Month: March 2026

Accessibility does not always require special tools. Often, it starts with simple habits.

Here are a few easy practices you can apply to any OpenLab site:

• Add clear alt text to every image describing what is shown

• Use headings in order, starting with Heading 2 under your title

• Avoid using color alone to communicate meaning

• Write descriptive link text such as “View the final project report” instead of “Click here”

• Break long paragraphs into shorter, readable sections

These small changes improve usability for screen reader users, mobile readers, and anyone scanning your content quickly.

Accessibility is about inclusion. When we design content with care, we create a more welcoming OpenLab community.

If you have questions about accessibility features or best practices, the OpenLab team is here to help.

Looking for more information? We got you!

• Making Your Site More Accessible with the Editoria11y Plugin
• Using the Editoria11y Accessibility Checker to Improve Your Content
• OpenLab Support Hours

Photo Credit: “abstract” by Cuba Gallery, June 2010 via Flickr under the license CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

Did you know there’s a plugin on OpenLab that can quietly help make your site better for everyone?

It’s called the Editoria11y Accessibility Checker, and it works right inside the WordPress editor. As you build or update pages and posts, this plugin flags small issues that might make your content hard to access like missing alt text, unclear link labels, or color contrast problems.

You might also start seeing this plugin automatically when creating a new OpenLab site. Our upcoming site templates will have the Editoria11y Accessibility Checker already activated, making it easier for new sites to begin with accessibility in mind from the start.

What’s nice is that you don’t have to be a designer or a developer to use it. The plugin gives helpful explanations in real time and shows you where you can make quick changes. It’s kind of like having a friendly accessibility editor sitting next to you while you work.

This is especially useful if you’re creating a site for a project, club, or personal portfolio any space where others might visit and engage with your work. Making your site more accessible helps your ideas reach more people.

If you’re curious, the full plugin info is here, but the best way to try it is to activate it on your own site and explore.

Let us know if you want help getting started!

Looking for more information? We got you!

• Simple Accessibility Practices You Can Start Using Today on OpenLab
• Using the Editor11y Accessibility Checker to Improve Your Content
• OpenLab Support Hours

Photo Credit: “abstract” by Bahmad Farhan, August 2016 via Flickr under the license CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.