audio-module-listen">
Showing first 5 of 71 audited elements.
Content must reflow without two-dimensional scrolling0 elements
People who zoom to 400% or use a narrow viewport must be able to scroll in one direction only. A layout that still requires horizontal scrolling at 320 CSS pixels forces magnified readers to pan left and right line by line, which makes the page close to unusable.
Deprecated ARIA roles must not be used4 elements
Deprecated ARIA roles are not recognized by modern screen readers and assistive technologies. Using outdated roles means some users cannot access essential information or functionality on your site.
Audit Elements
<ul class="player-extras" role="navigation" aria-label="audio player navigation">
<div id="player-shelf12345698..." class="jwplayer jw-reset jw..." tabindex="0" aria-label="Video Player" role="application" aria-describedby="jw-shortcuts-tooltip..." style="width: 100%;">
<div class="jw-icon jw-icon-display jw-button-color jw-reset" role="button" tabindex="0" aria-label="Play">
<footer id="npr-footer" class="npr-footer" role="contentinfo" aria-label="NPR footer">
Document should have one main landmark1 element
Every page should have exactly one main landmark that identifies the primary content. Without a main landmark, screen reader users must navigate through all content linearly to find what they're looking for, making page navigation difficult and time-consuming.
Audit Elements
<html class="js no-touch csstransforms3d video audio has-page-expanded-player audio-modules-mounted" lang="en" style="">
Document should not have more than one banner landmark1 element
Multiple banner landmarks force screen reader users to sort through duplicate options to find header information. Each page should have only one banner landmark to enable quick, predictable navigation to the header without overwhelming users with unnecessary choices.
Audit Elements
<header class="npr-header" id="globalheader" aria-label="NPR header">
Document should not have more than one contentinfo landmark1 element
Multiple contentinfo landmarks force screen reader users to sort through extra options to find footer information. Each page should have only one content info landmark to enable quick, predictable navigation without overwhelming users with duplicate structural markers.
Audit Elements
<footer id="npr-footer" class="npr-footer" role="contentinfo" aria-label="NPR footer">
Document should not have more than one main landmark1 element
Multiple main landmarks confuse screen reader users about where the primary content is located. Each page should have only one main landmark so users can quickly and predictably navigate to the primary content area.
Audit Elements
<main aria-label="main content">
Documents must have <title> element to aid in navigation1 element
The page title is the first thing screen reader users hear when loading a page. Without a descriptive, unique title, users must read through the entire page to understand its contents and purpose, wasting valuable time on every page visit.
Audit Elements
<html class="js no-touch csstransforms3d video audio has-page-expanded-player audio-modules-mounted" lang="en" style="">
Elements marked as presentational should be consistently ignored1 element
Elements with role="none" or role="presentation" should be removed from the accessibility tree. Adding global ARIA attributes or making these elements focusable prevents their removal, leaving them accessible to screen readers when they should be ignored, creating unexpected and confusing behavior.
Audit Elements
<img src="https://npr.brightsp..." data-template="https://npr.brightsp..." data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg" alt="" loading="lazy">
Elements must meet minimum color contrast ratio thresholds247 elements
People with low vision or color blindness cannot read text that lacks sufficient contrast with its background. With nearly three times more people having low vision than total blindness, and 8% of men and 0.4% of women having color deficiencies, adequate contrast is essential for making text readable to millions of users.
Audit Elements
<b>Hourly News</b>
<b>Listen Live</b>
<b>My Playlist</b>
<a href="/newsletters/" data-metrics-ga4="{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"newsletters","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/newsletters/"}" target="_blank"><a class="user-account__sign-in" href="#" data-metrics-ga4="{"category":"recirculation","action":"global_navigation_click","clickType":"global navigation","clickName":"sign in/register","clickUrl":"https://www.npr.org/account/login"}">Showing first 5 of 247 audited elements.
Elements must only use permitted ARIA attributes62 elements
Using prohibited ARIA attributes prevents important information from reaching assistive technology users. It also causes assistive technologies to behave inconsistently as they attempt to compensate for the error.
Audit Elements
<section id="npr-player" class="npr-player has-expanded-pane" aria-label="NPR audio player">
<ul class="player-extras" role="navigation" aria-label="audio player navigation">
<header class="npr-header" id="globalheader" aria-label="NPR header">
<li class="menu__item menu__item--news menu__item--has-submenu" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">
<li class="menu__item menu__item--culture menu__item--has-submenu" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">
Showing first 5 of 62 audited elements.
