Introduction
Web accessibility guidelines to create inclusive websites. In this lesson we will discuss creating websites that everyone can use and enjoy, regardless of their abilities. Let’s start with the basics. Web accessibility is designing websites that work for everyone, including those with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments. But when we design for accessibility we’re actually improving the experience for all users. You’re not only doing the right thing but also boosting your site’s SEO and overall usability. Plus, in many countries, it is a legal requirement.
WordPress & Accessibility
WordPress has been making great strides in accessibility. Many themes and plugins are working towards being accessible, and the platform itself aims to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2 at level AA. As designers we can take these features and elevate them. So how do we do that?
Key principles
Let’s break it down into some key principles. First up is color contrast. You want to make sure there’s enough contrast between your text and background colors. A nifty tool called WebAIM Contrast Checker can help you with this. Next typography. Choose fonts that are easy to read, and aim for at least 16 pixels as your base size. Please note this is merely a best practice guideline. Use a minimum line height of 1.5 for optimal readability, avoid all caps and small caps, and reserve underlining exclusively for links. Also fully justified text should not be used. By default, WordPress doesn’t allow justified text as it can reduce accessibility due to irregular spacing, which makes it harder to read. Now on to structure and layout. Think of your website as a well-organized book. You want a clear, consistent layout with a logical reading order. Use proper heading hierarchy, as it’s like creating a table of contents for your site. Navigation is another crucial part of your site. Design your menus so they’re easy to use with both a mouse and a keyboard. And don’t forget about forms. Label everything clearly. Every form input should have a corresponding label adequately associated with the field, and all form elements should be operable on the keyboard. Buttons should also have meaningful text that describes their action. Lastly always include descriptive alt text for images. Alt text or alternative text is a brief description of an image used to improve accessibility and help search engines understand the image.
Furthermore, video captions and audio transcripts should always be provided. All these steps help to give your visual content a voice.
WordPress-specific tips
Now, let’s get into some WordPress-specific tips. When choosing a theme, look for one labeled Accessibility Ready in the WordPress Repository. It will help you to get a head start on accessibility. Next, what about testing plugins? Certain types of WordPress plugins can cause accessibility issues if they aren’t designed with best practices in mind. A good approach is checking the plugin’s usability without a mouse relying on keyboard navigation alone. Additionally you can use tools like WebAIMS WAVE to inspect the plugin for accessibility issues. There are also some great accessibility plugins out there that offer tools to check and improve the accessibility of your content. In the next lesson we will explore this further. Testing is crucial. Think of it like proofreading but for inclusivity. Always complete an accessibility audit as you are designing your website. Don’t leave it as an afterthought. Remember, designing for accessibility is an ongoing process. By prioritizing accessibility in your WordPress designs, you’re not just following best practices. You’re creating a more inclusive web for everyone.