Almost all of us have had to deal with an inaccessible website at some point in our lives. Whether it be the inability to use your mouse or repetitive strain injury (RSI), most people are incapable of using websites that are not designed for them. accessiBe is a WordPress plugin that makes your site more accessible for disabled users and also gives you an insight into what needs improving so that your website can be used by everyone.
The first step to making your website more accessible is by using the accessiBe WordPress plugin. Accessible websites are also known as “websites that are designed for everyone,” including people with disabilities. Websites that are not accessible usually have their text written in a way that is difficult to read, lack headings or images that help break up large areas of text, and include navigation menus that cannot be reached via the keyboard only. They can also have many forms where filling out each field can become tedious. Any problems found within your site will be highlighted by the accessiBe plugin, so you’ll know exactly what needs doing.
What Is accessiBe?
The WordPress plugin was created by the National Information Board (NIB) in 2011 and is designed to reduce barriers to access for disabled users of the web. The plugin analyses your website using an audit tool, then grades it on how accessible it is, with up to five stars. It also provides you with a list of elements that are not user-friendly for disabled people, making it easier for you to fix them. accessiBe works both ways: if you have a site already, don’t worry because this plugin will improve what you have already got! This means that there is no need for bespoke development or expensive changes.
With accessiBe, it is easy to see what needs improving and who would benefit most from using your website. There is no need for any complicated analysis of data either- all the work is done by the plugin. You will receive a list of suggestions with explanations so you know exactly what must be done to make your site user-friendly for everyone! If there are certain elements that you don’t want changed, simply uncheck them before running the analysis again. The report generated will give you an overall score and list the main problems with your site, such as ‘main content not titled.’
Disabled and elderly people make up a large proportion of internet users, and it is important to keep them on board by providing an accessible site. Nowadays, we expect everything to be instantaneous; we want quick results for minimal effort, and accessibility is no exception. Fast internet speeds, keyboards, and touch screens have made how quickly you can navigate websites a priority. In order to accommodate an increasing number of people using your website, it must be user-friendly for all abilities and disabilities.
The plugin is also great for demonstrating to others how useful your website is. For example, if you are applying for a grant or charity funding, accessiBe can show what people with disabilities think of your site so that you have an advantage over other applicants. It’s easy to use- just download it from wordpress.org, upload it to your plugins directory and activate it!