Elements must only use supported ARIA attributes82 elements
Using ARIA attributes in roles where they're not allowed can disable accessibility for entire sections of your application. Invalid attribute-role combinations create conflicts that cause assistive technologies to report incorrect or nonsensical information about your interface.
Audit Elements
<section id="npr-player" class="npr-player has-expanded-pane" aria-label="NPR audio player">
<ul class="player-extras" role="navigation" aria-label="audio player navigation">
<header class="npr-header" id="globalheader" aria-label="NPR header">
<li class="menu__item menu__item--news menu__item--has-submenu" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">
<li class="menu__item menu__item--culture menu__item--has-submenu" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">
Showing first 5 of 82 audited elements.
Elements should not have tabindex greater than zero13 elements
Using tabindex values greater than 0 creates unexpected tab orders that disorient users. It makes elements appear to be skipped when users tab past them, requires setting tabindex on every element to maintain order, and forces all tabindex items to be visited before any normal elements, breaking natural navigation flow.
Audit Elements
<div id="player-shelf12345698..." class="jwplayer jw-reset jw..." tabindex="0" aria-label="Video Player" role="application" aria-describedby="jw-shortcuts-tooltip..." style="width: 100%;">
<video class="jw-video jw-reset" tabindex="-1" disableremoteplayback="" webkit-playsinline="" playsinline="" src="blob:https://www.npr.org/78a4dd93-4ddc-436f-99c2-9d3aef216a32" style="object-fit: fill;"></video>
<div class="jw-icon jw-icon-display jw-button-color jw-reset" role="button" tabindex="0" aria-label="Play">
<a class="playlist-item-link" tabindex="0" data-mediaid="/2026/10/08/g-s1-141839/los-texmaniacs-tiny-desk-concert">
<a class="playlist-item-link" tabindex="0" data-mediaid="/2026/10/06/g-s1-141837/tim-bernardes-tiny-desk-concert">
Showing first 5 of 13 audited elements.
Focused elements must not be entirely hidden by author-created content42 elements
Keyboard users have no pointer to show where they are. The focus indicator is their only cue, and a sticky header, footer, cookie banner, or other author-created overlay that completely hides the focused control strands them with no idea what will activate next.
Audit Elements
<a href="#mainContent" class="skiplink">
<a href="https://help.npr.org/contact/s/article?name=what-a..." class="skiplink">
<button class="play-initial ">
<button class="btn-newscast" data-metrics-ga4="{"category":"player","act..."><button class="btn-live-radio" data-metrics-ga4="{"category":"player","act...">Showing first 5 of 42 audited elements.
Heading levels should only increase by one60 elements
Headings convey page structure for screen reader users the same way text size does for sighted users. Properly ordered headings (h1 through h6) allow screen reader users to quickly navigate and understand content structure, saving significant time and frustration while also improving search engine optimization.
Audit Elements
<h1 class="homepage-h1">NPR - Breaking News, Analysis, Music, Arts & Podcasts</h1>
<h2 class="c-promo-card__title">
<h2 class="c-promo-card__title">
<h2 class="c-promo-card__title">
<h2 class="c-promo-card__title">
Showing first 5 of 60 audited elements.
Headings should not be empty62 elements
Screen readers announce headings to help users navigate page structure. Empty headings confuse users and prevent them from understanding the page's organization. Headings should only be used to convey structure, not for visual styling, and must contain accessible text that screen readers can announce.
Audit Elements
<h1 class="homepage-h1">NPR - Breaking News, Analysis, Music, Arts & Podcasts</h1>
<h2 class="c-promo-card__title">
<h2 class="c-promo-card__title">
<h2 class="c-promo-card__title">
<h2 class="c-promo-card__title">
Showing first 5 of 62 audited elements.
IDs used in ARIA and labels must be unique14 elements
Duplicate IDs break the accessibility of ARIA elements, form labels, and table headers. When IDs are duplicated, assistive technologies and scripts only reference the first instance, causing subsequent elements with the same ID to be ignored or incorrectly associated.
Audit Elements
<span class="jw-hidden" id="jw-shortcuts-tooltip-explanation">Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts</span>
<div id="jw-settings-menu" class="jw-reset jw-settings-menu" role="menu" aria-expanded="false">
<div id="jw-settings-submenu-captions" class="jw-reset jw-settings-submenu jw-settings-submenu-captions" role="menu" aria-expanded="false">
<div id="jw-settings-submenu-color" class="jw-reset jw-settings-submenu jw-settings-submenu-color" role="menu" aria-expanded="false">
<div id="jw-settings-submenu-fontOpacity" class="jw-reset jw-settings-submenu jw-settings-submenu-fontOpacity" role="menu" aria-expanded="false">
Showing first 5 of 14 audited elements.
