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Print Accessibility — Proposed Requirement Inventory

Status: DRAFT FOR REVIEW — prose not yet written. Approve / edit IDs and scope before I write the sections. Related: Issue #2852

Notation per line: ID — title · (provisional level; provisional source-strength). Levels and strengths below are proposals to be confirmed during sourcing — a MUST here only survives to prose if it traces to a verified statute/regulation/claimed standard. Anything I expect to end up consensus-only is marked so now to avoid false confidence. IDs are permanent once approved; gaps in numbering are intentionally left for future insertions.

00 — Legal basis (PRINT-LEGAL)

  • PRINT-LEGAL-001 — ADA Title II auxiliary aids & effective-communication duty for hardcopy (MUST; regulation — 28 CFR 35.160)
  • PRINT-LEGAL-002 — ADA Title III auxiliary aids duty (public accommodations) (MUST; regulation — 28 CFR 36.303)
  • PRINT-LEGAL-003 — Primary-consideration distinction: Title II honors requested format vs Title III’s flexibility (SHOULD; regulation + guidance)
  • PRINT-LEGAL-004 — No-surcharge rule: cannot bill the disabled person for alternate formats (MUST; regulation)
  • PRINT-LEGAL-005 — Undue-burden / fundamental-alteration defenses and their limits (MAY/context; regulation)
  • PRINT-LEGAL-006 — Section 504 reach through federal financial assistance (MUST; statute/regulation)
  • PRINT-LEGAL-007 — Section 508 scope ends at electronic content; hardcopy handled by 504/ADA (SHOULD; statute — scope note)
  • PRINT-LEGAL-008 — ACA §1557 disability provisions & effective communication (MUST; regulation — 45 CFR 92)
  • PRINT-LEGAL-009 — §1557 Notice of Availability of language/format assistance (MUST/verify; regulation — check post-litigation status of 2024 final rule)
  • PRINT-LEGAL-010 — 2024 DOJ Title II web rule increases (not reduces) print exposure — dual-regime note (SHOULD; regulation — analytical)
  • PRINT-LEGAL-011 — NAIC-model insurance policy readability / minimum-type statutes (state layer) (context; state statute — jurisdiction-scoped)
  • PRINT-LEGAL-012 — Consumer-contract conspicuousness doctrine (UCC / state) (context; statute/common law)
  • PRINT-LEGAL-013 — State consent-form formatting mandates, Texas specifically (context; state statute — verify TX)
  • PRINT-LEGAL-014 — CMS ABN (CMS-R-131) point-size instruction (MUST; agency guidance — verify current form instructions)
  • PRINT-LEGAL-015 — Medicare Advantage/Part D materials type-size: 42 CFR §§ 422.2267(a)(1) & 423.2267(a)(1) (MUST; regulation — verify current text + carve-outs)
  • PRINT-LEGAL-016 — FDA OTC Drug Facts type-size & format, 21 CFR 201.66 (MUST; regulation — verify, incl. exclusions)
  • PRINT-LEGAL-017 — International scope note: EN 301 549 / AODA / EAA (US-first, non-binding here) (context; standard/foreign law)
  • PRINT-LEGAL-018 — Disclaimer: engineering guidance, not legal advice; jurisdiction questions → counsel (informational)
  • PRINT-LEGAL-019 — Enforcement, remedies, and penalties for inaccessible hardcopy (informational; statute + regulation + case law — added post-v1.0)

01 — Typography (PRINT-TYPO)

  • PRINT-TYPO-001 — Body text minimum point size (general-audience Clear Print floor) (SHOULD; consensus standard)
  • PRINT-TYPO-002 — Caption / secondary text minimum size (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-TYPO-003 — Footnote & legal-disclaimer minimum size (where not statutorily fixed) (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-TYPO-004 — Large-print alternate body size (APH/CCLVI spec, distinct from 001) (SHOULD; consensus standard)
  • PRINT-TYPO-005 — Typeface selection; what “sans serif” does and does not buy (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-TYPO-006 — Weight / stroke-contrast limits (avoid hairline & ultra-thin) (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-TYPO-007 — Letter-spacing / tracking floor (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-TYPO-008 — Word-spacing constraints (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-TYPO-009 — Leading (line spacing) as a ratio of point size (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-TYPO-010 — Measure / line length in characters (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-TYPO-011 — Avoid justified text & hyphenation (rag-right) (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-TYPO-012 — Avoid all-caps / small-caps for extended text (word-shape) (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-TYPO-013 — Limit italics / underline / reverse-out for body text (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-TYPO-014 — Text over images or tinted panels — legibility floor (SHOULD; consensus + contrast link)
  • PRINT-TYPO-015 — Orphan/widow control where it harms comprehension (not aesthetics) (MAY; consensus)

02 — Color, contrast, and ink (PRINT-COLOR)

