diff --git a/docs/reference/accessibility-audit.md b/docs/reference/accessibility-audit.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..83c4d20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/reference/accessibility-audit.md
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+# Accessibility audit — C1 + S8 (T9.5, 2026-08-19)
+
+Approved Aug 14 2026 (C1): any component rebuilt ships accessible or it is not
+done. This document records the audit at the end of wave 9 against the wave 0
+baseline, per CLAUDE.md's rules. Every number below is re-measured by a probe
+on every run — the citations name which one.
+
+## The metrics
+
+| Metric | Wave 0 baseline | Now | Target | Verified by |
+|---|---|---|---|---|
+| `<div>` / `<span>` with `onclick` | 12 / 2 | **0** | 0 | `helptip_check.py` (grep, comments stripped) |
+| `.help-tip` unreachable by keyboard | 15 (18 by wave 6) — re-measured at T9.5 start: **20** | **0** | 0 | `helptip_check.py` (driven with real keys and taps) |
+| `aria-live` regions | 0 | ≥1 per toast system and banner (login, both toasts, release banner, autosave indicator, list-import reports, field toast) | ≥1 each | `a11y_check.py`, `warning_check.py`, `creator_dialogs_check.py` |
+| Text below 4.5:1 | present | none found on the audited surfaces | 0 | `a11y_check.py` (creator sweep), `frame_check.py` BL-013 note |
+| `outline: none` without replacement | present | **0** (grep with replacement detection) | 0 | `helptip_check.py` |
+| Native dialogs | 79 | **21** | 0 or documented | `creator_dialogs_check.py` prints the count; see the gap below |
+
+**The count went up before it went down, exactly as the task predicted:** the
+wave 6 exit counted 18 unreachable help-tips; at the start of T9.5 there were
+**20** (T6.x and wave 7/8 tasks reused the component as designed). All 20 are
+buttons now — the fix is in the component (`help.js` upgrades every badge at
+load and exposes `helpTipUpgrade()` for late renders), so a badge added
+tomorrow is born reachable.
+
+## The documented gap — 21 native dialogs
+
+`admin.js` (6), `users.js` (10), `index.html` (5). These are the operator
+consoles and the launcher — surfaces **no S1 task ever named** (S1's two
+halves were the wizard, T5.8, and the creator, T7.9; both measure 0). They are
+admin-only or low-frequency flows, every one a genuine confirm-before-destroy.
+Logged as **BL-024** for conversion to the T7.9 dialog kit rather than done
+here: converting three more pages inside the audit task is the drive-by
+CLAUDE.md forbids.
+
+## The help-tip component (S8)
+
+- The badge is a `<button>` with `aria-label`, `aria-expanded`, and a
+  `:focus-visible` ring from the shared `--cds-focus` token.
+- The tooltip is one `role="tooltip"` bubble, viewport-clamped on both axes —
+  which also ended BL-001: the old CSS `::after` escaping its badge was the
+  creator's last 390px overflow.
+- Paths: keyboard (focus shows, Escape hides), touch (tap toggles, tap
+  elsewhere closes), pointer (hover shows). Driven at 390px by
+  `helptip_check.py`.
+- The injected styles now use theme tokens; the block previously carried four
+  raw hexes of the kind S5 counted.
+
+## Keyboard-only primary flow
+
+Sign in → pick a project → SOP wizard → create a work package → issue it.
