WordPress is one of the world’s most widely used content management systems (CMS), with over 40% of all websites powered by WordPress. Unfortunately, many websites built on WordPress are not compliant with ADA website accessibility guidelines. This is a significant problem, as visually impaired users comprise many internet users.
The first thing that we need to understand is what accessibility means in the context of WordPress. Accessibility refers to the design of websites, tools, and technologies that people with disabilities can use.
In the case of WordPress, accessibility means ensuring that the websites built on it are usable by people with visual impairments. You can do this by using tools like Xcompliant.
So let’s explore this guide and learn how to improve WordPress accessibility for visually impaired users.
Understanding Visual Impairments
Before we dive into accessibility solutions for visually impaired users, it’s important to understand the different types of visual impairments:
Low Vision
Low vision is a significant visual impairment that glasses, contact lenses, or surgery cannot correct. People with low vision may have difficulty seeing details or distinguishing colors.
Blindness
Blindness is the complete loss of vision. People who are blind may use a screen reader or other assistive technology to navigate websites.
Color Blindness
Color blindness is a condition in which a person cannot distinguish between certain colors. This can make reading text or seeing images on a website difficult.
Accessibility Guidelines for WordPress
To improve accessibility on WordPress, we can follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. These guidelines outline best practices for creating accessible content and are widely recognized as the industry standard for accessibility.
Moreover, some key guidelines include using meaningful headings and alt text for images, ensuring proper color contrast, and providing clear instructions for interactive elements. Following these guidelines can make our WordPress websites more accessible to visually impaired users.
Tips for Improving WordPress Accessibility for Visually Impaired Users
Now that we understand the different types of visual impairments let’s explore some tips for improving WordPress accessibility for visually impaired users.
1. Improving Visual Accessibility on WordPress
Visual accessibility is an important aspect of accessibility for visually impaired users. Moreover, we can follow several best practices to improve visual accessibility on WordPress, including using high-contrast colors, avoiding small text, and using readable fonts.
We can also use tools like the Accessibility Scanner plugin to check for potential issues with color contrast, text size, and other visual elements. By making these changes, we can improve the readability of our websites and make them more accessible to visually impaired users.
2. Making WordPress Navigation Accessible
Navigation is a key element of any website, and it is essential to make it accessible for visually impaired users. Additionally, we can make navigation accessible by following some best practices. These include providing clear labels for links and buttons, creating a logical and consistent structure, and using keyboard-friendly navigation.
We can also use plugins like WP Accessibility to improve navigation accessibility. This plugin provides skip-link options, allowing users to jump to the main content without navigating through all the menus and links.
3. Improving WordPress Forms for Visually Impaired Users
Forms, such as contact forms, sign-up forms, and surveys, are often useful on WordPress websites. However, designing accessible forms can be challenging, especially for visually impaired users.
To make forms accessible, we can use best practices such as providing clear and concise labels for each form field. Moreover, you can use the correct input type for each field and provide instructions on completing the form.
We can also use plugins like Gravity Forms and WPForms, which have built-in accessibility features to make it easier to create accessible forms.
4. Using Assistive Technologies on WordPress
Assistive technologies are essential for visually impaired users to navigate and interact with websites. Various assistive technologies, such as screen readers, magnifiers, and voice recognition software, are available.
To optimize WordPress for assistive technologies, we can use best practices such as using proper HTML structure and providing text alternatives for images. Moreover, we should avoid using tables for layout purposes. We can also test our websites with assistive technologies to ensure they are compatible and easy to use.
5. Providing Audio Descriptions for Videos
If your WordPress website has videos, providing audio descriptions for visually impaired users is important. Audio descriptions are narrated explanations of a video’s visual content, which can help users with visual impairments understand what is happening.
You can use tools like YouTube’s Audio Description Tool or hire a professional audio description service to provide audio descriptions.
6. Using High-Contrast Colors and Large Fonts
Using high-contrast colors and large fonts can make your website more readable for visually impaired users. High-contrast colors can help users with low vision to distinguish between different elements on a webpage. At the same time, large fonts can make reading text easier for users with visual impairments.
To use high-contrast colors, you can choose a color scheme with a high contrast ratio between the background and foreground colors. You can also use tools like the Color Contrast Analyzer to test the contrast ratio of your website’s colors.
To use large fonts, you can choose a font size of at least 16px or use a plugin like BigText to resize your text automatically.
7. Providing Text Transcripts for Audio Content
If your WordPress website has audio content, providing text transcripts for visually impaired users is important. Text transcripts are written versions of the audio content, which can help hearing-impaired users understand what is being said.
To provide text transcripts, you can write them yourself or use tools like Otter.ai or Temi to transcribe your audio content automatically.
8. Making Images Accessible with Alt Text
Images are an important part of web content but can be inaccessible for users with visual disabilities. To make images accessible, we can use alt text, a text description of an image read by assistive technologies.
To use alt text, you can provide a concise and descriptive text description of the image in the alt attribute of the image tag. You can also use plugins like the Image Alt Text plugin to generate alt text for your images automatically.
Final Thoughts
Improving WordPress accessibility for users with visual impairments is a matter of inclusivity, ethical responsibility, and an opportunity to enhance the user experience for everyone. By following the tips and strategies outlined in this guide, you can make your WordPress site more accessible and user-friendly, regardless of your level of technical expertise.
Remember, the key to creating an accessible website is to prioritize simplicity, clarity, and functionality. By focusing on these principles, you can create a site that meets the needs of visually impaired users and provides a seamless and enjoyable experience for all your visitors.