Images must have alternative text52 elements
Screen readers cannot translate images into text without alt attributes. Alternative text is essential for blind users and beneficial for users with low vision or color blindness, providing the same information that sighted users get from viewing the image.
Audit Elements
<img src="https://prod-eks-static-assets.npr.org/chrome_svg/npr-logo-2025.svg" alt="NPR logo">
<img src="https://npr.brightsp..." data-template="https://npr.brightsp..." data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg" alt="jyoti and father-2.j..." loading="lazy">
<img src="https://npr.brightsp..." data-template="https://npr.brightsp..." data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg" alt="Harmeet Dhillon, ass..." loading="lazy">
<img src="https://npr.brightsp..." data-template="https://npr.brightsp..." data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg" alt="A driver look at his..." loading="lazy">
<img src="https://npr.brightsp..." data-template="https://npr.brightsp..." data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg" alt="President Donald Tru..." loading="lazy">
Showing first 5 of 52 audited elements.
Inline text spacing must be adjustable with custom stylesheets58 elements
Single-spaced text makes it difficult for people with cognitive disabilities to track lines while reading. Providing line spacing between 1.5 to 2 helps these users start a new line more easily after finishing the previous one.
Audit Elements
<html class="js no-touch csstransforms3d video audio has-page-expanded-player audio-modules-mounted" lang="en" style="">
<div id="audio-player" style="width: 0px; height: 0px;"><img id="jp_poster_0" style="width: 0px; height: 0px; display: none;"><audio id="jp_audio_0" preload="metadata"></audio></div>
<div class="imagewrap has-source-dimensions" data-crop-type="wide" style="
--source-width: 1600;
--source-height: 900;
"><div class="imagewrap has-source-dimensions" data-crop-type="square" style="
--source-width: 3509;
--source-height: 3509;
"><div class="imagewrap has-source-dimensions" data-crop-type="square" style="
--source-width: 5416;
--source-height: 5416;
">Showing first 5 of 58 audited elements.
Interactive controls must not be nested145 elements
Nested interactive elements create empty tab stops where screen readers remain silent. When users tab to a focusable element inside another interactive control, they receive no information about its name, role, or state, creating a confusing and broken navigation experience.
Audit Elements
<button class="play-initial ">
<button class="btn-newscast" data-metrics-ga4="{"category":"player","action":"player_click_pane","clickType":"hourly news","currentPane":"ON_DEMAND","currentSubpane":"SUBPANE_NPR_ONE_MIX"}"><button class="btn-live-radio" data-metrics-ga4="{"category":"player","action":"player_click_pane","clickType":"listen live","currentPane":"ON_DEMAND","currentSubpane":"SUBPANE_NPR_ONE_MIX"}"><button class="btn-playlist" data-metrics-ga4="{"category":"player","action":"player_click_pane","clickType":"playlist","currentPane":"ON_DEMAND","currentSubpane":"SUBPANE_NPR_ONE_MIX"}"><img src="https://prod-eks-static-assets.npr.org/chrome_svg/npr-logo-2025.svg" alt="NPR logo">
Showing first 5 of 145 audited elements.
Interactive elements must have a visible focus indicator47 elements
Sighted keyboard users rely on a visible focus indicator to know where they are on the page. When focus styles are missing, too subtle, or have insufficient contrast against the surrounding colors, users cannot tell which element will respond when they press Enter or Space, making keyboard navigation slow and error-prone. This especially affects people with motor impairments who cannot use a mouse and people with low vision who need clear, high-contrast indicators.
Audit Elements
<a href="#mainContent" class="skiplink">
<a href="https://help.npr.org/contact/s/article?name=what-a..." class="skiplink">
<button id="npr-player__stream-initiated">
<button id="npr-player__segment-initiated">
<button id="npr-player__newscast-initiated">
Showing first 5 of 47 audited elements.
Landmarks should have a unique role or role/label/title (i.e. accessible name) combination6 elements
Each landmark on a page must have either a unique role or a unique accessible name. Duplicate landmarks confuse screen reader users about which section they're navigating to, making it difficult to efficiently move through the page structure.