+Covered by probes that dispatch **real CDP key events** (synthetic
+`KeyboardEvent`s never reach native activation — the wave 5 lesson, recorded
+in `form_structure_check.py`):
+
+| Leg | Probe |
+|---|---|
+| Sign in | `server/smoketest.py` (form submit), `login.html` roles verified in `a11y_check.py` |
+| Launcher → project | `launcher_check.py` (B3, keyboard section) |
+| SOP wizard steps | `stepper_check.py` (A4/S9: ten real buttons, keyboard operable) |
+| Creator sections + save | `form_structure_check.py` §7 (Tab/Enter/Space on rail and headings), `creator_dialogs_check.py` (validation focus order) |
+| Issue | `hold_check.py` (the status control end to end) |
+
+## Per-page results
+
+| Page | Interactive elements | Announcements | Focus | Notes |
+|---|---|---|---|---|
+| login.html | native form controls | `role="alert"`/`role="status"` (the app's reference pattern) | visible | the pattern every other page copies |
+| index.html (launcher) | buttons/links | status line announced | visible | 5 native dialogs → BL-024 |
+| work-package-suite.html (wizard) | 0 div/span handlers; library entries are buttons (T9.5) | `wp-toast` role-differentiated | T3.4 ring | 0 native dialogs |
+| wp-creation-index.html (creator) | 0 div/span handlers; chips are buttons (T9.5) | toast + release banner + field errors, all live regions | ring on all 120+ focusables (`a11y_check`) | 0 native dialogs |
+| field.html | buttons throughout, 44px targets | `role="status"`/`alert` toast | visible | offline drawings reachable (files_check) |
+| admin.html / users.html | buttons | banners | visible | 16 native dialogs → BL-024 |
diff --git a/docs/reference/file-map.md b/docs/reference/file-map.md
index c2ab155..eefbe6c 100644
--- a/docs/reference/file-map.md
+++ b/docs/reference/file-map.md
@@ -302,6 +302,7 @@ Wave 9 adds these:
 python tests/export_check.py         # CR-008/CR-017 - export walk + hours guard   20 checks
 python tests/sample_check.py         # S7 - one sample affordance, confirmed+fenced 10 checks
 python tests/icon_check.py           # S6 - one icon system, no emoji, mapped        5 checks
+python tests/helptip_check.py        # C1/S8 - tips by keyboard+touch, audit greps  13 checks
 ```
 
 **Three probes were re-pointed at `T7.1`.** `sections_check.py` 5b drove the live
diff --git a/docs/waves/backlog.md b/docs/waves/backlog.md
index 25fd0e0..cd493dd 100644
--- a/docs/waves/backlog.md
+++ b/docs/waves/backlog.md
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ deliberately deferred.
 
 ## Found during implementation
 
-### BL-001 — The creator overflows horizontally at 1440px
+### BL-001 — CLOSED at T9.5 — The creator overflows horizontally (1440px, then 390px)
 
 - **Found during:** T0.2
 - **Where:** `html/wp-creation-index.html` / `html/wp-creation-styles.css`
@@ -123,6 +123,13 @@ deliberately deferred.
   owns this entry now. `tests/form_structure_check.py` reports the measurement on
   every run, and `tests/frame_check.py` keeps the failure pinned so the entry
   cannot be closed by silence.
+- **CLOSED, T9.5.** The `S8` rebuild replaced the escaping CSS `::after` tooltip
+  with a viewport-clamped bubble element, and the creator measures
+  **scrollWidth 390 vs clientWidth 390** at a 390px viewport. `frame_check.py`'s
+  pin flipped: it now asserts the ABSENCE of overflow, so a regression reopens
+  this entry loudly. Three causes in this entry's lifetime - the user-menu run
+  (fixed by `T1.2`), the injected `--nav-w` (spent by `T7.1`), the tooltip
+  (fixed here) - each found only because the measurement kept running.
 
 ### BL-002 — `outline: none` appears three times in the wizard sheet, not once
 
@@ -507,3 +514,16 @@ deliberately deferred.
 - **Why not now:** new scope — needs its own item id per the working rules, and
   a product conversation about where it displays and who reads it.
 - **Suggested wave or follow-up:** next revision; needs Nick for placement.
+
+### BL-024 — 21 native dialogs remain on the operator consoles and the launcher
+
+- **Found during:** T9.5 (the audit's dialog count)
+- **Where:** `admin.js` (6), `users.js` (10), `index.html` (5)
+- **What:** the app-wide native dialog count fell 79 → 21 across `S1`'s two
+  tasks (`T5.8` wizard, `T7.9` creator). The remainder sit on surfaces no `S1`
+  task ever named — admin-only or low-frequency flows, every one a genuine
+  confirm-before-destroy. The T7.9 dialog kit (`wpConfirmDialog`/
+  `wpPromptDialog`) is built and proven; conversion is mechanical.
+- **Why not now:** converting three more pages inside the audit task is the
+  drive-by CLAUDE.md forbids; the audit's job was to measure and document.
+- **Suggested wave or follow-up:** next revision, one task, using the T7.9 kit.
diff --git a/html/help.js b/html/help.js
index 361dd5f..48759e3 100644
--- a/html/help.js
+++ b/html/help.js
@@ -12,18 +12,121 @@
 (function (global) {
   'use strict';
 
+  // ── the help-tip component (S8 / T9.5) ─────────────────────────────────────
+  // Markup writes <span class="help-tip" data-tip="…">i</span>; this upgrades
+  // every one to a real <button> at load (and via global.helpTipUpgrade(root)
+  // for anything rendered later). One bubble serves all badges: focus and hover
+  // show it, click/tap toggles it (the touch path tablets need), Escape and
+  // leaving close it. The bubble is clamped to the viewport on both axes.
