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Introduction

AAArdvark simplifies the process of recording manual issues in Visual Mode. This guide will walk you through how to document Custom Failures while manually auditing your site for accessibility.

Record an Issue with a Custom Failure

When recording an issue in Visual Mode, you can select Custom Failure as the failure type from the dropdown menu. 

Custom Failure option selected in the dropdown for Failures.

Afterward, you can fill out the remaining fields, including the Issue Title and Severity for the new Custom Failure.

You can also select a Success Criterion from the dropdown list if the accessibility violation of the Custom Failure maps under any of them, or you can leave it blank if it isn’t.

The screenshot displays the Custom Failure issue type selected with all the fields required to be filled in order to submit it.

Selecting a Success Criterion

When a Success Criterion is selected for the Custom Failure, the fields underneath, What does this mean? and How do I fix it? will automatically populate with details from that criterion. You can edit these fields to match their details with your specific observations about the accessibility issue.

Recommended solutions related to the chosen success criterion can also be selected from the dropdown.

The screenshot displays the Custom Failure issue type selected with fields being auto-filled if you select a success criteria from the dropdown.

Not Selecting a Success Criterion

If you choose not to select a success criterion, you can manually input details for the fields, What does this mean? and how do I fix it before submitting the manual issue.


After filling in all the fields and submitting, the issue will get recorded, and you can view it from the issues list to resolve it later.

Custom Failure issues submitted without a selected success criterion or recommended solutions will not display these details in the detailed issue view.

The screenshot displays that a custom failure for which no Success Criteria was selected shows that detail as blank on the issues list.

FAQ

Can I reuse the Custom Failure Issues created in AAArdvark?

No, you can’t reuse the Custom Failure issues created in AAArdvark at this time. Each custom failure must be created from scratch when recording it in Visual Mode.

We plan to implement reusable Custom Failures soon!


When do I need to create a Custom Failure issue?

You should create a new Custom Failure issue when a previous automated or manual check hasn’t captured the specific issue you identified during the manual audit.

These can include best practice issues that may not be strictly required by WCAG but are still critical for usability and accessibility.


Still stuck?

File a support ticket with our five-star support team to get more help.

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