Accessibility is no longer optional—it’s essential. With more people relying on the web for everything from shopping to education, ensuring that your WordPress site is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, is critical for inclusivity, user experience, and compliance with regulations like the ADA and WCAG. Here’s how you can make your WordPress site accessible in 2025.
Choose an accessibility-ready theme
Start by selecting a theme that is labeled as “Accessibility-Ready” in the WordPress Theme Directory. These themes are built to meet basic web accessibility standards.
What to look for in a theme:
- Keyboard navigation: Users should be able to navigate using just a keyboard.
- Responsive design: The theme should work seamlessly on mobile devices.
- Good color contrast: Text and background colors should be easy to distinguish.
- ARIA support: Themes should use Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) roles to improve accessibility.
Some great accessibility-ready themes include Twenty Twenty-Four, GeneratePress, and Astra (with accessibility plugins).
Use accessibility plugins
WordPress plugins can simplify the process of making your site accessible. Here are some top picks for 2025:
- WP accessibility: Adds missing alt attributes, fixes skip links, and improves focus outlines.
- Accessibility checker: Scans your site for accessibility issues and provides detailed reports.
- UserWay or EqualWeb widget: Adds an accessibility widget for users to adjust settings like font size, contrast, and more.
- ARIA landmarks: Helps structure your content with ARIA roles.
Optimize content for accessibility
Accessibility isn’t just about design—your content needs to be inclusive too. Follow these best practices:
Add alt text to images
- Use descriptive, meaningful alt text for all images to help visually impaired users understand the content.
- Avoid generic phrases like “image” or “picture of.”
Use heading hierarchies
- Organize content using proper heading tags (H1, H2, H3). This makes it easier for screen readers to navigate your site.
Enable descriptive links
- Avoid “click here” or “read more.” Instead, use specific anchor text like “Learn more about our services.”
Provide transcripts for multimedia
- Add transcripts and captions for videos and audio content to ensure users with hearing impairments can access the information.
Ensure your site is keyboard-friendly
Many users rely on keyboards (or assistive devices like switches) to navigate. Test your site by navigating it with only a keyboard. Can you:
- Tab through the site smoothly?
- See a clear visual indicator (like a border) when elements are focused?
- Access dropdown menus and interactive elements like forms and buttons?
If not, adjust your site or use plugins to fix these issues.
Use an accessibility testing tool
Test your site regularly to identify and fix accessibility issues. Some tools to consider:
- Wave accessibility tool: Offers an easy-to-use browser extension to highlight issues.
- Lighthouse (built into Chrome DevTools): Provides an accessibility score and actionable recommendations.
- Axe accessibility checker: Ideal for developers who need in-depth analysis.
Improve colour contrast
Color contrast is critical for users with low vision or color blindness. Use tools like Contrast Checker or Accessible Colors to ensure text is readable against your background.
Pro Tip: Stick to a ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text as per WCAG guidelines.
Make forms accessible
Forms are essential but often inaccessible. To fix this:
- Label all inputs: Add clear, descriptive labels for each field.
- Use ARIA roles: Mark required fields with ARIA attributes to communicate form structure to screen readers.
- Provide clear error messages: Use simple language and high-contrast text to indicate errors.
More Like This: What is alternative text and why should you add this to images?
Stay up-to-date with WCAG standards
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) evolve regularly. Make sure you’re compliant with WCAG 2.2, which includes new requirements like:
- Accessible focus indicators: Ensure visible outlines on interactive elements.
- Drag-and-drop alternatives: Provide alternatives to mouse-dependent actions.
- Improved target size: Ensure buttons and links are at least 24×24 pixels for touchscreens.
Offer user customization
Allow users to adjust how they interact with your site. Features like font resizing, dark mode, or adjustable line spacing can improve usability for people with vision or cognitive impairments.
Conduct regular accessibility audits
Accessibility is not a one-time task. Run regular audits and encourage user feedback. Platforms like UsabilityHub or UserTesting can help you gather insights from real users.
Follow us on X @BeInTheKnow_UK
