If you have a WordPress site, it is important to ensure that it is ADA compliant. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that all public websites be accessible to those with disabilities. This means making your website accessible through assistive technology, such as a screen reader or accesiiBe WordPress. This blog post will discuss how to make your WordPress site compliant with the ADA. We will cover everything from making your images accessible to adding captions to your videos. Let’s get started.
What is the ADA, and why does it matter to me?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. The ADA applies to all public places, including websites. This means that if you have a WordPress site, it must be accessible to those with disabilities.
Noncompliance with the ADA can have serious consequences. For example, you could be sued for discrimination. In addition, the Department of Justice can bring civil action against you if your website is not accessible to those with disabilities. The DOJ can also impose fines of up to $75,000 for each violation.
So, how can you make sure that your WordPress site is compliant with the ADA? Let’s take a look at some ways.
How can I make my images accessible?
Images on your website should be accessible to those with disabilities. This means adding alternative text (alt-text) to your images. Alt-text is a brief description of the image displayed if the image cannot be loaded. It is also read aloud by screen readers.
To add alt text to an image in WordPress, click on the image and enter the alt text in the “Alternative Text” field.
How do I add captions to my videos?
Adding captions to your videos is a great way to make them accessible to those with disabilities. Captions are a written transcript of the audio of your video. They are displayed on the screen and can be read by screen readers.
Adding captions to your videos is easy with WordPress. First, you need to install a plugin like WP Video Subtitles. Once you have installed the plugin, simply upload your video and add the captions in the “Subtitles” field.
What are some other ways that I can make my site compliant with the ADA?
There are many other ways to make your WordPress site accessible. For example, you can add a plugin like WP Accessibility Helper to help you with compliance. You can also use a WordPress theme that is designed for accessibility. Some of our favorite accessibility-ready themes include AccessPress Parallax and WP Rig.
Other FAQs people ask
Q: Do I need to make my entire website ADA compliant?
A: No, you only need to make the pages and content that are publicly accessible.
Q: What if I can’t make my WordPress site compliant with the ADA?
A: If you can’t make your WordPress site compliant, you may be able to use a different platform that is compliant. For example, accessiBe offers an ADA compliance solution for websites.
Final thoughts on WordPress sites and the ADA
Making your WordPress site compliant with the ADA is important. It can help you avoid discrimination lawsuits, but it can also make your site more accessible to those with disabilities. There are many ways to make your WordPress site compliant, from adding alt text to your images to using an accessibility-ready theme.
Leave a Reply