upskill-event-manager/POWERMAPPER-AUDIT-FIXES.md

PowerMapper Audit Fixes - Implementation Report

Date: August 8, 2025
Page Audited: /find-a-trainer/ on staging site
Audit Tool: PowerMapper

🎯 Summary of Issues Fixed

Based on the PowerMapper audit results, we identified and resolved multiple critical accessibility, usability, and validation issues:

✅ RESOLVED ISSUES

1. Critical Broken Links (Priority 1)

• Issue: Empty src attribute in img tag causing broken links and JavaScript errors
• Location: templates/page-find-trainer.php line 587
• Fix Applied: Removed empty <img src="" alt=""> tag from trainer modal template
• Result: Zero broken links detected ✅

2. CSS Validation Errors (Priority 1)

• Issue: Missing closing braces } in CSS causing validation failures
• Location: assets/css/hvac-common.css lines 85, 91, 97, 103, 111
• Fix Applied: Added missing closing braces for all CSS rules
• Result: CSS validation errors resolved ✅

3. Usability Issues - Layout Jumping (Priority 2)

• Issue: Missing width/height attributes on trainer badge images causing layout shifts
• Location: All hvac-mq-badge images throughout the site
• Fix Applied: Added width="35" height="35" attributes to all badge images
• Files Updated:
  • templates/page-find-trainer.php (2 instances)
  • includes/class-hvac-qr-generator.php (1 instance)
• Result: Layout stability improved, no more jumping during load ✅

4. Accessibility Improvements (WCAG 2.2 Level A/AA)

• Issue: Poor color contrast ratios and missing accessibility features
• Fix Applied: Created comprehensive accessibility stylesheet
• New File: assets/css/hvac-accessibility-fixes.css
• Features Added:
  • Improved focus indicators with 2px blue outline
  • Better color contrast for text elements
  • Touch target size compliance (44px minimum)
  • Screen reader support with .sr-only class
  • High contrast mode support
  • Reduced motion support for accessibility preferences
  • Enhanced trainer card interactions

📊 Audit Results Comparison

Before Fixes:

• Critical Issues: 5 (Empty img src, CSS validation errors)
• Accessibility Issues: 3 (ARIA, color contrast, layout jumping)
• Standards Compliance: Failed (W3C HTML/CSS validation)
• Usability Score: Poor (layout jumping, missing dimensions)

After Fixes:

• Critical Issues: 0 ✅
• Accessibility Features: Enhanced with comprehensive stylesheet
• Standards Compliance: Improved (CSS validation fixed)
• Usability Score: Significantly improved (stable layouts)

🛠️ Technical Implementation Details

Files Modified:

1. templates/page-find-trainer.php

   • Removed empty img tag from modal template
   • Added width/height attributes to trainer badge images

2. assets/css/hvac-common.css

   • Fixed 5+ missing closing braces
   • Restored proper CSS rule structure

3. includes/class-hvac-qr-generator.php

   • Added dimensions to certification badge image

4. includes/class-hvac-scripts-styles.php

   • Integrated new accessibility CSS file into asset loading

Files Created:

1. assets/css/hvac-accessibility-fixes.css (New)
   • Comprehensive accessibility improvements
   • WCAG 2.2 Level AA compliance features
   • Modern accessibility patterns

🎭 Remaining Considerations

Issues Outside Our Control:

1. ARIA Button Accessibility (MapGeo Plugin)

   • Issue: Third-party MapGeo plugin generates SVG buttons without accessible names
   • Status: Added CSS workarounds where possible
   • Note: Full fix requires MapGeo plugin update

2. Theme Color Contrast (Astra Theme)

   • Issue: Menu text colors from Astra theme may still have contrast issues
   • Status: Added CSS overrides, but theme inheritance may still apply
   • Note: Full control requires theme customization

Browser Compatibility Notes:

• All fixes tested and confirmed working in Chrome/Firefox
• CSS includes fallbacks for older browsers
• Accessibility features include progressive enhancement

🚀 Deployment Status

• Environment: Staging ✅
• Deployment Date: August 8, 2025
• Deployment Method: scripts/deploy.sh staging
• Status: Successfully deployed and verified
• Testing: Manual verification completed

📈 Expected Impact

Immediate Benefits:

• Eliminates critical validation errors
• Prevents layout jumping during page load
• Improves screen reader accessibility
• Enhances keyboard navigation

Long-term Benefits:

• Better SEO scores due to improved technical compliance
• Enhanced user experience for accessibility needs
• Reduced support requests related to layout issues
• Future-proofed accessibility compliance

🎯 Recommendations for Further Improvement

1. Third-party Plugin Review

   • Consider alternatives to MapGeo if ARIA issues persist
   • Regular audits of plugin accessibility compliance

2. Theme Customization

   • Custom child theme to fully control color contrast
   • Branded color palette with WCAG compliance

3. Automated Testing

   • Integrate accessibility testing into CI/CD pipeline
   • Regular PowerMapper or similar tool audits

4. User Testing

   • Screen reader testing with actual users
   • Keyboard navigation workflow verification

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This report demonstrates the successful resolution of critical web accessibility and validation issues identified by PowerMapper audit tooling. All fixes have been tested, deployed, and verified on the staging environment.