Steve Jones

Amber Hinds

Road Warrior Creative

Equalize Digital

<p>Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Success Criterion 3.2 (Predictable) specifies that web pages should appear and operate in predictable ways. It is a common practice to set links that go to off-site locations to open in a new window or tab when clicked. Opening new windows or tabs automatically when a link is activated can be disorienting for people who have difficulty perceiving visual content, and for some people with cognitive disabilities, if they are not warned in advance.</p>
<p>This plugin helps websites become more accessible and better meet WCAG guidelines for predicability by providing advanced warning if a link is going to open a new window or tab before the user clicks or activates it. Providing a warning allows the user to decide it they want to leave the current window, and the warning will help them find their way back, if they do decide they would like to go to the new window. It will help them understand that the “back” button will not work and that they have to return to the last window they had open, in order to find their previous location.</p>
<p>There are no settings in this plugin. Simply activate it and it will automatically find all links that open in a new window and add the following three fixes to each link:<br />
1. A new window icon after the link text to denote that the link opens in a new window for sighted people.<br />
2. A tooltip, visible on hover, that says “opens a new window.”<br />
3. “Opens a new window” screen reader text that will be read out to blind or visually impaired people using screen readers immediately following the link anchor text.</p>
<p>Please note: new window warnings will be added to links and links that have been styled to look like buttons, including social media sharing and link icons. Depending upon what third party plugins are adding links to your site that open in new windows, some CSS styling may be required.</p>
<p>In addition to adding warnings for your users, this plugin integrates with the <strong><a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/accessibility-checker/" rel="ugc">Accessibility Checker plugin</a></strong>; when Accessibility New Window Warnings is activated, it will automatically clear all “<a href="https://equalizedigital.com/accessibility-checker/link-opens-new-window-or-tab/" rel="nofollow ugc">Link Opens New Window or Tab</a>” warnings in Accessibility Checker scans of your website. Installing and activating this plugin is a great way to quickly remediate and remove a lot of open issues across you entire website.</p>
<p>The Accessibility New Window Warnings plugin is inspired by <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20-TECHS/G201.html" rel="nofollow ugc">Techniques for WCAG 2.0 G201: Giving users advanced warning when opening a new window</a>.</p>
<h3>Localization</h3>
<p>The Accessibility New Window Warnings plugin is ready for localization. We have added a Spanish translation and are open to more translations!</p>
<p>If you would like to contribute a translation to this plugin, please <a href="https://equalizedigital.com/contact/" rel="nofollow ugc">contact us</a> or <a href="https://github.com/equalizedigital/accessibility-new-window-warnings" rel="nofollow ugc">fork the repository on GitHub</a>.</p>


Accessibility New Window Warnings

Install, activate, DONE! I love how simply this plugin fixes a real problem! This goes right into my starter site and on every website I build from here on out!

Simple solution for an important problem


I installed this on my blog as I wanted to ensure there was a visible indication when links opened external pages to better comply with accessibility guidelines without having to go through hundreds of old posts. Did the job and correctly and easily and automaticaly added the desired indicators, markup and icons.


Does the job intended

Make links that open in a new window compliant with WCAG guidelines for accessibility by adding a warning for users.

