Register now for next week’s meetup:
Digital Accessibility: Thinking Beyond WCAG and Compliance: Chris Scholtens

January 30, 2025 | Issue #98 | Read in browser

Jump to: Meetup Recap | News & Resources | Accessibility Checker Updates | Podcast | Events

Last week, Nick Croft discussed some “non-developer characters” (NDCs), how they interact with websites and apps, and how taking the time to “role play” those characters can help improve accessibility. Watch for the recap coming next week.

Earlier this month, Jennifer Dust and Eli Frigoli discussed the importance of accessible navigation, identified some common pitfalls of megamenu navigation solutions, explored the structural patterns of a truly accessible navigation menu, and more. Read the accessible mega menu recap.

We’re seeking new sponsors to help cover the cost of live captions and ASL interpretation at meetups. Learn more about sponsorship.

Real, Proactive Accessibility for WordPress

Detect accessibility issues in bulk, whether your website has ten pages or ten thousand. Easy to use with extensive documentation, modern interface, and a front-end view. Never lose track again with real-time scans every time you save, and historical reporting.

Get started with Accessibility Checker now. 👈

• How to Fix Broken Skip Links in Elementor on our blog
  When using our WordPress Accessibility Checker plugin, you may have encountered “Broken Skip or Anchor Link” errors. These errors are prevalent on Elementor websites due to unresolved bugs in the Hello Elementor theme. Luckily, this is easy to fix — read this article to find out how.

• Throwback: Making Accessible WordPress Websites in the Full Site Editor: Danielle Zarcaro – WordPress Accessibility Meetup
  In this presentation, Danielle Zarcaro went over some general concepts, some code examples, and the new features and challenges in front of us when it comes to making accessible WordPress websites in the Full Site Editor. We recently added a summarized session information including a detailed recap of the full presentation, if you missed this webinar the first time around, check it out now!

• Meet Karl and Maya: Redesigning SF.gov for the Future on the San Francisco Government Website
  The new SF.gov launches with Karl the CMS and Maya the design system, advancing accessibility, flexibility, and digital service delivery.

• 2025 Outlook on Canadian Web Accessibility Regulations on Website Name
  Web accessibility regulations that apply to private-sector businesses operating in Canada continue to develop. The federal government recently announced a consultation on the web accessibility obligations that federally regulated entities could face under proposed regulatory amendments pursuant to the Accessible Canada Act. This article highlights these expected legislative developments and summarizes existing web accessibility obligations in Canada.

• My Top 10 Take Aways from 2024 that Impacted Canadians with Disabilities on Niewe Consulting
  This summary explores each change and considers how these changes have an impact on Canada’s trajectory toward a more inclusive and accessible future. These developments offer insights for executives, policymakers, and community leaders as they continue to drive and support initiatives that promote accessibility and inclusion for all Canadians.

• How to Use ARIA Alert Effectively on The A11Y Collective
  Do you know how to make sure users of assistive technology don’t miss important updates on your website? The best strategy here is to use ARIA alerts – they’re like a gentle tap on the shoulder for users, making sure they receive urgent information at the right time. This article explains how to use ARIA alerts.

• Accessibility essentials every front-end developer should know by Martijn Hols
  Many developers view accessibility as an overwhelming task, requiring a lot of extra effort or specialized knowledge. But a few basic practices can make a significant impact. This article covers key accessibility principles every front-end developer should apply when building components including semantic HTML, forms, keyboard navigation, modals, image alt text, styling, and ARIA attributes.

Accessibility Checker is a WordPress accessibility scanning tool to help you quickly find accessibility problems on your website. Recent updates to Accessibility Checker include:  

• Enhancement: Improve the text_size_too_small check in scanner to avoid more false positives.
• Fix: Ensure that our notifications can appear on our own admin pages.
• Fix: No longer trigger password protected notice on other pages when scanning woocommerse checkout page.

In case you missed it! Small Business, Agency, and Enterprise plans include a new (free) CSV export add-on. Find it on the downloads page of your My Equalize Digital account.

• 101: Accessibility Strategy and Goal Setting Workshop with Amber Hinds
  This episode is a recording of a December 2024 WordPress Accessibility Meetup where Amber Hinds ran a guided workshop designed to help teams plan accessibility priorities for the upcoming calendar year.

• 102: AccessiBe Fined $1M for Lying About Fixing Accessibility, Hi Sign Brewing Violet Blueberry Blonde
  In this episode, we talk through the specifics of the recent $1 million FTC fine against well-known accessibility overlay company AccessiBe, and some of the public comments on the decision from individuals with disabilities, small businesses, and many others.

• Accessibility Checker Office Hours with Equalize Digital
  Wednesday, February 5 at 10 AM Central
  Open office hours for Accessibility Checker Small Business and Agency license holders. Find the registration link on your account dashboard.

• Digital Accessibility: Thinking Beyond WCAG and Compliance: Chris Scholtens – WordPress Accessibility Meetup
  Wednesday, February 6 at 10 AM Central
  Move beyond mere WCAG compliance to create genuinely accessible digital experiences. While WCAG provides an essential baseline, focusing solely on checklists can limit meaningful user impact. By understanding the diverse needs of individuals with disabilities—such as ADHD, dyslexia, or color blindness—organizations can innovate accessibility solutions that are perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. How do we strive for genuine accessibility efforts instead of performative actions, prioritizing user benefit over optics? Beyond benefitting users, investing in accessibility fosters innovation, expands market reach, and enhances brand loyalty.

• The Law of Accessible Websites and Applications: Richard Hunt – WordPress Accessibility Meetup
  Monday, February 17 at 10 AM Central
  This four-part presentation will cover (a) the federal and state laws that require (or maybe do not require) that business websites be accessible to those with disabilities, (b) what it means for a website to be accessible to those with disabilities, (c) how effective software solutions are in finding and correcting accessibility failures and (d) the current status and likely future of litigation over website accessibility and the risks to website developers.

• Accessibility Checker Office Hours with Equalize Digital
  Wednesday, February 19 at 10 AM Central
  Open office hours for Accessibility Checker Small Business and Agency license holder. Find the registration link on your account dashboard. 

Equalize Digital® is a corporate member of the IAAP. We’re on Twitter.

Want to send us snail mail? Our mailing address is:

Equalize Digital, Inc., 601 Quail Valley Dr #207, Georgetown, TX 78626, United States

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this mailing list.