Troy Chaplin

mikecorkum

<p><a href="https://blockaccessibilitychecks.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">Block Accessibility Checks</a> is a comprehensive WordPress plugin that proactively prevents accessibility issues in your content before they reach your audience. Designed for the Gutenberg block editor, it provides real-time validation that ensures your images, buttons, tables, headings, galleries, and post meta fields meet WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) requirements.</p>
<p>Unlike reactive accessibility tools that scan published content, this plugin catches problems during the editing process—giving immediate visual feedback and preventing publication of content with critical accessibility errors. Content creators get clear guidance on what needs fixing, while developers can extend the system with custom checks for any block type or post meta field.</p>
<p>Whether you’re a content creator ensuring your posts are accessible, a developer building accessible blocks, or an organization maintaining compliance standards, Block Accessibility Checks provides the tools you need to create inclusive content effortlessly.</p>
<p><strong>Key Features:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Real-time Visual Feedback</strong> – See accessibility issues instantly with color-coded borders around problematic blocks and detailed error messages in the block inspector panel</li>
<li><strong>Smart Publishing Control</strong> – Prevents publication of content with critical accessibility errors while allowing warnings with user awareness</li>
<li><strong>Comprehensive Block Coverage</strong> – Built-in checks for images, buttons, tables, headings, and galleries with multiple validation rules per block type</li>
<li><strong>Post Meta Validation</strong> – Validate required post meta fields with real-time feedback, automatic post locking for errors, and seamless integration with block validation</li>
<li><strong>Advanced Heading Validation</strong> – Document-wide hierarchy checking prevents skipped heading levels and ensures proper content structure</li>
<li><strong>Intelligent URL Validation</strong> – Real TLD validation using the Public Suffix List ensures only legitimate domains are accepted</li>
<li><strong>Configurable Settings</strong> – Granular control over each check’s severity (error/warning/disabled) with an intuitive admin interface for both block and meta validation</li>
<li><strong>Issue Categorization</strong> – Clear distinction between accessibility issues and validation errors for better understanding</li>
<li><strong>Developer-Friendly API</strong> – Comprehensive hooks and filters system for registering custom accessibility checks for blocks and post meta fields</li>
<li><strong>External Plugin Support</strong> – Works seamlessly with custom blocks from third-party plugins and themes, with automatic settings page integration</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>How It Works:</strong></p>
<p>The plugin provides immediate feedback as you edit content. When accessibility issues are detected in blocks or required meta fields, they are highlighted with visual indicators and detailed messages explain how to fix the problems. Critical errors prevent publishing until resolved, while warnings allow publication with user acknowledgment.</p>
<p><strong>Built-in Accessibility Checks:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Button Blocks</strong> – Ensures buttons have descriptive text content and valid link destinations with real URL validation</li>
<li><strong>Image Blocks</strong> – Requires alt text (unless marked decorative), validates length, prevents caption duplication, and detects non-descriptive patterns</li>
<li><strong>Table Blocks</strong> – Requires proper headers or captions for screen reader navigation</li>
<li><strong>Heading Blocks</strong> – Validates proper heading hierarchy (no skipped levels), ensures appropriate first heading level, and configurable heading level restrictions</li>
<li><strong>Gallery Blocks</strong> – Applies comprehensive image accessibility checks to all gallery items</li>
<li><strong>Post Meta Fields</strong> – Validate required custom fields with server-side and client-side validation, automatic post locking, and visual feedback in the editor</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Perfect For:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Government websites requiring WCAG compliance</li>
<li>Educational institutions with accessibility mandates</li>
<li>Businesses committed to inclusive web content</li>
<li>Developers building accessible WordPress themes and plugins</li>
<li>Content teams who want accessibility guidance built into their workflow</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Developer API:</strong></p>
<p>Extend the plugin with <a href="https://github.com/troychaplin/block-accessibility-checks/blob/main/docs/" rel="nofollow ugc">custom accessibility checks</a> for any block type or post meta field. The robust API includes registration functions, validation hooks, and automatic JavaScript integration. Perfect for plugin developers who want to add accessibility validation to their custom blocks and ensure required meta fields are properly validated.</p>
<h3>Getting Involved</h3>
<p>If you would like to get involved and contribute to the development of this plugin or view it’s source code you can find more information in the <a href="https://github.com/troychaplin/block-accessibility-checks" rel="nofollow ugc">plugins GitHub repo</a>.</p>


Block Accessibility Checks

Configure a series of block checks to prevent WCAG accessibility errors in content.