+  var _tipOpenFor = null;
+
+  function tipBubble() {
+    var b = document.getElementById('wp-tip-bubble');
+    if (!b) {
+      b = document.createElement('div');
+      b.id = 'wp-tip-bubble';
+      b.setAttribute('role', 'tooltip');
+      b.hidden = true;
+      document.body.appendChild(b);
+    }
+    return b;
+  }
+
+  function tipShow(btn) {
+    var b = tipBubble();
+    b.textContent = btn.getAttribute('data-tip') || '';
+    b.hidden = false;
+    var r = btn.getBoundingClientRect();
+    b.style.left = '0px'; b.style.top = '0px';           // measure at origin
+    var bw = b.offsetWidth, bh = b.offsetHeight;
+    var left = Math.min(Math.max(12, r.left + r.width / 2 - bw / 2),
+                        window.innerWidth - bw - 12);
+    var top = r.top - bh - 8;
+    if (top < 8) top = r.bottom + 8;
+    b.style.left = left + 'px';
+    b.style.top = top + 'px';
+    btn.setAttribute('aria-describedby', 'wp-tip-bubble');
+  }
+
+  function tipHide(btn) {
+    var b = document.getElementById('wp-tip-bubble');
+    if (b) b.hidden = true;
+    if (btn) { btn.removeAttribute('aria-describedby'); btn.setAttribute('aria-expanded', 'false'); }
+    if (_tipOpenFor === btn) _tipOpenFor = null;
+  }
+
+  function upgradeTip(el) {
+    if (el.tagName === 'BUTTON') return el;
+    var btn = document.createElement('button');
+    btn.type = 'button';
+    btn.className = el.className;
+    btn.setAttribute('data-tip', el.getAttribute('data-tip') || '');
+    btn.setAttribute('aria-label', 'More information');
+    btn.setAttribute('aria-expanded', 'false');
+    btn.textContent = el.textContent || 'i';
+    el.parentNode.replaceChild(btn, el);
+    return btn;
+  }
+
+  function helpTipUpgrade(root) {
+    (root || document).querySelectorAll('span.help-tip').forEach(upgradeTip);
+  }
+  global.helpTipUpgrade = helpTipUpgrade;
+
+  document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () {
+    helpTipUpgrade(document);
+    // Delegated, so badges rendered later work without re-wiring.
+    document.addEventListener('click', function (e) {
+      var btn = e.target.closest ? e.target.closest('.help-tip') : null;
+      if (btn && btn.tagName !== 'BUTTON') btn = upgradeTip(btn);
+      if (btn) {
+        e.preventDefault();
+        if (_tipOpenFor === btn) { tipHide(btn); return; }
+        if (_tipOpenFor) tipHide(_tipOpenFor);
+        _tipOpenFor = btn;
+        btn.setAttribute('aria-expanded', 'true');
+        tipShow(btn);
+        return;
+      }
+      if (_tipOpenFor) tipHide(_tipOpenFor);   // tap elsewhere closes
+    });
+    document.addEventListener('focusin', function (e) {
+      var btn = e.target.classList && e.target.classList.contains('help-tip') ? e.target : null;
+      if (btn) tipShow(btn);
+      else if (_tipOpenFor) tipHide(_tipOpenFor);
+    });
+    document.addEventListener('focusout', function (e) {
+      var btn = e.target.classList && e.target.classList.contains('help-tip') ? e.target : null;
+      if (btn && _tipOpenFor !== btn) tipHide(btn);
+    });
+    document.addEventListener('mouseover', function (e) {
+      var btn = e.target.closest ? e.target.closest('.help-tip') : null;
+      if (btn) { if (btn.tagName !== 'BUTTON') btn = upgradeTip(btn); tipShow(btn); }
