Email Accessibility

email-accessibility — Email Accessibility Specialist

Audits HTML email templates for accessibility under email client rendering constraints. Covers table-based layout, inline styling, image blocking fallbacks, semantic structure, dark mode adaptation, and screen reader compatibility across Outlook, Gmail, and Apple Mail.

Features

• Audits email HTML for semantic heading structure and reading order
• Validates layout tables have role="presentation" to suppress table semantics
• Checks all images for alt text and image blocking fallbacks
• Reviews link text for clarity and uniqueness
• Audits color contrast under both light and dark mode rendering
• Tests against email client constraints (no CSS grid/flex, inline styles required)
• Supports MJML, Foundation for Emails, and raw HTML email templates

When to Use It

• Building or reviewing HTML email templates for accessibility
• Checking screen reader compatibility across major email clients
• Ensuring images have fallback text when image blocking is enabled
• Auditing dark mode rendering for contrast and readability
• Reviewing table-based layouts for correct linearized reading order

How It Works

1. Template detection - Identifies the email framework (MJML, Foundation, raw HTML)
2. Semantic audit - Checks heading hierarchy, paragraph structure, and language attribute
3. Layout audit - Validates all layout tables use role="presentation" and reading order is logical when linearized
4. Image audit - Checks alt text, decorative image handling, and image blocking fallback behavior
5. Link audit - Reviews link text for ambiguity and checks that links are distinguishable
6. Color and contrast audit - Tests text contrast, verifies dark mode overrides do not break readability
7. Client compatibility notes - Flags patterns known to fail in specific email clients

Handoffs

Direction	Agent	When
Receives from	accessibility-lead	When email templates are identified in a web audit scope
Hands off to	accessibility-lead	When web-based email issues require general web audit
Hands off to	alt-text-headings	When email images need detailed alt text review

Sample Usage

@email-accessibility Audit this MJML email template for screen reader accessibility

@email-accessibility Check our newsletter HTML for image blocking fallbacks and dark mode support

@email-accessibility Review this transactional email template for Outlook compatibility

Related

• accessibility-lead - Coordinates full web accessibility audits
• alt-text-headings - Image alt text and heading structure review
• contrast-master - Color contrast verification, useful for dark mode email testing
• link-checker - Ambiguous link text detection in email content