Accessibility First: Practical A11y Techniques in Themes and Blocks is a practical, developer friendly article that focuses on results. The goal is to help you understand the core ideas quickly, then apply them on a real project. You will see checklists, code notes, and simple diagnostics that you can run with minimal setup. Everything is grounded in the current WordPress stack including the block editor, theme.json, and modern PHP.
Section 1: Key ideas and why they matter
Before writing code, define the problem. For this topic, write a short one sentence objective that you can validate later. Keep your scope narrow and focus on measurable outcomes. If the topic is performance, target a specific Core Web Vital. If the topic is security, identify a threat that you can mitigate. If the topic is content strategy, choose a content type and a publishing workflow.
Use a small test site or a local environment that you can reset at will. Rely on WP CLI to create posts, terms, and users, and store your commands in a scratch file so you can replay steps. Note your environment details such as PHP version, WordPress version, theme, and active plugins. This helps you reproduce findings and share steps with teammates.
- Make a baseline snapshot so that changes are visible.
- Work in small increments and measure as you go.
- Document decisions with short commit messages.
- Prefer simple approaches over complex abstractions.
Section 2: Key ideas and why they matter
Before writing code, define the problem. For this topic, write a short one sentence objective that you can validate later. Keep your scope narrow and focus on measurable outcomes. If the topic is performance, target a specific Core Web Vital. If the topic is security, identify a threat that you can mitigate. If the topic is content strategy, choose a content type and a publishing workflow.
Use a small test site or a local environment that you can reset at will. Rely on WP CLI to create posts, terms, and users, and store your commands in a scratch file so you can replay steps. Note your environment details such as PHP version, WordPress version, theme, and active plugins. This helps you reproduce findings and share steps with teammates.
- Make a baseline snapshot so that changes are visible.
- Work in small increments and measure as you go.
- Document decisions with short commit messages.
- Prefer simple approaches over complex abstractions.
Section 3: Key ideas and why they matter
Before writing code, define the problem. For this topic, write a short one sentence objective that you can validate later. Keep your scope narrow and focus on measurable outcomes. If the topic is performance, target a specific Core Web Vital. If the topic is security, identify a threat that you can mitigate. If the topic is content strategy, choose a content type and a publishing workflow.
Use a small test site or a local environment that you can reset at will. Rely on WP CLI to create posts, terms, and users, and store your commands in a scratch file so you can replay steps. Note your environment details such as PHP version, WordPress version, theme, and active plugins. This helps you reproduce findings and share steps with teammates.
- Make a baseline snapshot so that changes are visible.
- Work in small increments and measure as you go.
- Document decisions with short commit messages.
- Prefer simple approaches over complex abstractions.
Section 4: Key ideas and why they matter
Before writing code, define the problem. For this topic, write a short one sentence objective that you can validate later. Keep your scope narrow and focus on measurable outcomes. If the topic is performance, target a specific Core Web Vital. If the topic is security, identify a threat that you can mitigate. If the topic is content strategy, choose a content type and a publishing workflow.
Use a small test site or a local environment that you can reset at will. Rely on WP CLI to create posts, terms, and users, and store your commands in a scratch file so you can replay steps. Note your environment details such as PHP version, WordPress version, theme, and active plugins. This helps you reproduce findings and share steps with teammates.
- Make a baseline snapshot so that changes are visible.
- Work in small increments and measure as you go.
- Document decisions with short commit messages.
- Prefer simple approaches over complex abstractions.
Section 5: Key ideas and why they matter
Before writing code, define the problem. For this topic, write a short one sentence objective that you can validate later. Keep your scope narrow and focus on measurable outcomes. If the topic is performance, target a specific Core Web Vital. If the topic is security, identify a threat that you can mitigate. If the topic is content strategy, choose a content type and a publishing workflow.
Use a small test site or a local environment that you can reset at will. Rely on WP CLI to create posts, terms, and users, and store your commands in a scratch file so you can replay steps. Note your environment details such as PHP version, WordPress version, theme, and active plugins. This helps you reproduce findings and share steps with teammates.
- Make a baseline snapshot so that changes are visible.
- Work in small increments and measure as you go.
- Document decisions with short commit messages.
- Prefer simple approaches over complex abstractions.
Section 6: Key ideas and why they matter
Before writing code, define the problem. For this topic, write a short one sentence objective that you can validate later. Keep your scope narrow and focus on measurable outcomes. If the topic is performance, target a specific Core Web Vital. If the topic is security, identify a threat that you can mitigate. If the topic is content strategy, choose a content type and a publishing workflow.
Use a small test site or a local environment that you can reset at will. Rely on WP CLI to create posts, terms, and users, and store your commands in a scratch file so you can replay steps. Note your environment details such as PHP version, WordPress version, theme, and active plugins. This helps you reproduce findings and share steps with teammates.
- Make a baseline snapshot so that changes are visible.
- Work in small increments and measure as you go.
- Document decisions with short commit messages.
- Prefer simple approaches over complex abstractions.
Section 7: Key ideas and why they matter
Before writing code, define the problem. For this topic, write a short one sentence objective that you can validate later. Keep your scope narrow and focus on measurable outcomes. If the topic is performance, target a specific Core Web Vital. If the topic is security, identify a threat that you can mitigate. If the topic is content strategy, choose a content type and a publishing workflow.
Use a small test site or a local environment that you can reset at will. Rely on WP CLI to create posts, terms, and users, and store your commands in a scratch file so you can replay steps. Note your environment details such as PHP version, WordPress version, theme, and active plugins. This helps you reproduce findings and share steps with teammates.
- Make a baseline snapshot so that changes are visible.
- Work in small increments and measure as you go.
- Document decisions with short commit messages.
- Prefer simple approaches over complex abstractions.
Section 8: Key ideas and why they matter
Before writing code, define the problem. For this topic, write a short one sentence objective that you can validate later. Keep your scope narrow and focus on measurable outcomes. If the topic is performance, target a specific Core Web Vital. If the topic is security, identify a threat that you can mitigate. If the topic is content strategy, choose a content type and a publishing workflow.
Use a small test site or a local environment that you can reset at will. Rely on WP CLI to create posts, terms, and users, and store your commands in a scratch file so you can replay steps. Note your environment details such as PHP version, WordPress version, theme, and active plugins. This helps you reproduce findings and share steps with teammates.
- Make a baseline snapshot so that changes are visible.
- Work in small increments and measure as you go.
- Document decisions with short commit messages.
- Prefer simple approaches over complex abstractions.
Build for everyone
Start with semantic HTML. Use landmarks, headings in order, and proper labels. Ensure color contrast meets WCAG AA. Provide focus styles that are obvious. Test with keyboard only and screen readers. Avoid motion that cannot be reduced. Provide alt text and captions. Do not rely on color alone to convey meaning.
In the block editor, register attributes with good defaults. Never trap focus. Use aria attributes only when HTML semantics are not enough. Validate with automated tools and human checks.
Practical checklist
- Define a clear objective and set a measurable target.
- Create a safe local environment that mirrors production closely.
- Write simple experiments and record outcomes in a running log.
- Prefer core features before adding new plugins.
- Share your findings as code comments and short docs.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Over optimizing a single number without a user benefit.
- Adding complexity before you have real constraints.
- Skipping backups and ignoring restore tests.
- Leaving default settings undocumented for editors.
- Not writing down the steps you took during debugging.
