How to Build an Inclusive and Accessible Website on WordPress?

In today’s digital age, creating an accessible website is not just about following legal requirements—it’s about ensuring that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can access and engage with your content. This is especially important for businesses and organizations aiming to reach a wide audience, including people with disabilities.

Why Website Accessibility Matters

Website accessibility refers to the practice of designing and developing websites that can be used by people with various disabilities, including those who are blind or have low vision, deaf or hard of hearing, motor impairments, and cognitive disabilities.

Building an accessible website helps to:

Steps to Build an Inclusive and Accessible Website on WordPress

1. Choose an Accessible WordPress Theme

Your website’s theme is the foundation of its design, and not all themes are built with accessibility in mind. When selecting a WordPress theme, look for one that is designed to be accessible, following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Here’s what to look for in an accessible theme:

Keyboard navigability: Ensure that all interactive elements, such as menus, buttons, and forms, can be navigated using only a keyboard.
Color contrast: The theme should have a strong contrast between text and background colors, making it easier for users with visual impairments to read.
Screen reader compatibility: Ensure the theme is compatible with screen readers, so users who are blind or have low vision can navigate your site effectively.
Responsive design: A responsive theme ensures that your website works well on all devices, from desktops to mobile phones.

2. Use Accessible Plugins

Plugins add functionality to your WordPress website, but it’s important to ensure that they do not compromise accessibility. When choosing plugins, opt for those that are known for being accessibility-friendly.

Some useful accessible plugins include:

WP Accessibility: This plugin offers a variety of features that can improve accessibility, such as adding skip links, fixing contrast issues, and enabling keyboard navigation.
Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA): ARIA is a technical specification that improves web accessibility for dynamic content. Some plugins support ARIA for enhanced user interaction.
Yoast SEO: This SEO plugin helps with proper use of headings and content structure, making it easier for screen readers to interpret your content.

3. Optimize Text and Content for Accessibility

Content is at the heart of any website, and making it accessible ensures that all users can engage with your information. Here are some essential tips for making your content more inclusive:

Use clear and simple language: Avoid jargon, and ensure your content is easy to understand. Use headings, bullet points, and short paragraphs to break up large blocks of text.
Add alternative text for images: Every image on your website should include descriptive alternative (alt) text. This is read aloud by screen readers and provides context for users with visual impairments.
Provide captions and transcripts for multimedia: Videos and audio content should include captions or transcripts so that users who are deaf or hard of hearing can access the information.
Ensure proper heading structure: Use proper HTML heading tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.) to create a clear and logical content structure. Screen readers rely on headings to navigate the content effectively.
Link text should be descriptive: Avoid using generic link text like “click here.” Instead, make sure your link text describes the content the user will find when they click the link (e.g., "Learn more about our services").

4. Make Forms Accessible

Forms are essential on most websites, whether for contact, registration, or checkout. Accessible forms are crucial for users who rely on screen readers or keyboard navigation. Here’s how to make forms more accessible:

Label elements properly: Each form field should have a clearly defined label that explains its purpose. Use the label HTML tag to associate text labels with input fields.
Provide error messages and instructions: Ensure that error messages are clear, descriptive, and appear near the relevant form field. This helps users understand and correct mistakes.
Ensure keyboard accessibility: All form elements should be accessible via keyboard navigation. Test your forms to ensure that users can navigate through them without needing a mouse.

5. Test Your Website for Accessibility

Building an accessible website requires constant testing to ensure that your design and content are working for everyone. There are several tools and methods you can use to test the accessibility of your WordPress site:

Automated testing tools: Use tools like Google Lighthouse, Axe, or WAVE to check for common accessibility issues on your site. These tools will provide feedback on elements like contrast ratios, alt text, and keyboard navigation.
Manual testing: Try navigating your site without a mouse (using only keyboard shortcuts) to ensure that users who rely on keyboards can access all functionality. Also, test your site with screen readers such as NVDA or JAWS to ensure it’s fully compatible.
Get feedback from real users: If possible, ask users with disabilities to test your site. Their feedback will be invaluable in helping you identify areas for improvement.

6. Regularly Update and Maintain Accessibility

Accessibility is not a one-time task—it’s an ongoing process. As you add new content, update your design, or install new plugins, ensure that your website remains accessible.

Stay updated on accessibility best practices: Accessibility standards and guidelines evolve over time. Keep up to date with WCAG updates and incorporate the latest recommendations into your website.
Test after every update: After making changes to your website, test the new elements for accessibility to ensure that everything continues to function properly for all users.