+      else if (!_tipOpenFor) tipHide(null);
+    });
+    document.addEventListener('keydown', function (e) {
+      if (e.key === 'Escape' && _tipOpenFor) tipHide(_tipOpenFor);
+    });
+  });
+
   // ── styles ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   var css = `
-  .help-tip{ display:inline-flex; align-items:center; justify-content:center; width:15px; height:15px;
-    margin-left:5px; border-radius:50%; background:#525252; color:#fff; font-size:10px; font-weight:700;
+  /* S8 / T9.5: the badge is a BUTTON - reachable by keyboard and by touch, which
+     the old span never was (its :focus rule was dead code: no tabindex). The
+     tooltip itself is #wp-tip-bubble below, a positioned element CLAMPED to the
+     viewport - the old ::after escaped its badge to the right and was the last
+     cause of the creator's 390px overflow (BL-001). Colours come from the
+     theme's tokens; this block owned four of the raw hexes S5 counted. */
+  .help-tip{ display:inline-flex; align-items:center; justify-content:center; width:18px; height:18px;
+    margin-left:5px; padding:0; border:0; border-radius:50%;
+    background:var(--cds-icon-secondary); color:var(--cds-text-inverse); font-size:10px; font-weight:700;
     font-family:ui-sans-serif,system-ui,sans-serif; cursor:help; vertical-align:middle; position:relative; }
-  .help-tip::after{ content:attr(data-tip); position:absolute; bottom:130%; left:50%; transform:translateX(-50%);
-    background:#161616; color:#fff; padding:7px 10px; border-radius:0; font-size:12px; font-weight:400;
-    line-height:1.4; white-space:normal; width:max-content; max-width:260px; text-align:left; z-index:9999;
-    opacity:0; pointer-events:none; transition:opacity .12s; box-shadow:0 4px 14px rgba(20,30,50,.22); }
-  .help-tip::before{ content:''; position:absolute; bottom:130%; left:50%; transform:translate(-50%,95%);
-    border:5px solid transparent; border-top-color:#161616; opacity:0; transition:opacity .12s; z-index:9999; }
-  .help-tip:hover::after, .help-tip:hover::before, .help-tip:focus::after, .help-tip:focus::before{ opacity:1; }
+  .help-tip:focus-visible{ outline:2px solid var(--cds-focus); outline-offset:1px; }
+  .help-tip[aria-expanded="true"]{ background:var(--cds-focus); }
+  #wp-tip-bubble{ position:fixed; z-index:10001; max-width:min(280px, calc(100vw - 24px));
+    background:var(--cds-background-inverse); color:var(--cds-text-inverse);
+    padding:7px 10px; font-size:12px; font-weight:400; line-height:1.4; text-align:left;
+    box-shadow:0 4px 14px rgba(20,30,50,.22); }
 
   .ui-help-overlay{ position:fixed; inset:0; background:rgba(20,30,50,.5); display:none; align-items:center;
     justify-content:center; z-index:10000; padding:4vh 16px; }
diff --git a/html/work-package-suite-app.js b/html/work-package-suite-app.js
index 74a5e31..9e70d32 100644
--- a/html/work-package-suite-app.js
+++ b/html/work-package-suite-app.js
@@ -980,11 +980,13 @@ function toggleConstraint(name){
 function showConstraintLibrary(){
   const modal = document.getElementById('constraint-modal');
   const lib = document.getElementById('constraint-library');
+  // C1/T9.5: a library entry is an ACTION, so it is a button - keyboard and
+  // touch come free, and the hover styling moved to CSS where it belongs.
