/tailwindcss-accessibility

name: tailwindcss-accessibility
description: "Use when implementing keyboard-accessible components, screen-reader-only content, prefers-reduced-motion support, or WCAG 2.2 AA/AAA compliance."
user-invocable: true
references: references/focus-patterns.md, references/wcag-utilities.md
related-skills: tailwindcss-core, react-shadcn

<objective> Documents Tailwind CSS v4.3 accessibility utilities: `focus-visible` for keyboard-only focus rings, `sr-only` for screen-reader-only content, `motion-safe`/`motion-reduce` for `prefers-reduced-motion` support, and touch-target/contrast-ratio patterns for WCAG 2.2 AA/AAA compliance.

Covers focus-state patterns, minimum touch target sizing (44×44px via `min-h-11 min-w-11`), and the 4.5:1/3:1 contrast floors — semantic HTML first, Tailwind utilities enhance rather than replace it. </objective>

Tailwind CSS Accessibility

Accessible-by-default patterns using Tailwind CSS v4.3 utility classes.

Agent Workflow (MANDATORY)

Before ANY implementation, spawn 3 agents in parallel, one `Agent` call each with a `name`:

1. **fuse-ai-pilot:explore-codebase** - Analyze existing a11y patterns 2. **fuse-ai-pilot:research-expert** - Verify latest WCAG 2.2 guidelines 3. **mcp__context7__query-docs** - Check Tailwind CSS a11y utilities

After implementation, run **fuse-ai-pilot:sniper** for validation.

---

Overview

When to Use

• Implementing keyboard-accessible interactive elements
• Adding screen reader support to visual-only content
• Respecting user motion preferences
• Ensuring sufficient color contrast ratios
• Meeting WCAG 2.2 AA/AAA compliance requirements
• Creating accessible touch targets for mobile

Why Tailwind for Accessibility

| Feature | Benefit | |---------|---------| | `focus-visible` | Keyboard-only focus rings, no mouse clutter | | `sr-only` | Screen reader content without visual display | | `motion-safe/reduce` | Respects `prefers-reduced-motion` | | Utility composition | Consistent a11y patterns across components | | CSS-first config | Centralized a11y defaults via `@theme` |

---

Critical Rules

1. **Always use `focus-visible`** — Not `focus` for interactive elements 2. **Never hide content from screen readers** — Use `sr-only` instead of `hidden` 3. **Respect motion preferences** — Wrap animations in `motion-safe:` 4. **Minimum touch target 44x44px** — Use `min-h-11 min-w-11` (2.75rem); WCAG 2.2 AAA (SC 2.5.5), AA floor is 24x24px (SC 2.5.8) 5. **Contrast ratios** — 4.5:1 for text, 3:1 for large text (WCAG AA) 6. **Semantic HTML first** — Tailwind enhances, never replaces semantics

---

Quick Reference

Focus States

<button class="focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-offset-2
  focus-visible:outline-primary rounded-md">
  Accessible Button
</button>

Screen Reader Only

<span class="sr-only">Open navigation menu</span>

Reduced Motion

<div class="motion-safe:animate-bounce motion-reduce:animate-none">
  Animated content
</div>

---

Best Practices

1. **Focus rings on all interactive elements** — Buttons, links, inputs 2. **Skip links** — Add skip-to-content for keyboard navigation 3. **ARIA labels** — Supplement with `aria-label` when visual text absent 4. **Color is not the only indicator** — Use icons/text alongside color 5. **Test with keyboard only** — Tab through entire UI flow 6. **Test with screen reader** — VoiceOver (macOS), NVDA (Windows)

Reference Guide

| Need | Reference | |------|-----------| | Focus rings, keyboard nav | [focus-patterns.md](references/focus-patterns.md) | | sr-only, contrast, touch targets | [wcag-utilities.md](references/wcag-utilities.md) |