{"id":6987,"date":"2025-09-01T12:16:02","date_gmt":"2025-09-01T09:16:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/?p=6987"},"modified":"2025-09-03T12:16:06","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T09:16:06","slug":"accessible-wordpress-theme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/blog\/accessible-wordpress-theme\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Choose an Accessibility Ready WordPress Themes (Part 3)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>To make your WordPress site accessible, your theme and content need to support each other. First, you\u2019ll need to choose an accessible WordPress theme, then create accessible content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An accessible WordPress theme provides a strong foundation for content\u2014like well-structured text, captions for videos, and alt text for images\u2014that supports all users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To help you with theme accessibility, in this article, we\u2019ll look into four things you should and four things you shouldn\u2019t do before picking a theme for your WordPress site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this guide, we\u2019ll explore essential dos and don\u2019ts for selecting an accessible WordPress theme. From testing for keyboard navigation to checking color contrast and mobile compatibility, these tips will help you find a theme that supports accessibility standards and enhances your site\u2019s user experience for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"key-takeaways\">Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Test for full keyboard accessibility including &#8220;Skip to Content&#8221; links and tab focus visibility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Choose themes with flexible options for colors, typography, spacing, and layout.\u2003\u2003<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Review default designs or starter sites to gauge built-in accessibility quality.\u2003\u2003<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Look for clean, semantic HTML and WAI-ARIA support in the theme&#8217;s code.\u2003\u2003<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don\u2019t rely only on the \u201caccessibility-ready\u201d label\u2014run your own manual and tool-based tests.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Table of Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li><a href=\"#key-takeaways\">Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#four-dos-on-how-to-choose-an-accessible-word-press-theme\">Four Essential Tips for Choosing an Accessible WordPress Theme<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#1-do-start-with-checking-the-theme-for-keyboard-accessibility\">1. Do Start with Checking the Theme for Keyboard Accessibility<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#2-do-understand-the-color-menu-typography-and-spacing-options-the-theme-provides\">2. Do Understand the Color, Menu, Typography, and Spacing Options the Theme Provides<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#3-do-test-the-default-theme-design-or-pre-built-starter-sites\">3. Do Test the Default Theme Design or Pre-Built Starter Sites<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#4-do-check-if-the-theme-uses-clean-and-semantic-code\">4. Do Check if the Theme Uses Clean and Semantic Code<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#four-donts-on-how-to-choose-an-accessible-word-press-theme\">Four Common Accessibility Mistakes to Avoid When Selecting a Theme<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#1-dont-rely-on-the-accessibility-ready-label-of-the-word-press-theme-repository\">1. Don\u2019t Rely on the Accessibility-Ready Label of the WordPress Theme Repository<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#2-dont-ignore-mobile-and-tablet-users\">2. Don\u2019t Ignore Mobile and Tablet Users<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#3-dont-trust-any-single-accessibility-testing-tool-or-method\">3. Don\u2019t Trust Any Single Accessibility Testing Tool or Method<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#4-dont-choose-a-theme-you-dont-like-just-for-accessibility\">4. Don\u2019t Choose a Theme You Don\u2019t Like Just for Accessibility<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#faq\">FAQ<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#what-does-accessibility-ready-mean-in-the-word-press-theme-repository\">What Does \u201cAccessibility-Ready\u201d Mean in the WordPress Theme Repository?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#how-can-i-test-if-a-word-press-theme-is-keyboard-accessible\">How Can I Test if a WordPress Theme Is Keyboard Accessible?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#can-a-theme-be-both-accessible-and-visually-appealing\">Can a Theme Be Both Accessible and Visually Appealing<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#summary\">Summary<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"four-dos-on-how-to-choose-an-accessible-word-press-theme\">Four Essential Tips for Choosing an Accessible WordPress Theme<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-do-start-with-checking-the-theme-for-keyboard-accessibility\">1. Do Start with Checking the Theme for Keyboard Accessibility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As <a href=\"https:\/\/webdesign.tutsplus.com\/articles\/keyboard-accessibility-tips-using-html-and-css--cms-31966\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">keyboard accessibility<\/a> is fairly easy to check, it\u2019s a good idea to test it before anything else. If a theme doesn\u2019t pass the test, it\u2019s better not to use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Imagine a visitor with limited mobility navigating your site via keyboard. As they press the Tab key, they should be able to see a \u201cSkip to Content\u201d link to bypass menus, underlined links for clear visibility, and easy access to all form fields, such as search bars or contact forms. This setup allows them to navigate smoothly without getting stuck on inaccessible elements.