Bainternet

ArielK

Yakir Sitbon

pojo.me

Elementor

Kobi Zaltzberg

<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Ally by Elementor: Now with Ally Assistant to Make WordPress Sites More Accessible" width="750" height="422" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-2ig5D348vo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>Ally (formerly One Click Accessibility) is a free, powerful, and user-friendly plugin that helps WordPress creators build more accessible websites with ease.<br />
It simplifies accessibility with three essential tools:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Ally Assistant</strong> – Scan your pages, detect accessibility violations, and follow guided steps to fix them. Make manual adjustments or apply AI-powered suggestions, and track your progress.</li>
<li><strong>Usability widget</strong> – Let visitors personalize their browsing experience with a floating accessibility menu. Features include font resizing, color contrast, image hiding, animation pausing, language selection, screen reader support, and more.</li>
<li><strong>Accessibility statement generator</strong> – Create a fully customized accessibility statement and publish it automatically on your site, helping meet WCAG and legal requirements.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>No expertise required</strong> -just activate, configure, and start making your site more inclusive today.Built by Elementor. Designed for every WordPress site. Ally is web accessibility—simplified.</p>
<h3>Why does web accessibility matter?</h3>
<ul>
<li><strong>Who Needs It?</strong> Every website owner—businesses, creators, and agencies.</li>
<li><strong>Who is Responsible?</strong> Website owners are legally and ethically responsible for accessibility. The web creator—who designs and builds the site—must implement and adjust accessibility features to ensure compliance with WCAG guidelines and provide an inclusive experience for all users.</li>
<li><strong>Why Now?</strong> Rising legal requirements (WCAG, EAA) and better user experience.</li>
<li><strong>Why Should You Care?</strong>  An accessible website isn’t just ethical; it’s good business. By prioritizing inclusivity, you improve user experience for everyone, boost your search engine rankings, and attract a wider audience.</li>
</ul>
<h3>It’s the Law</h3>
<p>As accessibility standards continue to evolve and become mandatory, it’s important to start making website adjustments to comply with fast-approaching global regulations. Among its other capabilities, this plugin lets you instantly generate your website’s Accessibility Statement, which is now mandatory in most locales.</p>
<p>The Ally plugin is not a substitute for a thorough accessibility audit and is NOT intended to completely make your website legally compliant. However, with it, you’re one step closer to making your website inclusive to more visitors, including those with visual, auditory or cognitive challenges.</p>
<p>Ensuring that your website complies with all applicable accessibility requirements is your responsibility. We recommend working with qualified accessibility professionals to help achieve full compliance.</p>
<h3>Key Features & Benefits</h3>
<h4>Ally Assistant</h4>
<ul>
<li>Scan any URL on demand to detect accessibility gaps</li>
<li>Launch directly from WordPress or Elementor</li>
<li>Step-by-step guidance to fix issues</li>
<li>AI-powered remediation suggestions </li>
<li>Progress tracking via a visual dashboard</li>
<li>No accessibility expertise required</li>
</ul>
<h4>How It Works</h4>
<p>Ally Assistant scans individual URLs for accessibility violations, categorizes them by type and severity, and provides actionable insights. You can apply manual fixes manually or use AI suggestions while tracking your progress over time.<br />
Ally Assistant helps you:</p>
<ul>
<li>Detect missing alternative text</li>
<li>Label dynamic content & ARIA landmarks</li>
<li>Validate forms & flag input errors</li>
<li>Ensure keyboard & assistive tech compatibility</li>
