**Q: How do I make my site accessible and add an accessibility statement?**
⚠️ Before you start: back up your site first.
What this fixes:
The site says nothing about being usable by people with disabilities, and hasn’t been checked against the common standard (WCAG). Law-firm sites are frequent targets of accessibility demand letters, so this is both the right thing to do and a way to reduce risk.
Steps:
1. Run a free accessibility checker on the home page and a few key pages (SEO Doctor recommends the Accessibility Checker plugin). It lists problems like low color contrast, images without descriptions, and form boxes without labels.
2. Fix the common ones: add a short description to each meaningful image, make text stand out clearly against its background, give every form box a label, and make sure links and buttons work using the keyboard alone.
3. Hand theme- or code-level fixes to the webmaster or developer.
4. Add an “Accessibility” page saying the firm is working to make the site usable for everyone, with a phone number or email for anyone who has trouble.
5. Link that page from the footer.
How to check it worked:
The checker shows the major problems fixed, and a live Accessibility page — linked in the footer — gives a contact for anyone who needs help.
Tools you may need (free):
– Accessibility Checker plugin (https://wordpress.org/plugins/accessibility-checker/) — scans pages for WCAG issues.
– WAVE (https://wave.webaim.org) — a free online checker for a second opinion.
Common mistakes to avoid:
– Relying on an “accessibility overlay” widget — regulators and disabled users don’t accept overlays as a real fix.
– Writing a statement but never actually fixing the issues it promises.
When to call SEO Doctor:
– You’ve received an accessibility demand letter — loop in your attorney immediately.
– The checker reports issues that need theme or code changes.
Note: This is general guidance, not legal advice — for a demand letter, consult your attorney.