Do your webpages welcome all visitors, regardless of their abilities?
Making online spaces inclusive is not just an ethical expectation — for many websites, accessibility is a legal requirement.
Consider that:
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Over 61 million adults in the US live with a disability. That‘s 1 in 4 people. [Source]
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Globally, around 15% of people experience disability. [Source]
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Laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandate accessible digital services.
Having an accessible WordPress site is about opening your content to more people.
It‘s also smart business. More traffic and improved brand reputation awaits sites that champion inclusion.
This comprehensive guide will cover:
- Key web accessibility guidelines
- The benefits of accessible WordPress sites
- Testing tools and auditing best practices
- 8 top plugins that automate checks and fixes
- Expert tips for avoiding common accessibility pitfalls
- The future of AI in assessing accessibility
Let‘s create a web that works better for everyone.
Why Digital Accessibility Matters
Before diving into specifics around WordPress, let‘s zoom out…
What does it mean for a website to be "accessible"?
An accessible site is designed so it can be effectively used by all people regardless of disability or impairment.
This includes folks with:
- Visual disabilities
- Motor or dexterity issues
- Hearing impairments
- Cognitive disabilities
- And more
Essentially, web accessibility is about eliminating barriers that prevent interaction with — and comprehension of — web-based content and services.
For example:
- Alt text so visually impaired users can understand images via screen readers
- Text captions on multimedia for those hard of hearing
- Keyboard shortcuts facilitating navigation for those lacking a mouse
- Headings and semantic structure to aid comprehension
There are moral reasons to pursue accessibility. But there are also legal motivations for some site owners.
Legal Obligations for Digital Accessibility
Various laws globally mandate digital accessibility:
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The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination based on disability and obliges "reasonable accommodations." This applies to both physical spaces AND digital properties like websites and apps. [Source]
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The EU‘s Web Accessibility Directive requires accessibility statements on sites along with processes for user feedback. [Source]
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Under Section 508 standards, US federal agencies must maintain accessible electronic and information technology. [Source]
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Numerous individual US states also enacted statutes around digital accessibility.
These regulations establish legal duties for many public and private site owners. Ignoring them invites litigation.
For example, credit card giant Visa paid $22,500 in fines over accessibility issues under a California consent decree. Still more cases proceed through the courts today.
WordPress Sites Are Not Immune
Over 43% of the web runs on WordPress, making it the world’s most popular CMS. [Source]
With great power comes great responsibility. WordPress sites are just as obligated to offer accessible experiences.
Ignorance won’t get you off the hook. As Dominick Ruggier, Accessibility Practice Lead at Bender Consulting Services told Forbes:
"The explosion of web accessibility lawsuits does not seem to discriminate based on a website’s platform… WordPress sites have absolutely been targeted.”
So how can you make your WP site compliant?
Enter accessibility plugins…
Top WordPress Accessibility Plugins for 2023
WordPress plugins that scan sites for accessibility issues offer an easy way to get started. Leading options include:
1. UserWay Accessibility Widget
UserWay is among the most full-featured free accessibility widgets. It adds a floating menu letting visitors toggle various tools.
Key Features
- Automatic personalized scanner identifies issues
- Widget for text scaling, color contrast, readers, etc
- Screen reader support, keyboard navigation
- Free and premium plans
Figure: UserWay‘s neat floating widget puts various accessibility controls at the user‘s fingertips.
The free widget packs quite a punch, with 28 different accessibility features. For enhanced compliance beyond a basic level, premium UserWay plans may still be required.
2. accessiBe AI-Powered Accessibility
Trusted by leading travel, finance, and tech brands, accessiBe leverages advanced AI to fully automate accessibility assessments and fixes.
Key Features
- Real-time AI site scanner continually enhances accessibility
- Ongoing monitoring as site evolves
- Customizable interface widgets
- Integrates with popular site builders
Figure: accessiBe provides handy at-a-glance insights into automated accessibility checks.
For those seeking a truly hands-off accessibility solution, accessiBe promises comprehensive management without the need for human testers. Its premium plans are admittedly costly however.