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>After installing and activating a theme, hit the Tab key, and check whether:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>a \u2018Skip-to-content\u2019 link appears at the top of the page<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the links in the main content area are underlined<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>all the links are visible as you\u2019re tabbing through them<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>you can access every menu item and form field (e.g. search bar, contact form) just by using your keyboard<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the <a href=\"https:\/\/oldrup.dk\/en\/keyboard-navigation-focus-outline\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">most common keyboard navigation keys<\/a> work without issues<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If a theme provides starter sites or demos, test the default install (with no starter site enabled) for <a href=\"https:\/\/make.wordpress.org\/themes\/handbook\/review\/accessibility\/required\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">keyboard accessibility<\/a>, as this is how you can check if the theme has been built with accessibility in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full has-lightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1902\" height=\"946\" src=\"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/blocksy-keyboard-accessibility-v2.png\" alt=\"Blocksy test site with Tab navigation, annotated screenshot\" class=\"wp-image-7054\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><mark style=\"background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-8, #ffffff)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-palette-color-4-color\">Accessible keyboard navigation with a skip-to-content link<\/mark><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-do-understand-the-color-menu-typography-and-spacing-options-the-theme-provides\">2. Do Understand the Color, Menu, Typography, and Spacing Options the Theme Provides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most important aspects of WordPress theme accessibility is whether the theme provides you with all the necessary tools to create an accessible website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In other words, you\u2019ll need to understand the customization options built into the theme. While the WordPress Core adds some default options to the Customizer, most of the settings depend on the theme \u2014 and there can be huge differences between one theme and another. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Accessibility isn\u2019t just about functionality\u2014it\u2019s also about readability and visual clarity. A theme with customization options for color, typography, and spacing helps you build an accessible, visually appealing site for users of all abilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>For a food blog, choosing a high-contrast color scheme makes recipe text and ingredient lists easier to read for visually impaired users. The ability to adjust typography and spacing also allows readers to comfortably view content without straining, making your site more enjoyable and accessible.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>While the options are located in the Customizer (under the <strong>Appearance &gt; Customize<\/strong> menu), some themes provide a separate Theme Options panel, too, to help admin users find the most important settings (which also improves cognitive accessibility).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full has-lightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1902\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/blocksy-theme-dashboard-v2.png\" alt=\"Blocksy's theme dashboard in the WordPress admin area, screenshot \" class=\"wp-image-7055\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><mark style=\"background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-8, #ffffff)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-palette-color-4-color\">Blocksy&#8217;s theme dashboard, Customizer shortcuts<\/mark><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>To assess a theme&#8217;s options for accessibility, check:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>what layout options you get for different post types (blog posts, pages, the search page, etc.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>if you can adjust the colors, typography, spacing, buttons, menu, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>if the options are structured logically and described in straightforward language<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, here are our Blocksy theme\u2019s color options that help you implement a fully <a href=\"https:\/\/accessiblepalette.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">accessible color palette<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full has-lightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1919\" height=\"927\" src=\"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/blocksy-color-options-v2.png\" alt=\"Blocksy's accessible color options in the WordPress Customizer, screenshot \" class=\"wp-image-7056\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><mark style=\"background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-8, #ffffff)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-palette-color-4-color\">One of Blocksy&#8217;s customizable color palettes<\/mark><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong>&nbsp;As navigation is an especially challenging part of web accessibility, you&#8217;ll need to test the theme&#8217;s menu options with extra care if you want to add a more complex menu to your WordPress site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-do-test-the-default-theme-design-or-pre-built-starter-sites\">3. Do Test the Default Theme Design or Pre-Built Starter Sites<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The default design or starter sites tell a lot about how the theme author approaches accessibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/starter-sites\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">demos are sometimes available online<\/a> on the theme author\u2019s website so that you can check them out without installing the theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pre-built starter sites or demo content can show you how a theme handles accessibility out of the box. A theme with good default design choices often makes it simpler to create accessible pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>If you\u2019re setting up a portfolio website, use a theme\u2019s demo site as a starting point, then tweak it for accessibility by increasing color contrast and choosing readable fonts. This approach helps you ensure that your site is accessible from the start while still reflecting your style and branding.