Accessibility means that everyone, including people with visual, motor, hearing or cognitive disabilities, can use your website. It is also good for all visitors and for search engines, and in some countries it is a legal requirement for certain businesses. Here are practical steps for a WordPress site.
Text and colours
- Sufficient contrast between text and background.
- Readable font sizes, especially on mobile.
- Do not rely on colour alone to convey information (for example “required fields in red”).
Images
Describe meaningful images in their alt text (“Bathroom after renovation, white tiles and walk-in shower”). Decorative images can have an empty alt.
Keyboard navigation
Try using your site with only the Tab, Enter and Escape keys. You should see where the focus is, open menus, use sliders and close popups. Many problems come from plugins: popups that trap focus, sliders that cannot be controlled, buttons that are not real buttons.
Forms
- Visible labels for every field (not only placeholders).
- Clear error messages that explain how to fix the problem.
- Correct input types (email, tel) for mobile keyboards.
Popups, carousels and motion
Limit popups, make them closable with Escape, and return focus to where it was. Keep animations gentle and respect the “reduced motion” setting of visitors’ devices.
Headings and structure
One H1 per page, then H2 and H3 in order. Screen-reader users navigate by headings, and so do search engines.
Choose accessible plugins
When comparing plugins, check keyboard support and screen-reader labels, see how to choose plugins. For example, accessible popups (keyboard, Escape, focus return) in team profiles and size guides, keyboard-controlled before / after sliders, and screen-reader friendly pricing tables.
Test
Use free tools such as browser accessibility checkers, test with the keyboard, and zoom the page to 200% to check nothing breaks.
Many Woo-Plugins plugins were built with keyboard navigation, focus management and reduced motion in mind, for example Teamly, Sizely and Revealr.
Frequently asked questions
Is accessibility mandatory for small businesses?
It depends on your country and sector. Even when not mandatory, it improves the experience for all visitors.
Does accessibility help SEO?
Clear structure, headings and alt text help search engines understand your pages.
Is an accessibility overlay widget enough?
Overlays do not fix underlying issues. Fix contrast, structure, keyboard access and forms directly.