WordPress is a platform committed to being as inclusive and accessible as possible, and its objective is to make WordPress Admin and bundled themes WCAG 2.0 AA compliant where possible. There are accessibility-related themes that have been confirmed to pass basic accessibility requirements, but WordPress does recognize, however, that not all features and functionality fully comply.

It’s also important to note that even if you are working from an accessible theme, when you start adding your own custom elements, content, and images, that customization will likely impact your WordPress website’s accessibility. One example is the Gutenberg Editor, which gives content editors more control by adding elements like bulleted lists, columns, tabs, and accordions. It is known that Gutenberg has significant accessibility issues.

This is where adding AudioEye to your WordPress website will give you accessibility peace of mind—monitoring and scanning your unique content, fixing the most common errors, and certifying your WordPress website’s ADA / WCAG compliance.

There are quite a few WordPress plugins available that scan your website for accessibility issues. One of them is WP ADA Compliance Check Basic, which scans your site and provides a report to help you correct the detected issues. Another is wA11y–The Web Accessibility Toolbox, which connects you to popular tools that are available to analyze your website.

We’ve also created a free-standing website that aggregates different website testing tools to help you better understand your level of WordPress ADA compliance. Simply navigate to accessibilitytest.org, enter your URL and review your accessibility score from several different testing tools, including AudioEye.

Once you’re aware of your errors, to ensure your WordPress website’s accessibility, establish an AudioEye account, pick your plan, and download and install our solution. From the point of installation, your WordPress website is ADA compliant, and we certify that compliance with our AudioEye Trusted Certification.

When it comes to your WordPress website’s ADA compliance, unfortunately, the legal requirements are not crystal clear. While there are specific legal mandates for certain organizations, such as government organizations, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not specifically mandate website accessibility for all industries. However, that has not stopped accessibility advocates from suing businesses and organizations for inaccessible content, citing ADA requirements.

This is where the rule of law gets confusing. Title II of the ADA mandates equality in “places of public accommodations.” Plaintiffs have argued the internet is most certainly a place of public accommodation, and therefore subject to the mandate of the ADA. U.S. Federal Courts have largely agreed, siding with accessibility. This means operating an inaccessible website puts you at risk of a costly and time-consuming lawsuit. Not to mention, it could negatively position your brand as one that does not embrace online equality.

To make your WordPress website accessible, if you’re creating your site from scratch, it’s best to start with an accessible WordPress theme. Twenty Twenty is one WordPress recommends. These themes have many accessibility features built-in, but remember, when you begin adding your custom features and content, you are most likely introducing additional accessibility errors.

That’s why we recommend our comprehensive solution. Regardless of whether you’re building your site or already have a fully constructed site, for accessibility peace of mind, simply install AudioEye. We are continuously developing and deploying automated fixes for common WCAG errors. We also scan and monitor your website, which means each and every time a visitor comes to it, our platform will perform immediate remediation, improving your accessibility. We’re also keeping up with your content changes. Visitors to your site can also interact with our Toolbar, enabling them to customize things like color contrast, font size and spacing, visual focus, and more. And with AudioEye, your WordPress site is ADA compliant and protected from day one of installation.

It’s important that you have permission to access your settings to install the AudioEye Javascript code and ensure your WordPress website is accessible. Work is not taking place on your site until our code is active in your WordPress website footer. There are two ways to access your WordPress admin dashboard, and here’s a helpful article if you’re having trouble logging in.

By default, to add widgets in WordPress you have to click on the widget, drag the widget where you want it, and release the click. For some individuals with limited abilities, this can be difficult or even impossible. Accessibility Mode essentially provides a new way to add widgets. While Accessibility Mode is active, each widget has an “add” button next to it. When pressed, you may select the area in which the widget will be added, like the footer for example, and it appears. This method requires only a few clicks, making it easier for some users.

WordPress has created and makes available dozens of free themes in its repository. These themes have been vetted for accessibility and pass basic accessibility requirements. However, while these themes certainly provide a solid foundation when building an accessible website, remember, you can make even an accessible theme inaccessible with the installation of inaccessible plugins or design decisions that don’t take into account accessibility requirements.

As you customize and personalize your website, to ensure it remains accessible, install AudioEye. No matter your theme, we continuously monitor and scan for WCAG errors (read more about How It Works)and certify your WordPress website’s ADA compliance from the point of installation.