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>As a rule of thumb, avoid treating starter sites as finished designs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead, think of them as starter designs you can still tweak later using the theme&#8217;s customization options \u2014 for example, you can increase the color contrast or change the font type to a more readable one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full has-lightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1901\" height=\"925\" src=\"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/blocksy-garderobe-v2.png\" alt=\"Accessible WordPress theme, example, the homepage of Blocksy's Garderobe starter site\" class=\"wp-image-7057\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><mark style=\"background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-8, #ffffff)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-palette-color-4-color\">Blocksy&#8217;s Garderobe starter site<\/mark><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-do-check-if-the-theme-uses-clean-and-semantic-code\">4. Do Check if the Theme Uses Clean and Semantic Code<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Theme accessibility is not simply about design \u2014 the underlying code base also needs to be accessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Code accessibility means that the code:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>uses <a href=\"https:\/\/www.w3schools.com\/html\/html5_semantic_elements.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">semantic HTML tags<\/a> where they are available<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>uses the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/WAI\/standards-guidelines\/aria\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">WAI-ARIA syntax<\/a> where semantic HTML tags are not available<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>is optimized for performance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>follows the <a href=\"https:\/\/developer.wordpress.org\/coding-standards\/wordpress-coding-standards\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">WordPress Coding Standards<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Accessible code allows screen readers and other assistive technologies to interpret content accurately. Look for themes with clean, semantic code that follows accessibility standards like WAI-ARIA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>If you\u2019re building an eCommerce site, clean code with semantic tags like&nbsp;<code>&lt;header&gt;<\/code>,&nbsp;<code>&lt;nav&gt;<\/code>, and&nbsp;<code>&lt;footer&gt;<\/code>&nbsp;helps screen readers accurately interpret sections of your site, allowing visually impaired users to locate product categories, checkout forms, and customer service links quickly and efficiently.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>If you know how to read code, you can use your browser&#8217;s developer tools to inspect the page. For example, here\u2019s our Blocksy theme\u2019s semantic and accessible markup for the search form:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full has-lightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1252\" height=\"390\" src=\"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/search-form-code-accessibility-v2.png\" alt=\"HTML code with ARIA syntax that adds an accessible search form to the page, Chrome DevTools screenshot\" class=\"wp-image-7058\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><mark style=\"background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-8, #ffffff)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-palette-color-4-color\">Blocksy&#8217;s accessible search form with WAI-ARIA syntax<\/mark><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Alternatively, you can use an accessibility testing tool, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/wave.webaim.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">WAVE<\/a>, to visualize the code:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full has-lightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"925\" src=\"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/blocksy-search-page-wave-v2.png\" alt=\"Blocksy's accessible search form, visualized in the WAVE tool, screenshot\" class=\"wp-image-7059\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><mark style=\"background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-8, #ffffff)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-palette-color-4-color\">The same search form in the WAVE app<\/mark><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don\u2019t want to look at code at all, you can turn on the screen reader or text-to-speech tool of your operating system or web browser, such as VoiceOver on MacOS; Narrator on Windows; or the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/edge\/features\/read-aloud?form=MT00D8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Read Aloud feature<\/a> of the Edge browser, to check how easy or hard it is to access the content with assistive technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"four-donts-on-how-to-choose-an-accessible-word-press-theme\">Four Common Accessibility Mistakes to Avoid When Selecting a Theme<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-dont-rely-on-the-accessibility-ready-label-of-the-word-press-theme-repository\">1. Don\u2019t Rely on the Accessibility-Ready Label of the WordPress Theme Repository<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While the official theme repository at WordPress.org does have an \u2018accessibility-ready\u2019 filter, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.webyes.com\/blogs\/choose-accessibility-ready-wordpress-theme\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">it doesn\u2019t mean that a theme meets the WCAG guidelines at Level AA<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the <a href=\"https:\/\/make.wordpress.org\/accessibility\/handbook\/which-themes-can-you-use\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">WordPress Accessibility Handbook<\/a> puts it, the accessibility-ready label only acknowledges that a theme meets the <a href=\"https:\/\/make.wordpress.org\/themes\/handbook\/review\/accessibility\/required\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">minimum requirements<\/a> set by the WordPress theme review team:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full has-lightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"711\" height=\"148\" src=\"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/accessibility-ready-warning-v2.png\" alt=\"Screenshot from the WP Accessibility Handbook; included text: &quot;accessibility-ready does not mean a theme meets WCAG guidelines at level AA. It means that the theme reaches the minimum standards that the theme review team has set.