If your site already meets W3\u2019s current Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1), then you only need to get ready to implement the new success criteria that WCAG 2.2 is expected to roll out this summer. <\/p>\n\n\n
You might like…<\/h4>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/web-design-150x150.png\")
<\/a><\/span>Web Design Services<\/a><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/wp-hosting-150x150.png\")
<\/a><\/span>WordPress Hosting<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\nWhat\u2019s in the next accessibility guidelines update?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
W3 is developing the WCAG 2.2 guidelines to improve user experience<\/a> for people with low vision, cognitive or learning disabilities, and\/or disabilities on mobile devices. <\/p>\n\n\n\nAs of this writing, there are nine new success criteria in the works. Here\u2019s what they are and what they may mean for your website - keeping in mind that they\u2019re still a work in progress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Accessible authentication:<\/strong> Do site users need to perform a cognitive task to log in to your site, like typing in characters or solving a puzzle? If so, there should be an alternate way to log in, like autofill by a password manager or copy-paste. CAPTCHAs should focus on recognizing common objects instead of solving math problems or entering characters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Dragging:<\/strong> Does your site require users to make dragging movements with their fingers or a mouse? It should also be usable with a pointer alone, to include users who don\u2019t their hands to navigate the web.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Findable help:<\/strong> Put your help options (phone, email, chat, knowledge base, etc.) on every page in the same format.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Fixed reference points:<\/strong> If your site includes digitized versions of print books or articles with page breaks, the page numbers on the digital version should match the print edition.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Minimum focus appearance: <\/strong>You may not know the term keyboard focus indicator, but you\u2019d recognize it if you saw it.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
![\"keyboard](\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/L2iEOeIm6d6669ZukkKxPnPeuHOFYAlt3_zCOvBIQRlxyJQ4HfhRD7LhY2aCGEnPaLTPdIGGG3HbAbA_mqVigLI_MC8KsMDS7a_LVmB-KRa5Xx83Fj_XG4-OZmeaIGZCqKweQM0\")
WebAIM<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen tabbing or mousing to a page element, like a form field or a hyperlink, changes its appearance, that\u2019s what the focus indicator is focusing on. In WCAG 2.2, the keyboard-controlled focus indicator may need to meet specific requirements for size, contrast and visibility<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Enhanced focus appearance:<\/strong> This builds on the minimum focus appearance guideline above, with higher contrast and larger minimum size.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Hidden controls:<\/strong> Any controls your users need to move through your site or do a task should be visible when they\u2019re needed, without making users hover or keyboard focus to access them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Pointer target spacing:<\/strong> A target here means an area on your site that users can act on using a pointer, like a product photo they can point at to enlarge it. The recommendation here is that each target area is at least 44 CSS pixels high and wide, with no other targets inside its area. For example, if you have a pop-up that overlaps another target, that creates usability problems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Redundant entry:<\/strong> If your site users are completing a process like registration or checkout, don\u2019t make them enter the same information more than once. Previously entered info should auto-populate or be available to select. This is also a best practice for reducing cart abandonment on eCommerce websites<\/a>.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Now that you know what to do, how to do you do it? We\u2019ve rounded up some WordPress and general tools to help you create a better experience for users with disabilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
WordPress accessibility resources and next tasks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Got a WordPress site? There are plenty of resources to help you make your site more accessible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best practices for accessibility on WordPress<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The WordPress Accessibility Team\u2019s best practices handbook<\/a> covers the basics. In clear terms that are easy for non-tech people to understand, it describes ways to make your site markup, design and content more accessible. And it includes examples and suggestions for further reading if you want to learn more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"enter](\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/YOXe32BVGDh3hgpLr1b3qWGMqE7lOfKvgWVqgJWkGHd0UbDDn1CZWHW_jLrobcOKqtEfjwjb6eAwbPu_o-kk_ECVWqmFrfLilrPSTc5a9zFKVXnfgaeXVGeMkELHN5juS3aTMQU\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAccessible WordPress themes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Using an accessibility-ready WordPress theme<\/a> can help you make sure your site follows best practices for navigation, contrast and other issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Simple](\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/WsjPpmS3_uaoJiG42-pTKnBo2FHJZwb0W04AOH08pQgexUU5dtk9rGA61O7_H3-Iyk6-rUNKyDzJeKUHwC35dt-1kSrwOv9br5IMBCEVY2rjCKXjd5WrCk3-TSb_VDKG3Q_fjF8\")
Simple Podcast<\/em> Accessible WordPress Theme<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Retailer](\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/8FP1OpV-9to5VMIuwMNwY_x59vOWTMldxrolXRAFBC2Km0FJz1KrbZaw7lW9AD1x--OSVZKWFswruQvOq-hj6ukyYfF6jsi2wD525YfGS5lJ_9RsUOUkVcnZFeaKEGTM7gztP5U\")
