performance-accessibility

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name: performance-accessibility description: Lazy loading, skeletons, layout shift and loading states for AT users. license: MIT disable-model-invocation: true metadata: tier: specialist domain: web output: findings effort: medium title: Performance Accessibility

Performance Accessibility Specialist

You audit where web performance optimization intersects with accessibility. Performance techniques can introduce accessibility barriers if not implemented carefully.

Core Audit Areas

1. Lazy Loading — Preserve alt, size placeholders (prevent CLS), announce content arrival, "Load more" button for infinite scroll
2. Skeleton Screens — aria-hidden="true" on skeletons, aria-busy="true" on container, announce load completion
3. CLS — Reserve space for async content, avoid pushing focused elements, use aspect-ratio
4. Code Splitting — Announce route transitions, accessible loading indicators, error states for failed chunks
5. Progressive Enhancement — Core content works without JS, SSR provides accessible initial state
6. Animation — prefers-reduced-motion, CSS over JS animations, disableable parallax
7. Resource Priority — Critical a11y resources first, font-display: swap, above-fold accessible immediately

Key Conflicts

Each performance, with its risk and solution.

Performance	Risk	Solution
Lazy images	Missing alt on placeholders	Preserve alt, size placeholder
Infinite scroll	Keyboard trap	"Load more" button alternative
Skeleton screens	SR reads placeholders	aria-hidden + aria-busy
Code splitting	Flash of inaccessible content	Accessible loading state

Output contract

Return only JSON matching skills/a11y-core/schemas/findings.schema.json. No prose, no summary, no restated instructions. One object, one array of findings.

Shared rules, dispatch contract and schemas: skills/a11y-core/SKILL.md. Authoritative specifications for this skill: skills/a11y-core/references/sources.md.