ACT Composite accessibility checking

Introduction

This article provides information about the bi-annual accessibility checks release (v.8 Q1 2026).

The release included introduction of 4 new review checks based on the ACT (Accessibility Conformance Testing) Rules framework. This framework consists of 2 basic types of accessibility rules:

• Atomic Rule / Input rule: Tests one specific situation or technique.
• Composite Rule: Combines the outcomes of several atomic rules to give a single, clear result for a guideline.

Acquia Web Governance implements ACT Composite rules. This method provides more meaningful results that reflect true conformance, rather than technical patterns.
 

In addition, 8 outdated accessibility checks will be removed.

Installation

• Contact your CSM or support to get limited availability access to the new rules in Q1 2026.
  • What will happen: Your accessibility results will contain 4 new review-type accessibility checks, and outdated checks will be removed, which means your accessibility score may slightly change.
• New domains will get the new checks automatically.
  • What will happen:  Your accessibility results will contain 4 new review-type accessibility checks.
• In Q2, 2026, Acquia will migrate all domains automatically. You will receive communications on the general roll-out.
  • What will happen: Your accessibility results will contain 4 new review-type accessibility checks.

How this change affects the user

When you change to the new system, expect the following:

• Your accessibility reports will list slightly different (clearer, more actionable) checks.
• Previous decisions and work on checks before the changes are carried over.
• Previous decisions on removed checks are gone, as they are no longer relevant.
• New checks must be reviewed if the system flags an error.

Included checks

Four key composite rules streamline and replace older, narrower checks. 

These composite rules are called:

• Does the audio element have a text transcript?
• Does the visual-only content on video have a text or audio description?
• Is there a way to skip repeated blocks of content on the page?
• Does the visual content on video have a text or audio description?

Deprecated checks

The following checks are deprecated with the release of the new method:

• 394 Audio element content has text alternative
• 17 Sound file must have a text transcript.
• 20 Links to multimedia require a text transcript.
• 66 <code>area</code> link to sound file must have text transcript.
• 393 Video element visual-only content has accessible alternative.
• 423 Bypass Blocks
• 397 Video element visual content has accessible alternative
• 396 <code>object</code> to multimedia file require alternative for time-based media or audio description

Additional resources

If you have any questions about these changes or need help interpreting the updated checks, contact the Web Governance Support team or your Customer Success Manager. Help is also provided with the chat feature inside the platform.