- Article
- Intermediate
- 2 minutes read
- Reviewed August 4, 2026
Accessibility can regress after launch.
New articles, plugin updates, redesigns, campaigns and third-party embeds can introduce barriers even when the original release was carefully tested.
Maintenance requires ownership and repeatable processes.
Assign Responsibilities
Define who owns:
- Editorial accessibility.
- Theme and plugin review.
- Form and transaction testing.
- Accessibility support requests.
- Defect prioritization.
- Documentation.
- Retesting after updates.
Accessibility should not depend on one person remembering every requirement.
Create Editorial Standards
Provide guidance for:
- Heading structure.
- Links.
- Alternative text.
- Tables.
- Documents.
- Captions and transcripts.
- Clear language.
- Colour use.
- Embedded content.
Reusable patterns and constrained design options can reduce repeated errors.
Include Accessibility in Releases
Add accessibility checks to:
- Theme updates.
- Plugin changes.
- New custom blocks.
- Design-system changes.
- Major content migrations.
- New forms and account workflows.
- Ecommerce releases.
Test high-risk components before and after deployment.
Monitor and Audit
Automated monitoring can detect selected regressions across many pages.
Schedule manual reviews for templates and critical journeys. Review analytics, support requests and error reports for patterns that tools may not identify.
Maintain an Issue Register
Record known barriers, affected users, severity, workaround, owner and target resolution.
Do not hide unresolved issues behind a broad conformance claim.
Provide a Feedback Route
Publish a clear way to report accessibility problems and request assistance.
Define response ownership and escalation. Support teams should know how to provide information in alternative formats.
Review Third-Party Content
External players, payment services, chat widgets and documents can change without a WordPress deployment.
Maintain an inventory and alternatives for critical third-party dependencies.
Update the Accessibility Statement
An accessibility statement should reflect actual testing, known limitations, contact routes and review dates.
Do not claim full conformance until the defined production scope has been evaluated.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should accessibility be reviewed?
Use continuous editorial checks, release testing and periodic deeper audits based on risk.
Who owns accessibility?
It is shared across leadership, content, design, development, support and maintenance, with named owners for each process.
Continue Learning
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