Deep Pages Reachable Only Through One Navigation Path

Why it matters

People with cognitive or visual disabilities who prefer search, sitemaps, or alternate nav styles.

How to test

Map out the site's navigation: if deep pages are reachable only by drilling one single path with no search or sitemap, it fails.

How to fix

At least two working ways (navigation menu, search, sitemap, index) must exist to reach the content.

<nav><!-- main menu --></nav>

<input type="search" aria-label="Search the site">

At least two ways to find a page — search, a site map, or navigable landmarks — give users options beyond one fixed menu.

Outcome

On a hospital's patient portal appointment scheduler, this barrier is gone for people with cognitive or visual disabilities who prefer search — they no longer have to work around this.

Who is affected

People with cognitive or visual disabilities who prefer search, sitemaps, or alternate nav styles.