Troy Chaplin

mikecorkum

<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.
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.
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.
Key Features:
<ul>
<li>Real-time Visual Feedback – See accessibility issues instantly with color-coded borders around problematic blocks and detailed error messages in the block inspector panel</li>
<li>Smart Publishing Control – Prevents publication of content with critical accessibility errors while allowing warnings with user awareness</li>
<li>Comprehensive Block Coverage – Built-in checks for images, buttons, tables, headings, and galleries with multiple validation rules per block type</li>
<li>Post Meta Validation – Validate required post meta fields with real-time feedback, automatic post locking for errors, and seamless integration with block validation</li>
<li>Advanced Heading Validation – Document-wide hierarchy checking prevents skipped heading levels and ensures proper content structure</li>
<li>Intelligent URL Validation – Real TLD validation using the Public Suffix List ensures only legitimate domains are accepted</li>
<li>Configurable Settings – Granular control over each check’s severity (error/warning/disabled) with an intuitive admin interface for both block and meta validation</li>
<li>Issue Categorization – Clear distinction between accessibility issues and validation errors for better understanding</li>
<li>Developer-Friendly API – Comprehensive hooks and filters system for registering custom accessibility checks for blocks and post meta fields</li>
<li>External Plugin Support – Works seamlessly with custom blocks from third-party plugins and themes, with automatic settings page integration</li>
</ul>
How It Works:
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.
Built-in Accessibility Checks:
<ul>
<li>Button Blocks – Ensures buttons have descriptive text content and valid link destinations with real URL validation</li>
<li>Image Blocks – Requires alt text (unless marked decorative), validates length, prevents caption duplication, and detects non-descriptive patterns</li>
<li>Table Blocks – Requires proper headers or captions for screen reader navigation</li>
<li>Heading Blocks – Validates proper heading hierarchy (no skipped levels), ensures appropriate first heading level, and configurable heading level restrictions</li>
<li>Gallery Blocks – Applies comprehensive image accessibility checks to all gallery items</li>
<li>Post Meta Fields – Validate required custom fields with server-side and client-side validation, automatic post locking, and visual feedback in the editor</li>
</ul>
Perfect For:
<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>
Developer API:
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.
<h3>Getting Involved</h3>
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>.

Block Accessibility Checks

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

UserWay

Web accessibility can seem complex and overwhelming if you don’t know where to start.
Let us make it easier, and, to coin a phrase, more accessible for everyone. UserWay’s Accessibility Widget creates a simpler and more accessible browsing experience for your users while increasing compliance with WCAG 2.1, ATAG 2.0, European EN 301 549, ADA, & Section 508 requirements.
UserWay’s Accessibility Widget will strengthen any weak areas that could cause accessibility issues on your site. We are proud to say that a significant number of websites are more accessible today thanks to UserWay.
UserWay’s Accessibility Widget makes smart modifications to elements on your site that are identified as being non-compliant, that may prevent keyboard-only navigation, or are in violation of ADA regulations.
Install UserWay’s Accessibility Widget today. 
After installing UserWay’s Accessibility Widget, you will receive login instructions to the widget via email.
ADA & WCAG 2.1 Compliance 
UserWay’s best-in-class accessibility solutions move your site towards ADA and WCAG 2.1 compliance.
Shield Against Lawsuits 
Increasing your accessibility provides real, sustainable improvement for all users, and protects you from accessibility-related lawsuits.
Improve SEO, Boost Traffic 
Make your commitment clear: a more inclusive site for everyone expands your demographic and boosts your SEO.
<iframe loading="lazy" class="youtube-player" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gBh5x-C_Ow0?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>

Accessibility by UserWay

There is no such thing as a quick fix (one button click) for accessibility. This widget may be, at best, work like a small band aid. 

An accessible website needs amongst other things, semantic HTML5, good keyboard accessibility, meaningful (handwritten) alt texts for images and good screen reader feedback. This widget cannot provide that.

The claim: “WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance is Within Reach” is a very bold one.

Design and build a website from the start with accessibility in mind.
The WordPress Accessibility Handbook is a good starting point.

Note to the developer:
The button to activate the widget doesn’t get keyboard focus. So can’t be activated by keyboard users.

If you want to know more, I recommend reading:
Reminder: Accessibility can’t be solved automatically by Joe Dolson.

There is no such thing as a quick accessibility fix

UserWay’s Accessibility Widget creates a simpler and more accessible browsing experience for your users.

Block Accessibility Checks vs Accessibility by UserWay