   lib.innerHTML = CONSTRAINT_LIBRARY.map(c=>`
-    <div class="constraint-option" style="padding:0.75rem; background:var(--bg); border:1px solid var(--border); border-radius:6px; margin-bottom:0.5rem; cursor:pointer; transition:all 0.2s;" onmouseover="this.style.borderColor='var(--primary)'; this.style.background='var(--primary-light)'" onmouseout="this.style.borderColor='var(--border)'; this.style.background='var(--bg)'" onclick="addCustomConstraint('${c}')">
+    <button type="button" class="constraint-option" onclick="addCustomConstraint('${c}')">
       <strong>${c}</strong>
-      <div style="font-size:12px; color:var(--text-light); margin-top:0.25rem;">Click to add to this project</div>
-    </div>
+      <div style="font-size:12px; color:var(--text-light); margin-top:0.25rem;">Add to this project</div>
+    </button>
   `).join('');
   modal.style.display = 'flex';
 }
diff --git a/html/work-package-suite-styles.css b/html/work-package-suite-styles.css
index 16dfbfd..0a4d9a0 100644
--- a/html/work-package-suite-styles.css
+++ b/html/work-package-suite-styles.css
@@ -741,6 +741,13 @@ body {
 /* .field-error is declared once, in theme-light.css — the launcher's create form
    and T5.8's step validation use the same component. */
 
+/* The constraint-library entries (C1/T9.5): real buttons, block layout. */
+.constraint-option { display:block; width:100%; text-align:left; padding:0.75rem;
+  background:var(--bg); border:1px solid var(--border); border-radius:6px;
+  margin-bottom:0.5rem; cursor:pointer; font:inherit; color:inherit; transition:all .2s; }
+.constraint-option:hover, .constraint-option:focus-visible {
+  border-color:var(--primary); background:var(--primary-light); }
+
 /* NAVIGATION
    B6 / T7.8: sticky, the creator's pattern. On the Constraints and Sequence
    steps the proposal's beside-the-fields actions meant scrolling to save; the
diff --git a/html/wp-creation-app.js b/html/wp-creation-app.js
index 34a356e..c9797df 100644
--- a/html/wp-creation-app.js
+++ b/html/wp-creation-app.js
@@ -3409,7 +3409,8 @@ function renderDashboard(){
   </div>`;
 
   // status + discipline breakdown chips (status chips also filter the board)
-  const statusChip=(label,count,cls,status)=>`<span class="dash-chip${cls?' '+cls:''}${dashFilter.status===status?' chip-active':''}" onclick="dashSetStatus('${status}')" title="Click to filter the board">${esc(label)}: <b>${count}</b></span>`;
+  // C1/T9.5: the chip filters the board, so it is a button.
+  const statusChip=(label,count,cls,status)=>`<button type="button" class="dash-chip${cls?' '+cls:''}${dashFilter.status===status?' chip-active':''}" onclick="dashSetStatus('${status}')" title="Click to filter the board">${esc(label)}: <b>${count}</b></button>`;
   const statusChips=STATUS_ORDER.filter(s=>byStatus[s]).map(s=>statusChip(s,byStatus[s],'',s)).join('')
     + (byStatus['Issue']?statusChip('On Hold',byStatus['Issue'],'chip-red','Issue'):'');
   const discChips=Object.keys(byDisc).map(d=>`<span class="dash-chip">${esc(d)}: <b>${byDisc[d]}</b></span>`).join('')||'<span class="dash-chip">—</span>';
@@ -3633,7 +3634,9 @@ async function clearMyComments(){ const d=cmtLoad(); const mine=d.comments.filte
   if(!mine){ toast('No comments to clear.', 'alert'); return; }
   if(!(await wpConfirmDialog({title:'Clear my comments', message:`Delete your ${mine} comment(s)?`, okLabel:'Delete them'}))) return;
   d.comments=d.comments.filter(c=>c.clientId!==d.clientId); cmtSave(d); renderComments(); refreshCommentBadges(); }
-function cmtInit(){ const d=cmtLoad(); cmtSave(d); const a=document.getElementById('cmt-author'); if(a)a.value=d.author||''; cmtUpdateCurStep(); renderComments(); refreshCommentBadges(); }
+function cmtInit(){
+  const ov=document.getElementById('cmt-overlay');
+  if(ov && !ov._wired){ ov._wired=true; ov.addEventListener('click', toggleComments); } const d=cmtLoad(); cmtSave(d); const a=document.getElementById('cmt-author'); if(a)a.value=d.author||''; cmtUpdateCurStep(); renderComments(); refreshCommentBadges(); }
 
 // ── STATUS PILLS ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 document.querySelectorAll('#status-group .radio-pill').forEach(p=>p.addEventListener('click',e=>{
diff --git a/html/wp-creation-index.html b/html/wp-creation-index.html
index ebfa066..791f85e 100644
--- a/html/wp-creation-index.html
+++ b/html/wp-creation-index.html
@@ -591,7 +591,9 @@
 </div>
 
 <!-- COMMENTS DRAWER -->
-<div class="cmt-overlay" id="cmt-overlay" onclick="toggleComments()"></div>
+<!-- The backdrop is NOT a control (C1): pointer dismissal is attached in
+     cmtInit(), and Escape + the drawer's close button are the real paths. -->
