Anyone working in WordPress accessibility should know the five laws that dictate how accessible a website can be. These laws are important to follow if you want to create an inclusive and usable website for all users. While not everyone needs to be familiar with these laws, it is important for any WordPress accessibility specialist to know them and understand how they can be applied to accessiBe WordPress websites.
The five laws are:
The law of universal design
The law of universal design simply means that a website should be designed to be accessible to everyone, regardless of ability or disability. This includes people who are blind, have low vision, are deaf, have hearing impairments, or have physical disabilities.
The law of digital accessibility
The law of digital accessibility means that a website must be accessible to people with disabilities who use assistive technologies, such as screen readers, to access the internet. People who are blind, have low vision, are deaf, suffer from hearing difficulties, or have physical challenges are all examples of persons with disabilities.
The law of least astonishment
The law of least astonishment simply means that a website should be easy to use and understand. This includes making sure that the navigation is easy to follow, the content is easy to read, and the overall design is simple and clean.
The law of usability
The law of usability means that a website must be easy to use for all users. This includes persons who are blind, have low vision, are deaf, have hearing difficulties, or have physical challenges.
The law of clear communication
The law of clear communication means that a website must be easy to understand for all users. This includes making sure the content is easy to read and understand and the overall design is simple and clean.
How to implement these design laws
Implementing the above design laws can be daunting, but there are a few simple ways to make your WordPress website more accessible.
Here are a few tips:
Focus on concise language
This will ensure that it is easy to understand for all users. For example, individuals with disabilities often have difficulty understanding long and complicated sentences.
Use headings and subheadings
This will help break up the content and make it easier to read. Screen reader users can also use headings and subheadings to navigate the content.
Make sure your website is responsive
This means that your website will adjust to any screen size, making it accessible to all users.
Use alt text for images
This is important for persons who are blind or have low vision. The alt text describes the image and can be read by screen reader users.
Add captions and transcripts for videos
This is important for persons who are deaf or have hearing impairments. Captions provide a written video transcript, while transcripts provide a written description of the video.
Add support for keyboard navigation
This is important for persons who have physical disabilities. Keyboard navigation allows users to navigate the website using only their keyboard.
Conclusion
By following the above design laws, you can make your WordPress website more accessible to all users. This will create a more inclusive website that is usable for everyone.
