Accessibility Best Practices for WordPress

Creating a website is not just about design, speed, or SEO. It is also about ensuring that every user, including people with disabilities, can access and interact with your content comfortably. Accessibility in WordPress means building websites that are usable by everyone, regardless of visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive limitations.

An accessible website improves user experience, increases audience reach, enhances brand reputation, and may help you comply with legal standards in many countries. In this guide, we will explore practical accessibility best practices for WordPress that you can implement immediately.

Why Accessibility Matters

Web accessibility ensures that users who rely on screen readers, keyboard navigation, voice commands, or assistive technologies can browse your website effectively. Ignoring accessibility can:

• Limit your audience reach
• Increase bounce rates
• Harm your SEO performance
• Create legal risks in certain regions

Search engines also favor well-structured, accessible content. Clean HTML structure, descriptive alt text, and logical headings improve both accessibility and search visibility.

Choose an Accessibility-Ready WordPress Theme

Your theme forms the foundation of your website. If it is not accessibility-friendly, fixing issues later can be difficult.

When selecting a theme:

• Look for themes labeled “Accessibility Ready” in the WordPress theme directory
• Ensure proper heading structure (H1, H2, H3 hierarchy)
• Test keyboard navigation
• Check color contrast ratios
• Verify responsive design

Accessibility-ready themes follow recommended coding standards and reduce common usability barriers.

Use Proper Heading Structure

Headings help users and screen readers understand your content structure. Avoid skipping heading levels.

Correct structure example:

• H1: Page Title
• H2: Main Section
• H3: Subsection

Do not use headings just to style text. Use them to define structure. A logical hierarchy improves readability and accessibility.

Add Descriptive Alt Text to Images

Alt text (alternative text) describes images for users who cannot see them. Screen readers rely on this text to explain visuals.

Best practices:

• Describe the purpose of the image
• Keep it concise but meaningful
• Avoid keyword stuffing
• Leave alt text empty only for purely decorative images

Example:
Instead of writing “image1.jpg,” write “Woman using a laptop to edit a WordPress website.”

Ensure Strong Color Contrast

Low contrast between text and background makes content difficult to read for visually impaired users.

Best practices:

• Use dark text on light backgrounds (or vice versa)
• Avoid relying on color alone to convey meaning
• Use online contrast checker tools

For example, instead of using only red text to indicate an error, add text like “Error: Please enter a valid email address.”

Make Your Website Keyboard-Friendly

Many users navigate websites using only a keyboard.

Your website should:

• Allow users to tab through links and buttons
• Show visible focus indicators
• Provide “Skip to Content” links
• Ensure dropdown menus work with keyboard navigation

Test your site by unplugging your mouse and navigating using only the Tab and Enter keys.

Use Accessible Forms

Forms are critical interaction points. Poorly designed forms create major accessibility barriers.

Best practices:

• Add clear labels to every form field
• Avoid placeholder-only labels
• Provide helpful error messages
• Group related fields logically
• Use ARIA labels when necessary

Make sure screen readers can clearly identify each input field and its purpose.

Enable Accessible Multimedia

If you use videos or audio:

• Add captions to videos
• Provide transcripts for audio content
• Avoid auto-playing media
• Include controls for pause and volume

Captions not only improve accessibility but also help users who watch videos without sound.

Write Clear and Simple Content

Accessibility is not just technical—it is also about readability.

Use:

• Short sentences
• Clear language
• Bullet points
• Descriptive link text

Instead of writing “Click here,” write “Download the WordPress accessibility checklist.”

Clear communication benefits all users, including those with cognitive disabilities.

Use ARIA Roles Carefully

ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes help assistive technologies interpret dynamic content.

However:

• Use ARIA only when necessary
• Do not replace proper HTML with ARIA
• Follow official ARIA guidelines

Proper semantic HTML should always be your first priority.

Test Your Website for Accessibility

Regular testing helps identify and fix issues early.

You can:

• Use browser-based accessibility testing tools
• Check with screen readers
• Test keyboard-only navigation
• Review your site on multiple devices

Accessibility should be an ongoing process, not a one-time task.

Keep Plugins Accessible

Some plugins may introduce accessibility issues.

Before installing a plugin:

• Check user reviews
• Test form elements
• Verify compatibility with screen readers
• Avoid plugins that rely heavily on animations without controls

Choose lightweight, well-maintained plugins.

Follow Web Accessibility Guidelines

The global standard for web accessibility is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Following WCAG 2.1 Level AA is generally recommended for most websites.

These guidelines cover:

• Perceivable content
• Operable navigation
• Understandable information
• Robust code structure

Aligning with these principles ensures long-term accessibility compliance.

Accessibility and SEO: A Strong Connection

Accessibility improvements often boost SEO:

• Structured headings improve crawling
• Alt text improves image search visibility
• Clear navigation reduces bounce rates
• Faster loading improves user engagement

An accessible website is usually more organized, faster, and easier to understand—all positive ranking factors.

Make Accessibility Part of Your Workflow

Instead of treating accessibility as a final step, include it in every stage of website development:

• Design with contrast in mind
• Write content clearly
• Test before publishing
• Audit regularly

Train your content editors to follow accessibility standards when uploading images or creating new posts.

Final Thoughts

Accessibility is not an optional feature—it is a responsibility. By implementing accessibility best practices in WordPress, you create a more inclusive web experience, expand your audience, and build trust with your users.

Start with small improvements like adding alt text and improving color contrast. Over time, adopt more advanced accessibility standards. The goal is simple: ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, can access and benefit from your website.

An accessible WordPress website is not just better for users—it is better for your brand, your SEO, and your long-term digital success.