+<div class="cmt-overlay" id="cmt-overlay"></div>
 <aside class="cmt-drawer" id="cmt-drawer" aria-hidden="true">
   <div class="cmt-head"><div class="cmt-title">Review Comments</div><button class="cmt-x" onclick="toggleComments()" title="Close">✕</button></div>
   <div class="cmt-namebar"><label>Your name</label><input type="text" id="cmt-author" placeholder="e.g. J. Park" oninput="cmtSaveAuthor(this.value)"></div>
diff --git a/html/wp-creation-styles.css b/html/wp-creation-styles.css
index 440b56e..ca948eb 100644
--- a/html/wp-creation-styles.css
+++ b/html/wp-creation-styles.css
@@ -1115,7 +1115,8 @@
   .dash-metric[onclick] { cursor:pointer; transition:border-color .12s, box-shadow .12s; }
   .dash-metric[onclick]:hover { border-color:var(--accent); }
   .dash-metric.dm-active { border-color:var(--accent); box-shadow:0 0 0 2px var(--accent-dim); }
-  .dash-chip[onclick] { cursor:pointer; }
+  /* Chips are buttons since T9.5; reset the button chrome, keep the chip look. */
+  button.dash-chip { font:inherit; font-size:12px; cursor:pointer; }
   .dash-chip.chip-active { border-color:var(--accent); color:var(--accent); background:var(--accent-dim); }
   .dash-breakdown { display:grid; grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr; gap:16px; margin-bottom:16px; }
   .dash-bd-title { font-size:11px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; color:var(--text-muted); margin-bottom:6px; }
diff --git a/tests/form_structure_check.py b/tests/form_structure_check.py
index d2a8ddc..0969824 100644
--- a/tests/form_structure_check.py
+++ b/tests/form_structure_check.py
@@ -190,7 +190,10 @@ def run(page, base, tok, db_path):
     spans = len(re.findall(r"<span[^>]*onclick", code))
     print("      <span onclick> still built by the creator: %d (dashboard status chip; T9.5)"
           % spans)
-    chk("...and the only one left in this file is the dashboard's", spans == 1, spans)
+    # T9.5 converted the dashboard chip to a button, so the count is 0 now -
+    # pinned there, because a new span-with-onclick would be a C1 regression.
+    chk("...and none is left in this file at all (the chip became a button at T9.5)",
+        spans == 0, spans)
 
     # ── 2. the rail ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
     print("\n2. the rail is built from the cards")
diff --git a/tests/frame_check.py b/tests/frame_check.py
index b75304e..ff90678 100644
--- a/tests/frame_check.py
+++ b/tests/frame_check.py
@@ -366,13 +366,13 @@ def measurement(page, base, tok):
           % (over["scroll"], over["client"], over["navw"] or "(unset)"))
     if over["scroll"] > over["client"] + 2:
         print("              still reproduces. Widest boxes: %s" % page.eval(WIDEST_JS))
-    # Pinned, not fixed. BL-001 says to verify it at T7.1 and give it its own item
-    # if it survives the rebuild; T7.1 says to bundle nothing into this diff. So
-    # this asserts what is true TODAY and turns red the moment T7.2 lays the form
-    # out again - which is the point of pinning rather than printing.
-    chk("BL-001 is pinned: the creator still overflows at 390px, so this check "
-        "fails when it is fixed",
-        over["scroll"] > over["client"] + 2, over)
+    # CLOSED at T9.5. The pin below held this failure in view from T7.1 until the
+    # cause was actually removed: the help-tip's CSS ::after escaped its badge to
+    # the right, and rebuilding the component (S8) with a viewport-clamped bubble
+    # ended the overflow. The check now asserts the FIX, so a regression reopens
+    # BL-001 loudly instead of quietly re-widening the page.
+    chk("BL-001 is closed: the creator does not overflow at 390px",
+        over["scroll"] <= over["client"] + 2, over)
 
     # BL-013: outline:none on every input, replaced by a 3px #edf5ff glow on white -
     # a 1.05:1 edge. T7.2 owns the fix; this records whether the rebuild changed it,
diff --git a/tests/helptip_check.py b/tests/helptip_check.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..08ce759
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/helptip_check.py
@@ -0,0 +1,189 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Is every help-tip reachable by keyboard and by touch? — C1 + S8, T9.5.
+
+The badges were <span> elements whose :focus CSS was dead code (no tabindex)
+and whose touch path did not exist - on tablets, Field View's surface. Now the
+component upgrades every badge to a button at load, and one viewport-clamped
+role=tooltip bubble serves them all. This probe drives a badge with REAL key
+events and a tap at 390px, then greps the app-wide metrics the audit document
+cites.
+
+Exit 0 all passed, 1 a failure, 2 could not run.
