It’s no secret that web design and development are constantly evolving. Unfortunately, when you think you have a grasp on the latest trends, another one pops up and leaves you scrambling to catch up. In the WordPress world, accessibility has been slowly gaining traction over the past few years. While it may not be at the forefront of everyone’s mind, it’s still an important topic that should be given attention. To help you stay up-to-date, we’ve compiled a list of 4 trends in WordPress accessibility that you may have missed, including tools such as accessiBe WordPress.
The Rise of Accessibility Plugins
There are a growing number of accessibility plugins available for WordPress. While some of these plugins have been around for a while, others are relatively new to the scene. These plugins can help you make your site more accessible to those with disabilities, and they’re becoming increasingly popular as awareness of accessibility grows.
Some of the most popular accessibility plugins include:
- WP Accessibility Helper
- Accessible WordPress Theme
- a11y
- Simple Accessibility Widget
Several other plugins offer specific features, such as adding alt text to images or providing transcripts for audio and video files. If you’re looking to make your site more accessible, there’s likely a plugin that can help you achieve your goal.
Increased Focus on Keyboard Navigation
One of the biggest trends in WordPress accessibility is an increased focus on keyboard navigation. This is particularly important for those using screen readers, as they rely on keyboard commands to navigate websites. To make a site more accessible, developers need to ensure that all elements can be accessed and navigated using only the keyboard.
This can be a challenge, as many WordPress themes and plugins are not designed with keyboard navigation. However, there are a few things you can do to improve the keyboard accessibility of your site:
- Make sure all links can be reached using the Tab key.
- Ensure that all form fields can be completed using the keyboard.
- Add proper ARIA roles to all elements on the page.
While it may take some extra effort, making your site more keyboard accessible is worth it if it means making it more accessible to those with disabilities.
Improved Color Contrast
Another important trend in WordPress accessibility is improved color contrast. This is especially important for those with vision impairments, as poor color contrast can make it difficult to read text.
There are a few ways to improve the color contrast of your site:
- You can use a plugin like Color Contrast Checker to test the contrast of your site’s colors and make sure they meet the WCAG guidelines.
- You can choose a theme that has high contrast colors.
- You can use the WordPress Customizer to change the colors of your site’s elements.
While there are many ways to improve the color contrast of your site, it’s important to choose a method that works best for you and your audience.
Use of Alt Text for Images
The use of alt text for images is another trend in WordPress accessibility. Alt-text is used to describe an image, and it’s especially important for those who are using screen readers. Without alt text, screen reader users would have no way of knowing what an image is.
There are a few things to keep in mind when adding alt text to your images. First, make sure the text is descriptive and accurate. Second, keep it short and to the point. Third, avoid using keywords or phrases that are not relevant to the image.