In Part 1, we talked about:
What accessibility really means
Why it matters (ethics, SEO, legal risk)
The POUR framework
Now it’s time to answer the real question:
How do you actually make your WordPress site accessible — without feeling overwhelmed?
Let’s keep this simple.
No heavy theory.
No 200-page WCAG documents.
Just practical steps you can apply today.
Step 1: Start With an Accessibility-Friendly Theme
Your theme is the foundation of your site.
If it’s poorly built, you’ll constantly fight accessibility issues.
What to look for:
“Accessibility-ready” label in the WordPress theme directory
Clear focus states (you can see where you are when tabbing)
Good color contrast
Logical heading structure
Quick Test (30 seconds):
- Open your site.
2.Put your mouse away.
3.Press Tab repeatedly.
Can you:
See where you are?
Reach menus?
Click buttons with Enter?
If not, your theme may need replacing.
Sometimes the most accessible fix… is switching themes.
Step 2: Use Proper Headings (Not Just Bigger Text)
Screen readers rely heavily on heading structure.
Think of headings as a table of contents.
Correct structure:
H1 → Page title
H2 → Main sections
H3 → Subsections
What _not_to do:
Don’t jump from H2 to H4 just because it “looks nicer.”
Don’t bold text and call it a heading.
In WordPress (Gutenberg), use the Heading block, not just styling.
Clean structure = better accessibility + better SEO.
Step 3: Add Meaningful Alt Text (Without Overthinking It)
Alt text isn’t about describing every pixel.
It’s about describing what matters.
Ask yourself:
If someone couldn’t see this image, what would they need to know?
Example:
❌ “Image of a woman”
✔ “Woman using a laptop to edit a WordPress blog post”
If the image is purely decorative?
Leave alt text empty.
Simple rule:
Describe purpose, not decoration.
Step 4: Fix Your Color Contrast
Low contrast is one of the most common accessibility issues.
Light grey text on white?
Looks modern.
Feels painful.
Easy Check:
Avoid very light text on light backgrounds.
Make links clearly visible (not just slightly darker text).
Never rely on color alone.
Bad example:
“The correct answer is in green.”
Better:
“The correct answer is marked with a ✔ symbol.”
Accessibility helps everyone — especially mobile users outdoors.
Step 5: Make Your Site Keyboard-Friendly
Many users:
Can’t use a mouse
Use assistive switches
Navigate with keyboards only
Test your site:
Tab through menus
Open dropdowns
Submit forms
Close popups
If you get stuck, your users get stuck.
Keyboard accessibility is not optional.
Step 6: Make Forms Clear and Forgiving
Forms are where most frustration happens.
Check that:
Every field has a visible label
Required fields are clearly marked
Error messages explain what went wrong
Errors appear near the problematic field
Bad:
“Error.”
Better:
“Please enter a valid email address.”
Clarity reduces abandonment.
Step 7: Use Plugins — But Don’t Rely on Them
There are accessibility plugins that:
-Add skip links
Highlight focus states
Scan for issues
They’re helpful.
But here’s the truth:
No plugin can guarantee full accessibility.
Accessibility isn’t a button. It’s a mindset.
Plugins support good practices. They don’t replace them.
Step 8: Add Captions and Transcripts
If you use:
Videos
Podcasts
Audio clips
Add captions or transcripts.
This helps:
Deaf users
Non-native speakers
SEO
People in noisy environments
Captions are not a “nice extra.”
They’re part of inclusion.
Step 9: Run Simple Accessibility Checks
You don’t need to be an expert to test your site.
Start with:
Keyboard-only navigation
Zoom to 200%
Mobile testing
Browser accessibility tools (like Lighthouse)
Fix obvious issues first.
Accessibility is progress — not perfection.
The Most Important Thing
You don’t need to fix everything at once.
Start with:
Better headings
Better alt text
Better contrast
Keyboard testing
Small improvements compound over time.
Final Thought
In Part 1, we talked about building a playground everyone can use.
Now you have the tools to actually build it.
Accessibility isn’t about being perfect.
It’s about being intentional.
And every improvement you make?
It opens the web to someone who was previously locked out.
That matters.
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