WPCampus 2016: WordPress Accessibility: Where We Are and Where We’re Going

Accessibility. a11y. You keep seeing these terms. You have a rough idea of what they mean but aren’t quite sure if they apply to your sites. They absolutely do. In this session, Orlando-based WordPress developer Adam Soucie discusses the current state of accessibility in WordPress Core, and what the WordPress Accessibility Team is doing to ensure that WordPress not only stays accessible but becomes even more accessible to all users.

Transcript

1. WORDPRESS ACCESSIBILITY: WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE’RE GOING WPCAMPUS 2016
2. WORDPRESS ACCESSIBILITY: WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE’RE GOING BEFORE WE GET STARTED… ▸ This is not the “official position” of the WordPress Accessibility Team ▸ …because we have no official position @adamsoucie | @impossiblycr8v | #WPCampus
3. WORDPRESS ACCESSIBILITY: WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE’RE GOING A BIT ABOUT ME ▸ From Orlando, FL ▸ Freelance WordPress developer ▸ WordCamp Orlando/WordPress Orlando organizer ▸ Joined the WordPress Accessibility Team in late 2015 ▸ Primary a11y focus is researching solutions for tactile disabilities @adamsoucie | @impossiblycr8v | #WPCampus
4. WORDPRESS ACCESSIBILITY: WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE’RE GOING WHAT WE WILL LEARN TODAY ▸ What is accessibility? ▸ Why is it important? ▸ Current state of WordPress Accessibility ▸ Future improvements planned for WP a11y ▸ Next steps for you and your organization @adamsoucie | @impossiblycr8v | #WPCampus ▸ How to code for accessibility ▸ Specific solutions for specific accessibility issues WHAT WE WILL NOT LEARN TODAY
5. WORDPRESS ACCESSIBILITY: WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE’RE GOING WHY ACCESSIBILITY? ▸ Everyone deserves equal access to content ▸ Required by law in some countries ▸ Standards vary by country ▸ Lawsuits have started in the US ▸ Based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) @adamsoucie | @impossiblycr8v | #WPCampus
6. WORDPRESS ACCESSIBILITY: WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE’RE GOING WHAT IS ACCESSIBILITY? ▸ Most commonly associated with visual challenges ▸ Color blindness & blindness ▸ Auditory challenges ▸ Cognitive challenges ▸ Directly affects content writers ▸ Tactile challenges @adamsoucie | @impossiblycr8v | #WPCampus
7. HOW ACCESSIBLE IS WORDPRESS CORE? WELL…IT DEPENDS… Rian Rietveld , WC Europe 2016 WORDPRESS ACCESSIBILITY: WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE’RE GOING
8. WORDPRESS ACCESSIBILITY: WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE’RE GOING THE GOOD - WORDPRESS CORE IS PRETTY ACCESSIBLE ▸ Active testing team with heavy visibility from the Core team ▸ Team leader has Core Commit status ▸ Theme reviews specifically for a11y ▸ Support for assistive technologies ▸ Screen readers ▸ Keyboard-only navigation @adamsoucie | @impossiblycr8v | #WPCampus
9. WORDPRESS ACCESSIBILITY: WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE’RE GOING THE BAD - THESE AREAS STILL NEED WORK ▸ No control over theme accessibility outside of Core themes ▸ Color contrast is an ongoing battle ▸ Design is a major factor ▸ Non-semantic legacy code ▸ Lack of consistency in Admin design ▸ The Media section @adamsoucie | @impossiblycr8v | #WPCampus
10. BUT WHERE ARE WE GOING?
11. WORDPRESS ACCESSIBILITY: WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE’RE GOING ROADMAP FOR THE FUTURE OF WP A11Y ▸ Tag Cloud widget ▸ Color Contrast ▸ Accessible Tabs & Modals ▸ Continuing improvement of semantic mark-up ▸ Full list: https://make.wordpress.org/ accessibility/ (Post titled Accessibility Wish List for 4.6 & Beyond) @adamsoucie | @impossiblycr8v | #WPCampus
12. WHAT ABOUT NOW?
13. WORDPRESS ACCESSIBILITY: WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE’RE GOING TAKE THE BATON ▸ The a11y team can’t do it all ▸ Use a11y plugins ▸ WP Accessibility by Joe Dolson ▸ Genesis Accessible by Rian Rietveld ▸ Hire an Accessibility Consultant ▸ Stay up to date on current laws ▸ AA vs. AAA compliance ▸ Section 508 @adamsoucie | @impossiblycr8v | #WPCampus
14. QUESTIONS?
15. WORDPRESS ACCESSIBILITY: WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE’RE GOING MORE INFORMATION ▸ https://make.wordpress.org/accessibility/ ▸ adamsoucie.com/categories/accessibility ▸ https://webdevlaw.uk/category/web-accessibility/ ▸ @AdamSoucie on Twitter