3. EqualWeb Accessibility Checker
EqualWeb combines automated scanning with manual auditing to catch accessibility issues. It helps developers pinpoint and directly fix problems.
Key Features
- Automatic and manual site scanning options
- Customized accessibility reports
- Accessibility statement generator
- Free version available
For developers comfortable tackling code changes, EqualWeb‘s fusion of algorithmic and human testing proves helpful. Less technical users may still require outside assistance though.
4. One Click Accessibility
Living up to its name, One Click Accessibility makes it trivial to adjust site-wide accessibility configurations. The free WordPress plugin provides common tools.
Key Features
- Admin toolbar for managing settings
- Adjusts focus outlines, color contrast, fonts
- Incorporates skip links, ARIA landmark roles
- Open source and free
One Click Accessibility offers an easy entry point for accessibility tweaks. But advanced WCAG criteria may demand upgraded premium software.
5. Accessibility Suite
The aptly named Accessibility Suite is a scanner reporting on violations of ADA, Section 508, WCAG and other standards. It informs developers exactly what requires fixing.
Key Features
- Scans and reports specifically on accessibility flaws
- Confirms compliance status for major guidelines
- Google Lighthouse integration
- Totally free open source download
While the onus of remediation still falls to site owners, Accessibility Suite‘s detailed issues snapshots simplify the process.
6. UserWay Widget & Plugin
Alongside its front-end widget, UserWay provides a robust WordPress plugin with advanced accessibility configuration options.
Key Features
- Repairs various common WCAG criteria violations
- Backups and ongoing site monitoring
- Customizable interface language/styling
- 14-day free trial on premium plans
Figure: The full-fledged UserWay plugin has more automation power than its free widget counterpart.
From automatic issue resolution to personalized site backups, the UserWay plugin helps enterprises monitor and manage accessibility.
7. WP Accessibility Tools
An open-source WordPress.org project, WP Accessibility Tools checks for areas of improvement per ADA, Section 508 and WCAG 2.1 guidelines.
Key Features
- Flags suggestions to meet major accessibility standards
- Validates color contrast ratios
- Assists with bulk image alt text insertion
Figure: Quickly validate color contrast ratios with WP Accessibility Tools.
While falling short of automated fixes, WP Accessibility Tools simplifies initial manual testing and enhancements.
8. AudioEye Managed Accessibility
Those seeking fully-managed accessibility can turn to AudioEye. Experts handle real-time monitoring and testing 24/7.
Key Features
- Full-service setup, testing and ongoing fixes
- Customized widgets and interface
- Always-on site monitoring with alerts
- Satisfaction guarantee
Think of AudioEye as delegating your accessibility program to capable professionals. That peace of mind comes at a hefty price however.
Choosing the Best Plugin Based on Needs
With core criteria covered, let‘s compare some key factors when selecting software:
| Plugin | Free Version | Automatic Fixes | Customization | Real-Time Monitoring |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UserWay | Yes | Limited (Premium) | Interface Widgets | Yes (Premium) |
| accessiBe | No | Yes | Interface Widgets | Yes |
| EqualWeb | Yes | No | Reporting Dashboards | Yes (Premium) |
| One Click Accessibility | Yes | Basic | Limited | No |
| Accessibility Suite | Yes | No | No | No |
| AudioEye | No | Yes | Interface Widgets | Yes |
Other aspects like your technical proficiency, site design, and budget play a role too.
Prioritize must-have features, then shortlist 2-3 plugins to trial first-hand.
Manual Testing: The Cornerstone of Accessibility
While tools provide checks and balances, manual testing remains crucial for catching subtle issues.
Expert tip: Install an accessibility plugin yourself, but also have a developer independently audit your site occasionally.
Why? Algorithms have limitations. Human discernment picks up edge cases.
Set reminders to continuously evaluate your site for:
- Color contrast: Do font colors have enough contrast from background colors? This contrast checker helps.
- Image alt text: Do all images have descriptive alt text for those using screen readers?
- Heading hierarchy: Are headings sequential and descriptive for easy navigation?