<li>Identify accessibility violations in tables</li>
<li>Repair incorrect page structure & navigation</li>
<li>Flag color contrast & visual style violations (coming soon)</li>
<li>And detect 180+ other common accessibility violations based on WCAG 2.1 AA</li>
</ul>
<h4>Accessibility Statement Generator</h4>
<ul>
<li>Auto-generate a complete  accessibility statement</li>
<li>Customize and publish to a dedicated page</li>
<li>Link it using the widget </li>
</ul>
<h4>Usability Widget</h4>
<ul>
<li>Offer visitors a customizable menu with features like:</li>
<li>Contrast Modes (high, dark, light, negative) </li>
<li>Font resizing & readable font toggle</li>
<li>Pause animations & hide images</li>
<li>Line height & text alignment options</li>
<li>Keyboard navigation enhancements</li>
<li>Underlined links & reading guide</li>
<li>Skip to content / sitemap viewer</li>
<li>Language selector</li>
<li>Skip to Main Content</li>
<li>Restore defaults & widget toggle</li>
</ul>
<p>Premium widget features are also available within paid plans, including:</p>
<ul>
<li>Screen reader compatibility improvements</li>
<li>White labeling (remove Elementor branding)</li>
<li>Language selector directly in the widget</li>
<li>Usage analytics to gain actionable insights from visitor interactions</li>
</ul>
<h4>Widget customization options for web creators</h4>
<p>Tailor the widget’s look and behavior with options like:</p>
<ul>
<li>Show/hide widget icon on mobile or desktop</li>
<li>Select icon type and size</li>
<li>Choose colors for icon, header, and text</li>
<li>Define icon position (corner selection)</li>
<li>Add/edit sitemap URL</li>
<li>Enable/disable features per device or user role</li>
</ul>
<h3>Get Started Today</h3>
<h3>Make your site more accessible with Ally!</h3>
<p>Need help? Visit our <a href="https://go.elementor.com/acc-wp-repo-learn-more" rel="nofollow ugc">help center</a> or <a href="https://go.elementor.com/wp-repo-wp-dash-sm-contact-us/" rel="nofollow ugc">contact Supoprt</a>.</p>
<p>This plugin requires a connection to an active Elementor account in order to identify the user and provide the user with the purchased service. This connection is initiated manually by the user via the plugin’s settings panel. Learn more about our <a href="https://go.elementor.com/acc-wp-repo-term-and-conditions" rel="nofollow ugc">terms and conditions</a>. This plugin uses a 3rd party service operated by Elementor.</p>
<p>More accessibility features are on the way, so stay tuned!</p>
<h3>Related Plugins</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/site-mailer/" rel="ugc">Site Mailer</a>: Manage transactional emails with ease with Site Mailer. High deliverability, detailed logs and statistics, and no SMTP plugins needed.</li>
<li><a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/image-optimization/" rel="ugc">Image Optimizer</a>: Compress and optimize your images, giving you leaner, faster websites. Automatically optimize any new image you upload or run a bulk optimization process for existing uploads.</li>
</ul>


Ally – Web Accessibility & Usability

Clicking on greyscale makes the accessibility icon disappear without the ability to go back and uncheck the option. 
Did not check any other functions as this is enough reason for me to abandon this plugin. 

Greyscale bug


Installed it. It added a icon to the front page. The icon did nothing. No response when clicked, no errors in the console log.


Does nothing

A must have plugin


It used to be free, now you have to pay.  


Used to be great!


requires elementor accountSuch plugins do not ensure website accessibility. If you want an accessible website, you need to think about it when creating it. The very fact that Elementor's creators have something to do with this plugin is a big red flag.


useless

Ally: Make your site more inclusive by scanning for accessibility violations, fixing them easily, and adding a usability widget and accessibility stat …

Block Accessibility Checks vs Ally – Web Accessibility & Usability