WP A11y Docs update April 2026

New and updated documentation: about alternative text for images, headings and links plus an introduction to WCAGWCAG WCAG is an acronym for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. These guidelines are helping make sure the internet is accessible to all people no matter how they would need to access the internet (screen-reader, keyboard only, etc) https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/.. Featured content: Styling links.

Work in progress: documentation about how to test for accessibilityAccessibility Accessibility (commonly shortened to a11y) refers to the design of products, devices, services, or environments for people with disabilities. The concept of accessible design ensures both “direct access” (i.e. unassisted) and “indirect access” meaning compatibility with a person’s assistive technology (for example, computer screen readers). (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accessibility), update of the info about the accessibility-ready tag in the themes handbook and figure out a section “Can I use”.

New and updated content, added in April 2026:

• Getting started:
  • Introduction to WCAG. Annelies Verhelst (@anneliesjenl ) wrote an explanation about what the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are and how they relate to WordPress.
• Content and images:
  • Alternative text for images in the content.
  • Using headings in the content.
  • Write meaningful link text.
  • Images as links.
  • Link destinations.
• Design and user experience:
  • Styling links.
• Frontend code:
  • Alternative text for images, SVGs and icons in development.
  • Image animation and accessibility.
  • Heading structure in theme development.

Work in progress

At the moment we are working on extending and updating the docs about how to web accessibility.

In May ’26 we want to update the information in the Themes handbook about the accessibility-ready tag. We updated the guidelines and the current info on Themes handbook about accessibility is outdated.

We are also discussing if and how to set up a “Can I Use” section for coreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress. blocks. With the status per blockBlock Block is the abstract term used to describe units of markup that, composed together, form the content or layout of a webpage using the WordPress editor. The idea combines concepts of what in the past may have achieved with shortcodes, custom HTML, and embed discovery into a single consistent API and user experience. about its accessibility. All input is appreciated, we want to set something up that is not a ton of work, but is findable and informative for users. This may be a good topic to work on at WordCampWordCamp WordCamps are casual, locally-organized conferences covering everything related to WordPress. They're one of the places where the WordPress community comes together to teach one another what they’ve learned throughout the year and share the joy. Learn more. Europe ’26.

All feedback on the documentation is very much welcome.

#accessibility-ready, #wp-a11y-docs