- Focus order: Can users tab through page elements in a logical order?
- Link text: Do links say more than just "click here" or "read more"?
Ruthlessly scrutinize new pages and changes through an accessibility lens.
And seriously consider formal accessibility user testing. Participants with real disabilities provide invaluable feedback.
Over 80% of accessibility issues are completely missed by automated checkers according to research from the Bureau of Internet Accessibility.
Complement automation with manual checks, user testing, and keyboard navigation experiments.
Common Accessibility Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
Even veterans slip up at times. Stay mindful of these ubiquitous WordPress accessibility issues:
Poor Color Contrast
Accessibility experts rave about the WCAG AAA standard requiring a 7:1 ratio between foreground text and background colors.
But a minimum 4.5:1 ratio remains sufficient under WCAG 2.1 compliance criteria. Validate ratios using this tool.
Also remember that contrast extends beyond text. It applies to borders, graphical overlays, shadows, and more.
Missing Alt Text
Describe all image content in succinct alt text for screen reader users. An exception exists for purely decorative images not conveying info. But when in doubt, add alt text.
Fortunately most accessibility plugins can automatically generate descriptions by detecting features using AI-powered computer vision.
Videos Lacking Captions
While streaming sites automatically generate captions, user-uploaded videos pose problems. Take time to add proper descriptions of speech and sound effects.
Transcribing audio helps those with hearing issues. Captions also benefit mobile users in loud or quiet environments.
Improper Heading Hierarchy
Proper page structure aids comprehension. Use <h1> tags for primary headings only once per page or section. Then apply <h2>, <h3> etc to lower-level subheadings in order.
Don‘t randomly skip heading levels or use sizes purely for styling text. Outline content appropriately.
Inaccessible PDFs & Documents
PDF files pose barriers with their fixed layouts. When possible, also publish content in HTML webpages that reflow and scale.
For necessary PDFs, describe all images/media, add tags to sections, and verify a logical reading order. Never scan documents as just images.
Tools like Adobe Acrobat facilitate accessible PDF authoring with built-in checks.
Emerging: AI to Democratize Accessibility Testing
Advancements in AI generate cautious optimism around accessibility.
Automatically generating image descriptions and tokenized captions using computer vision aims to accelerate remediation.
And AI site navigators that mimic user behavior serve to identify areas of friction or confusion for those with disabilities.
As Sebastián Grasso, CEO of UX firm Humanitec told Forbes:
“AI bots can impersonate a blind user that relies on a screen reader or an individual with limited mobility navigating with voice commands…Testing tools integrated with chatbots and natural language processing analyze pages as an actual person would."
However, exclusive reliance on emerging technology risks marginalizing user needs. The most progressive approach combines:
- Automated testing through algorithms
- Manual human auditing based on guidelines
- User feedback from those with real disabilities
This fusion of skill sets and inputs paints a holistic picture to guide ongoing improvements.
At large enterprises like IBM and Microsoft, new roles like Chief Accessibility Officers now steward this big picture view.
Let‘s Build a Web Accessible to All
Approaching accessibility as an "…end-user thing" grossly understates its cross-functional implications.
Issues easily snowball without company-wide ownership. But consistent upkeep prevents the need for redesigning entire systems down the road.
Prioritize accessibility early on. Budget for it in project planning and staff editors properly to add alt text. Lean on tools like plugins to reinforce solid foundations.
While automated solutions expedite aspects, true progress includes social components like user testing.
Accessibility plays an instrumental role in fulfilling the empowering promise of the internet.
Choose inclusive design not just for legal reasons, but for the value diversity brings to problem-solving. By understanding varied perspectives and removing barriers, we raise creativity and innovation.
This guide outlined key considerations like:
- The ethical and legal motivations
- Leading plugins to support your website audit
- Budgeting for consultants as a second opinion
- Emerging AI to enhance assessments
With clearer expectations, now you can better budget time for checks and plugin config and reasonably judge progress.
You don‘t have to tackle the entire accessibility landscape overnight. But small, measured improvements make a world of difference to those frequently relegated to an afterthought.
