Custom Accessible WordPress Websites

Frequently Asked Questions

What accessibility laws and regulations am I subject to?

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – all public websites are subject to the ADA. State and local governments are required to meet WCAG 2.1 AA for all of their digital content starting in 2027.
• Section 504 and Section 508 – If your business is subject to Section 504 or Section 508, your website must meet WCAG 2.1 AA
• European Accessibility Act (EAA) – If your business sells to customers in European Union countries, your website must meet WCAG 2.1 AA starting in June 2025
• Virginia Information Technology Standard (VITA) – All Virginia state agencies, colleges, universities, and other public organizations must meet WCAG 2.0 AA
• Other states and countries may have additional laws and regulations that you need to meet. These laws apply based on where your customers are, not where your business is based.

People with disabilities don’t use my product/service. Does any of this apply to me?

It is estimated that up to 25% of the population has a disability. People with disabilities may not be using your website because you haven’t made it accessible. But if your competitors have done a better job, they are likely getting the sales you are missing out on.

Applying accessibility best practices also helps people who:

• have trouble reading small text, especially in low light
• have ADHD
• find it hard to read their phone screen in bright outdoor sunlight
• watch videos in noisy environments and prefer to read the captions
• have broken or have had surgery on their dominant hand/arm, making it hard to use a computer mouse
• have arthritis in their hands, making it painful or difficult to use a computer mouse
• have conditions like vertigo, seizures, or migraines that can be triggered by motion or flashing lights
• have dyslexia

Do any of these describe your current or target customers?

I have an accessibility toolbar/overlay/widget on my site, so I’m fine right?

No! Approximately 25% of accessibility lawsuits are against sites that have these tools. Despite their marketing claims, these tools cannot make your site WCAG compliant. One such tool has even been fined by the FTC for these misleading claims.

People with sight-related disabilities typically have their own assistive technology tools that can be used across all websites. They don’t need you to provide special tools. In fact, these toolbars often get in the way of their assistive technologies, which is part of the reason for the high number of lawsuits against sites with these widgets.

What can I do right now to start making my site more accessible?

Achieving accessibility is a journey and every journey starts with a step. Here are some steps you can consider:

• Remove Accessibility Toolbars, Widgets and Overlays: The presence of these tools on your site can increase the risk of being sued and will interfere with testing and properly fixing issues on your site
• Test your site: Use free tools and Chrome extensions to start identifying issues. Use only your keyboard to navigate and interact with your site. For more extensive testing, have a full accessibility audit conducted for your site.
• Add an Accessibility Statement: Let your users know you are committed to finding and fixing accessibility issues on your site. Include contact information for the person heading your accessibility initiatives in case users have trouble using your site.
• Here are some additional steps to consider

Do you work with websites built on platforms other than WordPress

Elevage Digital can audit websites built on any platform (ex. Wix, Shopify, SquareSpace, Drupal, CivicPlus, etc.). Depending on the platform, you may need to work with the website software provider or a developer that specializes in a particular platform in order to remediate issues. Elevage Digital only remediates and builds new sites on WordPress.

We are working with a web design agency to redesign our website. Can you work with them to make our new site more accessible?

Yes! Elevage Digital frequently partners with other agencies who are leading the website redesign and building project. We can review color palettes, design mockups, page templates and nearly complete sites to identify accessibility issues that should be addressed before launch. We also offer post-launch monitoring and maintenance to help you maintain accessibility.

Can’t I just use AI to make my site accessible?

No! Even the most popular AI tools do not reliably output accessible code, even when the prompt includes the requirement that the code meet WCAG 2.2 AA.