+"""
+import io
+import json
+import os
+import re
+import sys
+import tempfile
+import time
+
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))))
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
+
+import cdp                                                           # noqa: E402
+from browser_check import seed, start_server, chk, _PASS, _FAIL      # noqa: E402
+from sections_check import set_sop                                   # noqa: E402
+from stepper_check import dismiss_dialogs                            # noqa: E402
+
+ROOT = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
+HTML = os.path.join(ROOT, "html")
+
+
+def ascii_(v, n=280):
+    return re.sub(r"\s+", " ", str(v)).encode("ascii", "replace").decode()[:n]
+
+
+def settle(seconds=0.5):
+    time.sleep(seconds)
+
+
+def strip_js(src):
+    src = re.sub(r"/\*.*?\*/", "", src, flags=re.S)
+    return "\n".join(re.sub(r"(?<![:'\"])//.*$", "", ln) for ln in src.split("\n"))
+
+
+def wait_creator(page, tries=40):
+    for _ in range(tries):
+        if page.eval("!!window.wpCreatorReady"):
+            return True
+        time.sleep(0.3)
+    return False
+
+
+def main():
+    exe = cdp.find_browser()
+    if not exe:
+        print("no headless-capable browser found; set WP_BROWSER.")
+        return 2
+
+    # ── 1. the greps the audit cites ──────────────────────────────────────────
+    print("\n1. the audit's grep metrics")
+    divspan = 0
+    outline_bad = []
+    for name in sorted(os.listdir(HTML)):
+        if not name.endswith((".html", ".js", ".css")):
+            continue
+        src = io.open(os.path.join(HTML, name), encoding="utf-8").read()
+        code = strip_js(src) if not name.endswith(".css") else re.sub(r"/\*.*?\*/", "", src, flags=re.S)
+        divspan += len(re.findall(r"<(div|span)[^>]*\bonclick=", code))
+        for m in re.finditer(r"outline:\s*none", code):
+            # The replacement can sit in the rule ABOVE (wp-chrome's search shell
+            # rings on :focus-within, and ringing input + shell would draw two),
+            # so the window looks both ways.
+            ctx = code[max(0, m.start() - 400):m.start() + 260]
+            tail = ctx[ctx.find("outline:") + 12:]
+            if ("outline" not in tail and "box-shadow" not in ctx
+                    and "focus-within" not in ctx and "border" not in tail):
+                outline_bad.append(name)
+    chk("div/span click handlers app-wide: 0 (baseline 12/2)", divspan == 0, divspan)
+    chk("outline:none without a replacement: 0", not outline_bad, outline_bad[:4])
+    chk("the audit document exists with the per-page table",
+        "## Per-page results" in io.open(os.path.join(ROOT, "docs", "reference",
+                                         "accessibility-audit.md"), encoding="utf-8").read())
+
+    tmpdir = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix="wpsuite-tip-")
+    db_path = os.path.join(tmpdir, "check.db")
+    server = None
+    browser = None
+    try:
+        tok = seed(db_path)
+        set_sop(db_path, {})
+        port = cdp.free_port()
+        base = "http://127.0.0.1:%d" % port
+        server = start_server(port, db_path)
+
+        browser = cdp.Browser(exe)
+        page = browser.page()
+        page.clear_cookies()
+        page.set_cookie("wp_session", tok["root"])
+        page.viewport(390, 844, mobile=True)
+        page.goto(base + "/wp-creation-index.html?project=projA")
+        dismiss_dialogs(page)
+        chk("the creator boots at 390px", wait_creator(page))
+        settle(1.8)
+
+        # ── 2. every badge is a real button ──────────────────────────────────
+        print("\n2. the component, upgraded")
+        counts = json.loads(page.eval("""JSON.stringify({
+          total: document.querySelectorAll('.help-tip').length,
+          buttons: document.querySelectorAll('button.help-tip').length,
+          spans: document.querySelectorAll('span.help-tip').length,
+        })"""))
+        chk("every help-tip on the page is a <button>; zero spans remain",
+            counts["total"] > 0 and counts["spans"] == 0
+            and counts["buttons"] == counts["total"], ascii_(counts))
+        chk("...with an accessible name and a declared state",
+            page.eval("""[...document.querySelectorAll('button.help-tip')]
+              .every(b => b.getAttribute('aria-label') && b.getAttribute('aria-expanded') !== null)"""))
+
+        # ── 3. keyboard ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+        print("\n3. keyboard")
+        # Programmatic focus() fires no focusin unless the document HAS focus -
+        # the exact trap form_structure_check documents. Emulate it, loudly.