  • PRINT-COLOR-001 — WCAG sRGB relative-luminance ratio is NOT directly valid on paper (foundational note) (SHOULD; analytical)
  • PRINT-COLOR-002 — Defensible print contrast target (reflectance-based) & how to state it (SHOULD; consensus/analytical)
  • PRINT-COLOR-003 — Grayscale / monochrome survival: every color rule needs a B&W-printer answer (MUST/SHOULD; derives from WCAG 1.4.1 intent)
  • PRINT-COLOR-004 — Color as sole information carrier is prohibited on paper (SHOULD; consensus, WCAG-derived)
  • PRINT-COLOR-005 — Colored paper stock constraints (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-COLOR-006 — Watermarks / background tints behind text — max density (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-COLOR-007 — Highlight / shading in tables and form fields — legibility after print (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-COLOR-008 — Ink/production variability (toner vs inkjet vs offset, dot gain) — design margin (SHOULD; industry practice)

03 — Layout and structure (PRINT-LAYOUT)

  • PRINT-LAYOUT-001 — Single vs multi-column and reading-order breakage on paper (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-LAYOUT-002 — Visual heading hierarchy that survives without tags (size/weight/space/position) (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-LAYOUT-003 — Whitespace & visual grouping of related content (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-LAYOUT-004 — Lists & visually distinct markers (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-LAYOUT-005 — Table header-row repetition across page breaks (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-LAYOUT-006 — Table row/column header association must be visually obvious (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-LAYOUT-007 — Tables too wide for the page — handling rules (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-LAYOUT-008 — Figures/captions as the print substitute for alt text (MUST/SHOULD; effective-communication-derived)
  • PRINT-LAYOUT-009 — Page numbering & “Page X of Y” (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-LAYOUT-010 — Running headers/footers — content & consistency (MAY; consensus)
  • PRINT-LAYOUT-011 — Section dividers / visual separation (MAY; consensus)
  • PRINT-LAYOUT-012 — Margins, gutters, binding allowance (SHOULD; consensus/production)
  • PRINT-LAYOUT-013 — Landscape pages in a stapled packet — rotation hazard (SHOULD; consensus)

04 — Forms (PRINT-FORM) — flagship

  • PRINT-FORM-001 — Fill-space minimum height for hand completion (SHOULD; consensus — verify any codified min)
  • PRINT-FORM-002 — Fill-space minimum width for hand completion (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-FORM-003 — Extra allowance for tremor / low dexterity / large handwriting (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-FORM-004 — Comb / boxed character-cell / gridded date fields are hostile — avoid (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-FORM-005 — Checkbox minimum physical dimensions (SHOULD; consensus — link to 44px/target norms)
  • PRINT-FORM-006 — Radio-button minimum dimensions (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-FORM-007 — Spacing between adjacent selectable targets (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-FORM-008 — Visual label-to-control relationship for check/radio (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-FORM-009 — Signature block line length & clear space (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-FORM-010 — Date block sizing (non-comb) (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-FORM-011 — Signature line not adjacent to dense fine print (consent validity) (SHOULD; consensus + legal)
  • PRINT-FORM-012 — Label placement/proximity (above vs beside) & wrap/column/page-break behavior (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-FORM-013 — Instructions & format hints appear BEFORE the field, never after (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-FORM-014 — Required-field indication not reliant on color alone (SHOULD; WCAG-derived)
  • PRINT-FORM-015 — Required-field indication not reliant on asterisk-only or top-of-form legend on multi-page forms (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-FORM-016 — Validation/error messages have no print analogue → must be static instructional text (SHOULD; analytical)
  • PRINT-FORM-017 — Tooltips / placeholder / field descriptions don’t print — enumerate lost metadata + visual substitute (SHOULD; analytical)
  • PRINT-FORM-018 — Reading/completion order on paper vs AcroForm tab order divergence (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-FORM-019 — Page breaks inside a field group / question-answer pair (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-FORM-020 — Duplex hazards: reverse-side fields missed, show-through, signature on the back (SHOULD; consensus/production)
  • PRINT-FORM-021 — Detachable / return sections, tear-off strips, mail-back panels (MAY; consensus)
  • PRINT-FORM-022 — Alternate-format request notice ON the form (content/placement/size) (MUST/SHOULD; effective-communication-derived)
  • PRINT-FORM-023 — docx→AcroForm marker-insertion: field-geometry validation before emitting a widget (SHOULD; our-implementation rule)
  • PRINT-FORM-024 — docx→AcroForm: refuse/flag conditions (sub-minimum geometry, comb, color-only required) (SHOULD; our-implementation rule)

05 — Substrate and production (PRINT-SUBSTRATE)