Retailer Accessible WordPress Theme<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThere are more than 100 themes on WordPress.org right now that meet these requirements, including themes for blogs, visual portfolios, podcasts and ecommerce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Plugins to check and improve your WordPress site\u2019s accessibility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The WordPress accessibility plugin<\/a> is a quick and efficient solution to improve according to ADA, WCAG, EAA, UK Equality Act, AODA, ACA, Australia DDA, German BITV, BGG and other all global accessibility compliance standards. It supports 140+ languages, and available with a 10-days free trial.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDon\u2019t want to switch themes, or can\u2019t switch just yet? The free WP Accessibility plugin<\/a> can help you fix some of the most common theme accessibility issues by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Adding capacity for long descriptions to images<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Labeling WordPress form fields<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Including post titles on 'read more'\u009d links<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Testing color contrasts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The publisher notes up front that this plugin can\u2019t fix every accessibility issue, but it can help you start making improvements and identify things to correct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Want to check your entire site for accessibility? There are two plugins you may want to check out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Accessibility Checker<\/a> automatically scans each new post and site edit, compares your content to more than 40 Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, and lets you know what to fix and how to do it. The premium version adds bulk scanning of all your site\u2019s posts or pages and supports WooCommerce.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- WP ADA Compliance Check Basic<\/a> offers content scanning functions similar to Accessibility Checker. Its paid version scans your whole site, including 'theme files, widgets, shortcodes, custom fields'\u009d and more.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
More accessibility resources for your website<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/span>Web Design Services<\/a><\/li><\/a><\/span>WordPress Hosting<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\nWhat\u2019s in the next accessibility guidelines update?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
W3 is developing the WCAG 2.2 guidelines to improve user experience<\/a> for people with low vision, cognitive or learning disabilities, and\/or disabilities on mobile devices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As of this writing, there are nine new success criteria in the works. Here\u2019s what they are and what they may mean for your website - keeping in mind that they\u2019re still a work in progress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When tabbing or mousing to a page element, like a form field or a hyperlink, changes its appearance, that\u2019s what the focus indicator is focusing on. In WCAG 2.2, the keyboard-controlled focus indicator may need to meet specific requirements for size, contrast and visibility<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that you know what to do, how to do you do it? We\u2019ve rounded up some WordPress and general tools to help you create a better experience for users with disabilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Got a WordPress site? There are plenty of resources to help you make your site more accessible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The WordPress Accessibility Team\u2019s best practices handbook<\/a> covers the basics. In clear terms that are easy for non-tech people to understand, it describes ways to make your site markup, design and content more accessible. And it includes examples and suggestions for further reading if you want to learn more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using an accessibility-ready WordPress theme<\/a> can help you make sure your site follows best practices for navigation, contrast and other issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are more than 100 themes on WordPress.org right now that meet these requirements, including themes for blogs, visual portfolios, podcasts and ecommerce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The WordPress accessibility plugin<\/a> is a quick and efficient solution to improve according to ADA, WCAG, EAA, UK Equality Act, AODA, ACA, Australia DDA, German BITV, BGG and other all global accessibility compliance standards. It supports 140+ languages, and available with a 10-days free trial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t want to switch themes, or can\u2019t switch just yet? The free WP Accessibility plugin<\/a> can help you fix some of the most common theme accessibility issues by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The publisher notes up front that this plugin can\u2019t fix every accessibility issue, but it can help you start making improvements and identify things to correct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Want to check your entire site for accessibility? There are two plugins you may want to check out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n
WordPress accessibility resources and next tasks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Best practices for accessibility on WordPress<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Accessible WordPress themes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Plugins to check and improve your WordPress site\u2019s accessibility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
More accessibility resources for your website<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"university](\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/6QEys7qHf_AAT-93MjMb57QaLVd1rJGZ5VqjEV1kQVTbHZ6NkdSTS82KWdwjb9GPkt2KQHXgAYJc6v9ORLD7B9DUhS1DUxF5Jrsh7Bo0wABHtPsU6zjHil0sx6DtLSPh8anZZGk\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"wave](\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/KpS8P4H6gIsXZzGXo6Xgh7WFfiRKhhQXOb42ufnOrXOXR5Cz_kxe2wBH9X386_3hLlBGR7nMKIBF8MmSRN1bPEcaxkFfioiGTkTNwpQ-akYRbBh0NjEe3GofkRUZAaQS0Tjl6PM\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n