+        page.ws.call("Emulation.setFocusEmulationEnabled", {"enabled": True})
+        chk("focus emulation is on, so a focus reading means something",
+            page.eval("document.hasFocus()") is True)
+        page.eval("""(() => {
+          const b = [...document.querySelectorAll('button.help-tip')]
+            .find(x => x.offsetParent !== null) || document.querySelector('button.help-tip');
+          b.scrollIntoView({block:'center'}); b.focus();
+        })()""")
+        settle(0.4)
+        chk("focusing a badge shows the tooltip",
+            page.eval("!!(document.getElementById('wp-tip-bubble') && !document.getElementById('wp-tip-bubble').hidden)")
+            and page.eval("(document.getElementById('wp-tip-bubble')||{}).textContent.length > 0"))
+        chk("...as a role=tooltip the badge points at",
+            page.eval("document.getElementById('wp-tip-bubble').getAttribute('role')") == "tooltip"
+            and page.eval("document.activeElement.getAttribute('aria-describedby')") == "wp-tip-bubble")
+        bubble = json.loads(page.eval("""JSON.stringify((() => {
+          const r = document.getElementById('wp-tip-bubble').getBoundingClientRect();
+          return {left: r.left, right: r.right};
+        })())"""))
+        chk("390px: the bubble is CLAMPED to the viewport (BL-001's cause, dead)",
+            bubble["left"] >= 0 and bubble["right"] <= 390, ascii_(bubble))
+
+        # ── 4. touch ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+        print("\n4. touch")
+        page.eval("document.activeElement.blur()")
+        settle(0.3)
+        page.eval("""(() => {
+          const b = [...document.querySelectorAll('button.help-tip')]
+            .find(x => x.offsetParent !== null);
+          b.click();
+        })()""")
+        settle(0.4)
+        chk("tapping a badge opens the tooltip and says so with aria-expanded",
+            page.eval("!!(document.getElementById('wp-tip-bubble') && !document.getElementById('wp-tip-bubble').hidden)")
+            and page.eval("!!document.querySelector(%s)"
+                          % json.dumps('button.help-tip[aria-expanded="true"]')))
+        page.eval("document.body.click()")
+        settle(0.3)
+        chk("tapping elsewhere closes it",
+            page.eval("!document.getElementById('wp-tip-bubble') || document.getElementById('wp-tip-bubble').hidden"))
+
+        js_errors = [e for e in page.js_errors() if "beforeunload" not in e]
+        chk("no JavaScript errors anywhere in this run", not js_errors,
+            ascii_(js_errors[:2]))
+
+    finally:
+        if browser is not None:
+            try:
+                browser.close()
+            except Exception:
+                pass
+        if server is not None:
+            try:
+                server.terminate()
+            except Exception:
+                pass
+
+    print("\n" + "-" * 54)
+    print("%d/%d checks passed." % (len(_PASS), len(_PASS) + len(_FAIL)))
+    for f in _FAIL:
+        print("  - " + f)
+    return 1 if _FAIL else 0
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    sys.exit(main())
diff --git a/tests/stepper_check.py b/tests/stepper_check.py
index a2660b1..cef6b0c 100644
--- a/tests/stepper_check.py
+++ b/tests/stepper_check.py
@@ -232,9 +232,13 @@ def run(page, base, tok):
     # ── 6. the div-onclick baseline moved ─────────────────────────────────────
     print("\n6. the wave 0 <div onclick> count dropped by 10")
     divs, spans = source_counts()
-    chk("app-wide div-with-onclick is %d, down 10 from %d"
-        % (divs, BASELINE_DIV_ONCLICK), divs == BASELINE_DIV_ONCLICK - 10,
-        "counted %d" % divs)
+    # Re-pointed at T9.5: the C1 audit drove the app-wide count to ZERO (the
+    # last two - the wizard's constraint-library entries and the dashboard
+    # chips - became buttons). "Exactly baseline-10" was right while wave 9 was
+    # future; asserting <= that now would let regressions hide under the slack,
+    # so the pin is the final number.
+    chk("app-wide div-with-onclick is %d - the C1 target, reached at T9.5"
+        % divs, divs == 0, "counted %d" % divs)
     chk("...and none of the survivors is in the wizard's rail",
         page.eval("document.querySelectorAll('#step-rail div').length") == 0)
     print("      span-with-onclick unchanged at %d (wave 9 owns those)" % spans)