&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-7060\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><mark style=\"background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-8, #ffffff)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-palette-color-4-color\">Disclaimer of the accessibility-ready label in the WP Accessibility Handbook<\/mark><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While adhering to the minimum standards can be a good starting point, it\u2019s better to use a more holistic approach when choosing an accessible WordPress theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The \u201caccessibility-ready\u201d label in the WordPress theme repository signals that a theme meets minimum accessibility requirements but doesn\u2019t guarantee full accessibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>A theme with this label may pass basic checks, but still lack color contrast options or mobile-friendly navigation. If you\u2019re creating a travel blog and want users to easily browse posts on any device, a full test beyond the label is essential to ensure accessibility across all site elements.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-dont-ignore-mobile-and-tablet-users\">2. Don\u2019t Ignore Mobile and Tablet Users<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your WordPress site needs to be accessible on mobile and tablet devices, too. The best way to ensure this is by choosing a theme that comes with customization options that let you adjust the mobile design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The biggest mobile accessibility issue tends to be the navigation, as there\u2019s not enough space on the screen to show everything. To improve mobile accessibility, you\u2019ll need a theme that allows you to create a separate mobile menu and fine-tune its design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Accessible design should extend to all screen sizes, including mobile and tablet devices. A theme with mobile-friendly menu options and customizable layout settings will help ensure accessibility for all users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>For a small business site, a theme that offers a mobile-specific menu allows you to simplify navigation on smaller screens. This means visitors can easily find your contact information, business hours, or services on their phones without unnecessary scrolling.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, Blocksy\u2019s mobile menu options let you change the dropdown toggle icon, adjust the spacing between the menu items, and more:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full has-lightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"927\" src=\"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/blocksy-mobile-menu-options-v2.png\" alt=\"Blocksy's mobile menu options in the WordPress Customizer, screenshot\" class=\"wp-image-7061\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><mark style=\"background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-8, #ffffff)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-palette-color-4-color\">Drag-and-drop mobile menu builder<\/mark><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-dont-trust-any-single-accessibility-testing-tool-or-method\">3. Don\u2019t Trust Any Single Accessibility Testing Tool or Method<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To evaluate the accessibility of a WordPress theme, always use more than one method or tool to get a multi-angle overview of its strengths and weaknesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, you can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>do manual testing (with a keyboard, screen readers, styles disabled, etc.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>use online accessibility testing tools such as WAVE or <a href=\"https:\/\/chrome.google.com\/webstore\/detail\/lighthouse\/blipmdconlkpinefehnmjammfjpmpbjk?hl=es\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Lighthouse<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>test for mobile and desktop performance with a tool such as Lighthouse or <a href=\"https:\/\/pagespeed.web.dev\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">PageSpeed Insights<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ask people with <a href=\"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/blog\/website-accessibility-primer\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/blog\/website-accessibility-primer\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">different types of disabilities<\/a> to test your theme \u2014 they still might find accessibility issues that you have overlooked<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Testing your theme\u2019s accessibility with multiple tools gives you a well-rounded understanding of its strengths and weaknesses. While tools like WAVE or Lighthouse offer great insights, combining these with manual testing and user feedback is key to catching potential issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>For a <a href=\"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/starter-sites\/nonprofit-templates\/\">nonprofit organization\u2019s site<\/a>, run an automated test with WAVE, then use a screen reader to simulate the experience of visually impaired visitors. This dual approach can reveal issues that automated tools alone might miss, ensuring that all users can access your donation forms and other essential information.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-dont-choose-a-theme-you-dont-like-just-for-accessibility\">4. Don\u2019t Choose a Theme You Don\u2019t Like Just for Accessibility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While making your WordPress site accessible is an important endeavor, don\u2019t choose a theme you don\u2019t like just because it scores well on accessibility tests. If it has a design that won&#8217;t engage your audience, it&#8217;s better to go with another theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While accessibility is important, the theme should also fit your brand\u2019s style and appeal to your target audience. Look for a balance between aesthetics and usability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>For a design agency website, opt for a theme that combines accessibility with visual appeal. While accessibility features help ensure inclusivity, the overall look and feel should still represent your creative vision to engage potential clients effectively.