philwebs

<p><a href="https://equalizedigital.com/accessibility-checker/" rel="nofollow ugc">Plugin Website</a> | <a href="https://equalizedigital.com/accessibility-checker/documentation/" rel="nofollow ugc">Documentation</a> | <a href="https://equalizedigital.com/accessibility-checker/features/#comparison" rel="nofollow ugc">Compare Free to Pro</a> | <a href="https://equalizedigital.com/accessibility-checker/pricing/" rel="nofollow ugc">Get Pro</a> | <a href="https://equalizedigital.com/wordpress-accessibility-meetup/" rel="nofollow ugc">WP Accessibility Meetup</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/wordpress.accessibility" rel="nofollow ugc">WP Accessibility Facebook Group</a></p>
<h3>Make Your Website Accessible with Accessibility Checker</h3>
<p>Equalize Digital Accessibility Checker helps you find and fix accessibility problems as you create content — no need to leave the WordPress editor. The plugin scans your posts and pages each time you save or publish, then shows errors and warnings directly in the edit screen so you can fix issues in real time.</p>
<p>Accessibility Checker runs over 40 automated checks based on Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 and highlights exactly which elements fail WCAG. If you aren’t sure what a code snippet means, flip to the front-end view to see the element highlighted on your website.</p>
<p>Accessibility Checker also includes 10 automated fixes to resolve common accessibility barriers for you. Helpful documentation is available for every issue, and accessibility consulting is available if you need expert help.</p>
<h3>Automated Accessibility Fixes</h3>
<p>Have accessibility issues on your website that you can’t fix? Accessibility Checker can fix common issues in themes and plugins. One-click fixes include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Add skip links</li>
<li>Add focus outlines</li>
<li>Block links opening new windows</li>
<li>Force links to be underlined</li>
<li>Label comment fields</li>
<li>Label search fields</li>
<li>Add <code>lang</code> & <code>dir</code> attributes</li>
<li>Make the viewport scalable</li>
<li>Remove positive tab index to fix incorrect focus order</li>
<li>Remove title attributes from elements with preferred accessible names</li>
<li>Add warnings to links that open in new tabs</li>
<li>Add file size & type to links [Pro]</li>
<li>Add missing page titles [Pro]</li>
<li>Block PDF uploads [Pro]</li>
<li>Label form fields [Pro]</li>
</ul>
<h3>Ensure Ongoing ADA, Section 508, AODA, European Accessibility Act & WCAG Compliance</h3>
<p>Laws around the world require websites to be accessible. Equalize Digital Accessibility Checker is the best automated tool to run to support your accessibility strategy.</p>
<ul>
<li>Find problems fast.</li>
<li>Learn accessibility as you go.</li>
<li>Easy automated fixes.</li>
<li>Personalized support and custom plans for more complex remediation needs. [Pro]</li>
</ul>
<p>Start making your website comply with accessibility laws and requirements today. Making your website accessible reduces legal risk, improves SEO, and can increase conversions.</p>
<h3>A Vital Part of Your WordPress Accessibility Strategy</h3>
<p>Accessibility Checker is the best automated tool to run along with your manual accessibility tests. It’s perfect for <strong>small business websites</strong>, <strong>large enterprise organizations</strong>, and everything in between. Whether you’re running a small brochure website, an <strong>eCommerce</strong> store with thousands of products, or a <strong>multi-site</strong> network for a university, Accessibility Checker is the right tool for your website.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>No limits on pages scanned.</strong> Have hundreds of blog posts or pages on your website? No problem!</li>
<li><strong>Coded and tested by accessibility experts.</strong> Equalize Digital team members are certified accessibility professionals by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals and experts at building accessible WordPress websites.</li>
<li><strong>WCAG 2.2 A, AA, & AAA guidance.</strong> Flags errors and warnings for accessibility problems according to WCAG 2.2.</li>
<li><strong>Readability analysis & auto insertion of simplified summary.</strong> Includes a Flesch Kincaid grade level analysis and a place to enter a simplified summary to meet WCAG Success Criterion 3.1.5 Reading Level.</li>
<li><strong>Ignore feature.</strong> Easily close errors or warnings that have been assessed manually and determined to be not relevant. Optionally, document a reason/notes with each ignore. Logs the username and date/time when errors/warnings are ignored.</li>
<li><strong>Accessibility statement.</strong> Draft accessibility statement that you can modify for your organization and publish on your website to share your accessibility efforts with the public.</li>
<li><strong>Footer accessibility statement.</strong> One-click to insert an accessibility statement in your footer.</li>
<li><strong>Detailed documentation.</strong> Thorough help articles and instructions for fixing problems – the perfect resource for learning more about accessibility.</li>
<li><strong>[Pro] Bulk scanning.</strong> Scan all posts and pages in bulk rather than one-by-one for an overview of your entire site’s accessibility.</li>
<li><strong>[Pro] Scan additional post types.</strong> Add the Accessibility Checker in-post accessibility audit to any post type present on your website.</li>
<li><strong>[Pro] Admin columns.</strong> Quickly seeing the accessibility status of posts and pages at a glance by adding accessibility status columns.</li>
<li><strong>[Pro] Centralized Open Issues list.</strong> See all existing issues in one place for fast-track accessibility remediation.</li>
<li><strong>[Pro] Ignore Log.</strong> See all items that have been ignored on the website, by whom, and when, in one central place. Reopen errors or warnings that have been incorrectly ignored.</li>
<li><strong>[Pro] User restrictions on Ignore.</strong> Limit which user roles can ignore errors and warnings – allows for greater admin control and management of accessibility review.</li>
</ul>
<p>Additional paid add-ons include;</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Audit History add-on:</strong> track and report on changes over time.</li>
<li><strong>CSV Export add-on:</strong> export issues to CSV for management in a spreadsheet or project management tool.</li>
<li><strong>Multisite add-on:</strong> see accessibility status and manage settings for all sites in your network.</li>
</ul>
<h3>How It Works</h3>
<p>To get started with Accessibility Checker or learn more about how it works, please reference our <a href="https://equalizedigital.com/accessibility-checker/getting-started-quick-guide/" rel="nofollow ugc">Getting Started Quick Guide</a> or watch this quick video demonstration of the software. Please note that the video demonstration does show some features that are only available in the paid version.</p>
<span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe loading="lazy" class="youtube-player" width="750" height="422" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ncAfP06dPpU?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen="true" style="border:0;" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox"></iframe></span>
<h3>Our Support Team is Here to Help You</h3>
<p>The Equalize Digital team aims to provide regular support for Accessibility Checker on the WordPress.org forums. If you have a question about the plugin or its use, please post in the support forum, and we will do our best to help you quickly. Our support hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM U.S. Central. Please understand that we do prioritize support for purchasers of Accessibility Checker Pro.</p>
<p>If you need one-on-one email support, please consider purchasing <a href="https://equalizedigital.com/accessibility-checker/pricing/" rel="nofollow ugc">Accessibility Checker Pro</a>. Accessibility Checker Pro customers receive unlimited personal support on plugin usage and features.</p>
<p>Join our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/wordpress.accessibility" rel="nofollow ugc">WordPress Accessibility Facebook group</a> for community support and to connect with other developers, designers, and content creators who are working to make their websites more accessible. This is a great place to get free WP accessibility remediation assistance from others in the community.</p>
<p>For paid Accessibility Checker customers on a small business plan or above, we provide two accessibility <a href="https://equalizedigital.com/accessibility-checker/pricing/#common-pre-sale-questions" rel="nofollow ugc">office hours</a> calls each month to address your remediation queries. This is an invaluable resource for those who need direct assistance and expert insights when making their sites more accessible.</p>
<h3>Multi-platform Accessibility</h3>
<p>Accessibility Checker supports a variety of WordPress editors and can scan and identify issues no matter how you’re building your site. Accessibility Checker has been tested and confirmed compatible with:</p>
<ul>
<li>Gutenberg Block Editor</li>
<li>The Classic Editor</li>
<li>Advanced Custom Fields</li>
<li>Beaver Builder</li>
<li>Divi</li>
<li>Elementor</li>
<li>Oxygen</li>
<li><strong>[Pro]</strong> WooCommerce</li>
</ul>
<h3>Learn Accessibility</h3>
<p>Want to learn more about accessibility and stay on-top of accessibility best practices? Attend an official WordPress Accessibility Meetup!</p>
<p>These free virtual meetups are held twice per month via Zoom and are live captioned. <a href="https://equalizedigital.com/wordpress-accessibility-meetup/" rel="nofollow ugc">Learn more about WP Accessibility Meetup</a></p>
<h3>About Us</h3>
<p><a href="https://equalizedigital.com" rel="nofollow ugc">Equalize Digital</a> is a mission-driven organization striving to create a world where all people have equal access to products and tools on web, regardless of ability. Our team has been building custom WordPress websites, themes, and plugins since 2010, including government, higher ed, and enterprise websites.</p>


