Which statement best reflects Trusted Tester guidance on sensory characteristics?

• A. Sensory characteristics are the only required cues
• B. Visual cues are optional for accessibility
• C. Sound must always be included
• D. Instructions for understanding/operating content must not solely rely on sensory characteristics

Answer: (D)

Relying on a single sensory cue to convey how to understand or use content excludes users who don’t experience that sense. Trusted Tester guidance emphasizes that instructions for understanding and operating content should not depend solely on sensory characteristics. Provide multiple ways to perceive and act on information—text labels, captions, transcripts, or other non-sensory cues—so people who are blind, colorblind, deaf, or hard of hearing can access it. For example, describing a button with a color or sound cue alone would be inaccessible; adding text labels or an alternative description ensures the instruction is usable. The other statements imply that one sensory cue is enough or that certain cues must always be used, which conflicts with inclusive accessibility practices.