Audit Elements
<section id="npr-player" class="npr-player has-expanded-pane" aria-label="NPR audio player">
<ul class="player-extras" role="navigation" aria-label="audio player navigation">
<header class="npr-header" id="globalheader" aria-label="NPR header">
<nav class="navigation">
<main aria-label="main content">
Showing first 5 of 6 audited elements.
Links must have discernible text220 elements
Keyboard users and screen reader users can only interact with links that have accessible names and can receive focus. Without proper names, users don't know where links lead. Without keyboard focus, users who cannot use a mouse cannot activate the links at all.
Audit Elements
<a href="#mainContent" class="skiplink">Skip to main content</a>
<a href="https://help.npr.org/contact/s/article?name=what-are-the-keyboard-shortcuts-for-using-the-npr-org-audio-player" class="skiplink">Keyboard shortcuts for audio player</a>
<a href="/" data-metrics-ga4="{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"npr logo","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"\/"}"><a href="/newsletters/" data-metrics-ga4="{"action":"global_navigation_click","clickName":"newsletters","clickType":"global navigation","clickUrl":"/newsletters/"}" target="_blank"><a class="user-account__sign-in" href="#" data-metrics-ga4="{"category":"recirculation","action":"global_navigation_click","clickType":"global navigation","clickName":"sign in/register","clickUrl":"https://www.npr.org/account/login"}">Showing first 5 of 220 audited elements.
Main landmark should not be contained in another landmark1 element
The main landmark must be at the top level and not nested inside other landmarks. This ensures screen reader users can quickly navigate to the primary content without searching through complex hierarchy, making page navigation simpler and more predictable.
Audit Elements
<main aria-label="main content">
Page must have means to bypass repeated blocks1 element
Keyboard-only users must tab through all navigation and header content before reaching the main content, which can take several minutes and cause physical pain for users with motor limitations. Bypass mechanisms like skip links allow these users to jump directly to main content, saving time and reducing fatigue.
Audit Elements
<html class="js no-touch csstransforms3d video audio has-page-expanded-player audio-modules-mounted" lang="en" style="">
Page should contain a level-one heading1 element
Screen reader users use keyboard shortcuts to jump directly to the first h1, expecting to land at the main content. Without an h1 or with a misplaced one, users must listen to more of the page to understand its structure, wasting valuable time on every page visit.
Audit Elements
<html class="js no-touch csstransforms3d video audio has-page-expanded-player audio-modules-mounted" lang="en" style="">
Required ARIA attributes must be provided4 elements
ARIA widget roles need required attributes to describe their current state. Without these attributes, screen readers cannot communicate essential information like whether a checkbox is checked or a slider's current value, leaving users unable to interact effectively with the widget.
Audit Elements
<ul class="player-extras" role="navigation" aria-label="audio player navigation">
<div id="player-shelf12345698..." class="jwplayer jw-reset jw..." tabindex="0" aria-label="Video Player" role="application" aria-describedby="jw-shortcuts-tooltip..." style="width: 100%;">
<div class="jw-icon jw-icon-display jw-button-color jw-reset" role="button" tabindex="0" aria-label="Play">
<footer id="npr-footer" class="npr-footer" role="contentinfo" aria-label="NPR footer">
Scrollable region must have keyboard access2 elements
Scrollable regions must contain focusable elements or be focusable themselves to enable keyboard navigation. Without keyboard access, users cannot scroll to view content that extends beyond the visible area, making that content completely inaccessible to keyboard-only users.
Audit Elements
<ul class="playlist">
<div class="card-wrap card-wrap--context-type-featured card-wrap--area-count-many card-wrap--carousel">
The skip-link target should exist and be focusable1 element
Skip links allow keyboard users to bypass repetitive navigation and jump directly to main content. Without skip links, users must tab through potentially hundreds of navigation links on every page, which is time-consuming and can cause physical pain for users with motor limitations.
Audit Elements
<a href="#mainContent" class="skiplink">Skip to main content</a>
Users should be able to zoom and scale the text up to 500%1 element
The user-scalable="no" and restrictive maximum-scale parameters prevent people with low vision from zooming to read content. Users who rely on browser zoom to enlarge text are blocked from accessing content at a readable size, violating their need to scale pages up to 5x zoom.
Audit Elements
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, shrink-to-fit=no">
Zooming and scaling must not be disabled1 element
Setting user-scalable="no" or maximum-scale less than 2 prevents people with low vision from zooming to read content. Users who enlarge text in their browsers are blocked from making content readable, violating accessibility guidelines that require supporting at least 200% zoom.
Audit Elements
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, shrink-to-fit=no">
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