Accessibility is an important part of web design, and it goes beyond making sure that your website is viewable by everyone. It’s also about providing a site that’s easy to use for people with disabilities.
One of the most important things you can do to make your WordPress site more accessible is to make it usable by people with disabilities. There are a number of easy ways to do this, and you don't have to spend a lot of money to make your site accessible.
A Toronto WordPress development company suggests that one way to make your WordPress website more accessible is to use a screen reader. A screen reader is a software that reads aloud the contents of a website. This can be very useful for people with vision impairment or other disabilities. You can install a screen reader on your computer, and then use it to access your WordPress site.
Let's discuss here several other ways that you can make your WordPress website more accessible.
1. Creating a Custom Menu
One easy way to make your WordPress site more accessible is to create a custom menu. This menu can be used to easily navigate through your site's content.
To create a custom menu, first open your WordPress admin panel. Then, go to the Appearance section of the admin panel and click on Menu Icons. This will display a list of all the menus on your site.
Select the Menu that you want to use as your custom menu and then click on the Edit link next to it. This will open up the Custom Menu Settings page. On this page, you will need to provide a name for your custom menu, as well as a description. You can also add any additional links that you want to include in your custom menu.
Once you have completed these steps, your custom menu will be ready to use!
2. Use HTML 5 Tags
Another easy way to make your WordPress site more accessible is to use HTML5 tags. These tags help to create a more interactive website, by allowing users to click on elements to explore them further. HTML5 also allows for adaptive content, which means that the layout and look of your website can change depending on the device being used to view it.
Finally, it's important to keep a user log so you can track how many people are accessing your site and what areas are causing the most difficulty. This way, you can improve your site accordingly and make it more accessible for everyone.
3. Changing the Default Font Size
One easy way to make your WordPress website design more accessible is to change the default font size. This can be done by going to Appearance > Site Title and replacing the font size with a smaller number. This will make the text easier to read on smaller screens.
Another way to make your WordPress website more accessible is to use a non-standard font. This can be done by installing a free font plugin from the WordPress accessibility plugins directory, or by using a custom theme that has been made specifically for accessibility.
Finally, you can also change the layout of your content so that it is easier to read. You can do this by breaking your content into smaller blocks, or by using larger fonts and larger print options.
4. Adding Keyboard Shortcuts
The next thing that you can do is add keyboard shortcuts. It allows you to access common functions faster and easier.
To add a keyboard shortcut, first open the Settings page in your WordPress site. On this page, you will see a list of all the menus and submenus. Click on the “Shortcuts” tab at the top of this page.
Now, you will see a list of all the available keyboard shortcuts. To add a new shortcut, simply click on the “Add New Shortcut” button and type in the required information. For example, you can add a shortcut to open a particular menu or submenu by entering “wp admin-menu” in the “Shortcut” field.
Once you have added your new keyboard shortcut, click on the “Save Changes” button to save it. You can now use this shortcut to speed up your workflow on your WordPress site.
5. Making your WordPress Site Fully Responsive
You need to make your website fully responsive. This means that your site will automatically adjust to different devices, such as phones and tablets.
You can also make your WordPress site more accessible by using menus and navigation bars that are compatible with different screen sizes. You can also change the font size, color, and opacity of text to make it more accessible for people with disabilities.
Overall, making your WordPress website accessible is one of the easiest ways to improve its usability.
6. Enhancing Page Loading Speed
The next thing that you can do to make your WordPress site more accessible is to improve page loading speed. This can be done by optimizing your accessible WordPress themes and plugins, as well as your website code.
One of the most popular ways to improve page loading speed is to use a WordPress caching plugin. This plugin stores files on your server so that they can be retrieved by the browser more quickly. It also helps to reduce the load time of your WordPress pages.
Another easy way to make your WordPress site more accessible is to use a web accessibility tool. This tool can help you identify and fix any problems with your website’s accessibility.
7. Adjust Color Contrast
One way to make your WordPress more accessible is to adjust the color contrast. This can be done by heading to the Customizer and changing the "Color Contrast" setting. You can also adjust the color contrast using CSS.
8. Implement Image ALT Text
One easy way to make your WordPress site more accessible is to implement Image ALT Text. This feature allows people with vision impairments to read the text that is below images without having to click on the images.
Alt tags provide information about the image to people who are deaf or have low vision. By adding alt tags, you ensure that your images are accessible to as many people as possible.
Conclusion
WordPress is a popular platform for bloggers and website owners, but it can be challenging for people with disabilities to use. Above are some easy ways to make your WordPress site more accessible, from adding alt text to images and posts, to making your site compatible with screen readers. By taking these steps, you can make your WordPress site easier for everyone to use, whether they have difficulty reading or seeing.