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>To optimize user experience, you\u2019ll need to find the balance between aesthetics and the different aspects of usability, including accessibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Theme authors can help you with that by giving you access to multiple good-looking starter sites and providing you with well-thought-out customization options that let you tweak the design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full has-lightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1826\" height=\"1078\" src=\"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/blocksy-web-agency-demo-v2.png\" alt=\"Accessible WordPress theme, example, the homepage of Blocksy's Web Agency starter site\" class=\"wp-image-7062\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><mark style=\"background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-8, #ffffff)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-palette-color-4-color\">Blocksy&#8217;s Web Agency starter site<\/mark><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faq\">FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-does-accessibility-ready-mean-in-the-word-press-theme-repository\"><strong>What Does \u201cAccessibility-Ready\u201d Mean in the WordPress Theme Repository?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The \u201caccessibility-ready\u201d label means a theme meets the minimum accessibility standards set by the WordPress theme review team. However, it does not guarantee full compliance with WCAG Level AA guidelines, so further testing is still necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-can-i-test-if-a-word-press-theme-is-keyboard-accessible\"><strong>How Can I Test if a WordPress Theme Is Keyboard Accessible?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Install and activate the theme, then press the\u00a0<code>Tab<\/code>\u00a0key. You should see a \u201cSkip to Content\u201d link, visibly outlined links, and be able to navigate through menus and form fields using only the keyboard. If any of these fail, the theme likely has accessibility issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"can-a-theme-be-both-accessible-and-visually-appealing\"><strong>Can a Theme Be Both Accessible and Visually Appealing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes. A good theme balances accessibility with design flexibility. Look for themes that offer multiple starter templates, customizable layouts, and typography controls. You don\u2019t have to compromise on aesthetics to meet accessibility needs. <a href=\"https:\/\/arxiv.org\/abs\/2401.00451\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/arxiv.org\/abs\/2401.00451\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Only 3.7% of the top one million websites globally are fully accessible<\/a>, highlighting how rare complete compliance remains\u2014even among major sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"summary\">Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we looked into WordPress theme accessibility in detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a recap of the four dos and four don\u2019ts of how to choose an accessible WordPress theme:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Do<\/th><th>Don&#8217;t<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>&#8230; start with checking the theme for keyboard accessibility.<\/td><td>&#8230; rely on the accessibility-ready label of the WordPress Theme Repository.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>&#8230; understand the color, menu, typography, and spacing options the theme provides.<\/td><td>&#8230; ignore mobile and tablet users.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>&#8230; test the default theme design or pre-built starter sites.<\/td><td>&#8230; trust any single accessibility testing tool or method.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>&#8230; check if the theme uses clean and semantic code.<\/td><td>&#8230; choose a theme you don&#8217;t like just for accessibility.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, don\u2019t forget that even if you have an accessible WordPress theme, you still need to create accessible content and regularly test the live site, as issues can always arise as you\u2019re adding new content and functionality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Blocksy is a fully accessible free WordPress theme \u2014 take a look at the <a href=\"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">features<\/a>, check out the <a href=\"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/starter-sites\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">starter sites<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/themes\/blocksy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">download it from WordPress.org<\/a> and give it a test drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Editor&#8217;s note: <\/strong>This article was the third part of our <strong>WordPress Accessibility<\/strong> series \u2014 it covered how to choose an accessible WordPress theme. Check out the previous parts, too, on <a href=\"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/blog\/website-accessibility-primer\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/blog\/website-accessibility-primer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">website accessibility in general<\/a> (Part 1) and <a href=\"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/blog\/wordpress-accessibility-guide\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/blog\/wordpress-accessibility-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WordPress accessibility in detail<\/a> (Part 2).<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>To make your WordPress site accessible, your theme and content need to support each other. First, you\u2019ll need to choose an accessible WordPress theme, then create accessible content. An accessible WordPress theme provides a strong foundation for content\u2014like well-structured text, captions for videos, and alt text for images\u2014that supports all users. To help you with [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":56,"featured_media":7050,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6987","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-resources"],"blocksy_meta":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6987","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/56"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6987"}],"version-history":[{"count":58,"href":"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6987\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13996,"href":"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6987\/revisions\/13996"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7050"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6987"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6987"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creativethemes.com\/blocksy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6987"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}