  • PRINT-SUBSTRATE-001 — Paper weight / opacity threshold to control show-through (SHOULD; industry practice)
  • PRINT-SUBSTRATE-002 — Finish: matte vs gloss & glare for low-vision readers (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-SUBSTRATE-003 — Paper color & brightness (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-SUBSTRATE-004 — Duplex rules for readability & fidelity (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-SUBSTRATE-005 — Stapling / binding / hole-punch encroachment on the text block (SHOULD; production)
  • PRINT-SUBSTRATE-006 — Booklet imposition & reading-order impact (SHOULD; production)
  • PRINT-SUBSTRATE-007 — Letter/A4 page-size scaling trap (SHOULD; production)
  • PRINT-SUBSTRATE-008 — Print-at-100%: shrink-to-fit / fit-to-printable invalidates point-size rules — HARD requirement + resistance measures (MUST-for-our-output; analytical/our-rule)
  • PRINT-SUBSTRATE-009 — N-up / multi-up scaling caution (SHOULD; production)
  • PRINT-SUBSTRATE-010 — Bleed & safe areas (MAY; production)

06 — Alternate formats (PRINT-ALT)

  • PRINT-ALT-001 — Large-print production spec: size/typeface/leading/measure/page-size (SHOULD; consensus standard — APH)
  • PRINT-ALT-002 — Reflow vs enlargement; photocopy-enlargement does NOT conform (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-ALT-003 — Braille: contracted vs uncontracted, embossing standards, triggers (context; consensus standard)
  • PRINT-ALT-004 — Tactile-graphics problem (images → touch) (context; consensus)
  • PRINT-ALT-005 — Audio & structured audio alternates (context; consensus)
  • PRINT-ALT-006 — Electronic alternates as auxiliary aid & their limits (SHOULD; regulation-derived)
  • PRINT-ALT-007 — Qualified readers as an auxiliary aid (context; regulation)
  • PRINT-ALT-008 — “Timely manner” turnaround expectations (SHOULD; regulation-derived)
  • PRINT-ALT-009 — Request-notice text: required content, placement, no-surcharge (MUST/SHOULD; regulation-derived)
  • PRINT-ALT-010 — Recommended default request-notice string our products can emit (SHOULD; our-implementation)

07 — Plain language (PRINT-LANG)

  • PRINT-LANG-001 — Reading-level target & honest measurement (Flesch-Kincaid limits) (SHOULD; consensus/guidance)
  • PRINT-LANG-002 — Sentence & paragraph length (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-LANG-003 — Terminology, abbreviations, first-use expansion (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-LANG-004 — Numbers, dates, units formatting (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-LANG-005 — Instructions written as imperatives (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-LANG-006 — Cognitive accessibility is disproportionately a print problem (no zoom/read-aloud/lookup) (SHOULD; analytical)

08 — Digital-to-print fidelity (PRINT-FIDELITY)

  • PRINT-FIDELITY-001 — Affordance→print-fate inventory table (survives/lost/degraded + required visual compensation) (SHOULD; analytical — the core table)
  • PRINT-FIDELITY-002 — Print-safe profile: combined-conformance constraint set (MUST-for-our-output; our-rule)
  • PRINT-FIDELITY-003 — Two-regime conflict resolution rule (documented, not left to implementer) (SHOULD; our-rule)
  • PRINT-FIDELITY-004 — URL/hyperlink handling: when/how to surface destinations on paper (SHOULD; consensus)
  • PRINT-FIDELITY-005 — Long-description handling on paper (charts/complex images) (SHOULD; effective-communication-derived)
  • PRINT-FIDELITY-006 — MathML → print (visual equation + no spoken-math on paper) (SHOULD; analytical)

09 — Validation (PRINT-VALID)

  • PRINT-VALID-001 — Bucket taxonomy: automatable / assistable / human-only (informational/framework)
  • PRINT-VALID-002 — Automatable measurement methods & units (point size, geometry, contrast, margins, measure, page-size) (SHOULD; our-rule)
  • PRINT-VALID-003 — Assistable checks: tool flags candidates for human judgment (SHOULD; our-rule)
  • PRINT-VALID-004 — Human-only checks (hand-fill usability, real-lighting glare, comprehension) (SHOULD; our-rule)
  • PRINT-VALID-005 — Physical-print verification procedure (what to print, on what, what to check) (SHOULD; our-rule)
  • PRINT-VALID-006 — Audit-tooling extensibility map: what our pipeline can/can’t cover structurally (informational; our-rule)

Open questions for review

  1. Scope/positioning (per the strategy discussion): build as internal print-safe guardrail + KB, or also stand up sellable print-compliance validation? Affects how much PRINT-VALID tooling detail I write.
  2. Should state-law entries (LEGAL-011..013) stay in scope for a US-first v1, or move to a separate appendix to keep the core defensible and lean?
  3. Braille/audio (ALT-003..005): full requirements, or scope to “when triggered + hand off to specialist vendor” pointers? We don’t produce these today.
  4. Any IDs you want renamed/removed now — they’re permanent after approval.