I’ve been designing WordPress themes since 2006 and noticed one critical accessibility issue that consistently persists: color contrast. While it seems simple, its impact on usability and inclusivity is profound.
I’ll admit, I’m not an accessibility expert. However, as someone deeply invested in thoughtful design, I believe that focusing on a basic elements such as color contrast can inspire WordPress theme designers and make a tangible difference. You see, we don’t have to be specialists to improve accessibility—we need to start with the fundamentals.
This letter isn’t about self-promotion; it’s a call to action. As WordPress theme designers and developers, we share a responsibility to create experiences that are better designed and more inclusive for everyone.
The problem with poor contrast
Too many themes prioritize design trends over usability. For instance, light gray text on white backgrounds, muted pastel combinations—these might look elegant in a demo but fail the most basic usability tests.
Poor contrast can render a site unusable for users with low vision, color blindness, or aging eyesight. According to the World Health Organization, over 2.2 billion people globally live with some form of visual impairment. These potential users are excluded by choices we could easily avoid.
How often do we take the time to prioritize these guidelines?
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) set clear, measurable standards for color contrast, requiring a minimum ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for larger text to ensure optimal user readability.
The truth is that fixing issues like text color or button backgrounds is usually straightforward—often a change of a single hex code—yet these choices profoundly impact real people. Minor, intentional adjustments can differentiate between websites that exclude and welcome everyone.
A tool for ensuring accessibility
Creating an accessible WordPress theme is only part of the journey. Accessibility is an ongoing commitment, especially as websites evolve with new content, plugins, and updates.
The WordPress Accessibility Checker, a plugin built by Amber Hinds and her team at Equalize Digital, offers an automated solution to help designers and developers effortlessly maintain accessibility standards.
By dynamically scanning and monitoring your site in real time, this tool ensures that your efforts in designing accessible themes consistently serve and accommodate all users seamlessly and effectively.
Additionally, Equalize Digital offers a variety of services to help small businesses create accessible WordPress websites, ensuring usability for individuals of all abilities while meeting your specific goals.
A better way forward
When designing Powder, I focused on balancing aesthetics with accessibility, carefully crafting a beautiful and WCAG-compliant color palette thoroughly tested for clarity and readability.
The result? A theme that’s both elegant and inclusive. But accessibility isn’t just about the initial design; it’s about empowering users. Powder includes customization options that encourage site owners to maintain accessible design choices, even as they personalize their sites.
We have the tools we need to help us improve. The WebAIM Contrast Checker, for example, is a quick way to validate your color choices. WordPress Core has built-in color contrast detection, but they’re only as good as the themes that implement them and the users who use them.
A call to action
As a fellow creator, I call upon the WordPress theme design community: Let’s rise to the challenge and do better together. Let’s make accessibility the fundamental standard, not the exception.
Let’s go beyond minimum compliance and create themes that set the standard for inclusive design. At its core, inclusive design isn’t merely an ethical imperative; it’s a strategic advantage and good business.
Accessible websites don’t just expand our reach—they create authentic connections and genuinely welcome everyone to participate.
Let’s begin with these steps
- Test your themes: Use tools like the WebAIM Contrast Checker to evaluate color contrast and other accessibility features.
- Educate yourself: Familiarize yourself thoroughly with WCAG guidelines and accessibility best practices to ensure compliance.
- Encourage others: Share knowledge, audit each other’s work, and contribute to resources that promote accessible design.
- Empower users: Design themes with accessibility at their core and provide clear documentation to empower users to sustain standards.
We’re part of a vibrant, global community. Together, we have the power to influence the web for the better. It’s not just about making WordPress themes that look good; it’s about making themes that work for everyone.
Let’s design with purpose, forging a path for others to follow as we build a web where our choices welcome everyone who seeks to explore it.