Website accessibility is designing and developing websites that everyone, including people with disabilities, can use. It is an essential aspect of web design that ensures that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can access and use the content and features of a website. This article will cover several tips and best practices for creating an accessible WordPress website. We will discuss how to choose an accessible theme, use proper heading structure, add alt text to images, use descriptive link text, provide alternative text for non-text content, add captions to videos, ensure keyboard navigation, and use color contrast. By following these tips, you can create a website that is inclusive and accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities.
What is Accessibility?
Accessibility is the practice of designing and developing websites, products, and services that everyone, including people with disabilities can use. It ensures that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can access and use the content and features of a website.
Website accessibility is particularly important for people with disabilities, who may have difficulty accessing and using websites that are not designed with their needs in mind. Disabilities can include visual, auditory, physical, and cognitive impairments, among others.
Examples of common accessibility barriers include:
- Websites that are not navigable with a keyboard or other assistive technology
- Images and videos without alternative text or captions
- Poor color contrast that makes content difficult to read for people with low vision
- Videos and audio content without transcripts or captions for people who are deaf or hard of hearing
- Pages with content that is difficult to understand for people with cognitive or learning disabilities
By addressing these barriers and following accessibility best practices, website owners, designers, and developers can create websites that are inclusive and accessible to everyone.
Why is Accessibility Important for WordPress Websites?
Accessibility is crucial for WordPress websites because it ensures that all users, regardless of their abilities, can access and use the content and features of the website. A website that is not accessible can exclude people with disabilities, making it difficult or impossible for them to access important information, products, and services.
There are also legal implications of not having an accessible website. In many countries, including the United States, there are laws that require websites to be accessible to people with disabilities. Failure to comply with these laws can result in legal action and financial penalties.
In addition to legal requirements, an accessible website benefits all users. By designing a website with accessibility in mind, website owners, designers, and developers can improve the overall user experience for everyone. An accessible website is easier to navigate, faster to load, and provides a better user experience, regardless of a user’s abilities.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are over one billion people worldwide with disabilities, which is around 15% of the global population. In the United States alone, over 26% of adults have a disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). By making websites accessible, businesses and organizations can reach a wider audience and improve their reputation as an inclusive and socially responsible organization.
Tips for Creating an Accessible WordPress Website:
Choose an Accessible WordPress Theme
Choosing an accessible WordPress theme is crucial for creating an inclusive website. An accessible theme is designed with accessibility in mind, making it easier for people with disabilities to navigate and use the website. It can also help website owners comply with legal requirements for website accessibility.
Examples of accessible WordPress themes include:
- Astra Accessibility
- Twenty Twenty-One
- Accessible Zen
Use Proper Heading Structure
Proper heading structure is important for website accessibility because it helps screen readers and other assistive technologies understand the hierarchy and organization of the content on a web page.
Examples of proper heading structure include:
- Use H1 for the main title of the page
- Use H2 for main section headings
- Use H3 for subsection headings within H2 sections
- Use H4 for sub-subsection headings within H3 sections, and so on.
Using proper heading structure, website owners, designers, and developers can make it easier for people with disabilities to understand and navigate the content on their website.
Add Alt Text to Images
Alt text, short for alternative text, describes an image read aloud by screen readers and other assistive technologies. Alt text is important for people with visual impairments because it provides them with a textual description of the image, allowing them to understand the content of the image even if they cannot see it.
Tips for writing effective alt text include:
- Be descriptive and provide context for the image
- Keep it short and concise, but still informative
- Avoid using phrases like “image of” or “picture of”
- Include any relevant text within the image
Use Descriptive Link Text
Descriptive link text is important for website accessibility because it helps users understand where the link is going and what they can expect to find on the linked page. Screen readers also read the link text aloud, so it’s important that it accurately reflects the content of the linked page.
Examples of good and bad link text include:
Good link text: “Learn more about our services for people with disabilities”
Bad link text: “Click here for more information”
By using descriptive link text, website owners, designers, and developers can make it easier for people with disabilities to navigate their website and understand the content on each page.
Provide Alternative Text for Non-Text Content
Alternative text (alt text) is also important for non-text content, such as images, videos, and audio. Alt text for non-text content should describe the content of the media in a concise and informative way. This helps people with visual impairments, as well as those who have difficulty loading images or videos.
Tips for writing effective alternative text include:
- Be descriptive and concise
- Provide context for the media
- Use keywords that describe the content accurately
- Avoid using phrases like “image of” or “video of”
Add Captions to Videos
Captions are text that appears on a video, providing a transcript of the audio for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. They also benefit people in a noisy environment or prefer to read the content.
Tips for adding captions to videos on WordPress include:
- Use a video player that supports captions
- Create a transcript of the video
- Use captioning software to add the captions to the video
- Check the captions for accuracy and formatting
Ensure Keyboard Navigation
Keyboard navigation is important for users who cannot use a mouse, either due to physical disabilities or because they prefer to use the keyboard. It involves using the tab key to move through the website and the enter key to select items.
Tips for testing keyboard navigation and making improvements include:
- Test the website using only the keyboard
- Ensure that all interactive elements can be accessed and selected using the keyboard
- Ensure that the focus is visible on each interactive element
- Ensure that the order of the interactive elements makes sense
Use Color Contrast
Color contrast is important for users with low vision or color blindness, as it ensures that text and other elements are easily read and distinguish.
Tips for testing and improving color contrast include:
- Use a color contrast checker to test the contrast between text and background colors
- Ensure that the contrast ratio meets the minimum WCAG standards
- Avoid using color as the only means of conveying information
- Use bold or underlined text to make it stand out, in addition to color
By following these tips, website owners, designers, and developers can ensure that their WordPress websites are accessible and user-friendly for all users, regardless of their abilities. Creating an inclusive website not only helps people with disabilities, but also improves the overall user experience and can lead to higher engagement and conversions.