Test for web accessibility

Introduction

How do you test the 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) of a web project?

There are many different ways to use the web besides a mouse and a pair of eyes. Users may navigate with only a keyboard or using their voice. For all the different ways to understand and to interact with a website, it is necessary that the page structure, design and code is properly set up.

There are different ways to test the accessibility of the design, code and the content of a website. This page describes which guidelines the WordPress project uses and gives you resources on how to test your work.

You find detailed test information per subject in the handbook pages:

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What are the guidelines?

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3CW3C The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is an international community where Member organizations, a full-time staff, and the public work together to develop Web standards.https://www.w3.org/.)  developed guidelines to safeguard the accessibility of a website: the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines: WCAG. We are currently at version 2.1 Version 2.2 is in draft and due to be finalised in September 2022.

There are 3 levels:

  • A, basic accessibility
  • AA, the worldwide standard, also used for government and public service websites
  • AAA, for dedicated software

For WordPress we test against the WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines.

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Accessibility team handbook

The WordPress Accessibility Handbook Best Practices has chapters about how to make and keep content, design and frontend accessible.

In the best practices section we offer you information about

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Checklists

WebAim is a great resource of information for web accessibility. On that site you can find an accessibility WebAIM checklist, but also a ton of information on all the subjects concerning what is important and what are best practices for a site.

Other checklists and overviews:

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