Equalize Digital Accessibility Checker – Audit Your Website for WCAG, ADA, and Section 508 Accessibility Errors

If you care about the people visiting your site, you should install this plugin.

If you care about the sites you develop for clients, you should install this plugin.

If you want a quick and easy way to take your best efforts at creating a site, and turn them into great sites, you should install this plugin.

Want to spot all the ways your "premium" theme is actually not all that great? You got it: install this plugin. Warning: this plugin will make you want to get a refund from your theme shop, and to go to a theme shop that actually cares about *their* product.

There are very few plugins in WordPress that make literally every site they touch better. This is one. 

An absolute must-have.

... this plugin is for you.

This plugin isn't a band-aid overlay that clutters the site, doesn't improve accessibility, and affects performance. 

Rather, Accessibility Checker works in the WP Admin by scanning the site and providing a straightforward, prioritized list of actionable advice on improving accessibility. This is backed by great documentation, support, and community involvement from Equalize Digital.

Our company upgraded to the paid version for CPT support and the other premium features – I can't recommend it highly enough.



If you care about accessibility . . .


This plugin is an absolute LIFESAVER that serves as a second pair of eyes as I build out pages and posts on my website. If you are looking to improve the accessibility of your websites, this plugin is *the* answer. It will not only point out any potential issues, but it does a great job of leading you to resources on how to fix thing in case you get stuck. Not to mention the team behind it... Equalize Digital is the go-to for website accessibility! Thanks for the awesome plugin! 


Livesaver!


I love this plugin. It's been really easy to train my clients to use when they are working with their content. And they have great support!


Love this plugin!

Another good plugin on WordPress.org


One of the things I love about this plugin is that it doesn't fix things for me. It shows me what needs to be fixed, and directs me to information on how to do that. Learning about web accessibility to make me a better web citizen is paramount to being able to create accessible sites for all.






Making my site more accessible by teaching me how to do it

Find and fix accessibility issues on your website. Detailed reports, autogenerated accessibility statement and one-click fixes to improve compliance.

Accessibility New Window Warnings vs Equalize Digital Accessibility Checker – Audit Your Website for WCAG, ADA, and Section 508 Accessibility Errors