The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Choose a consultant who names the WCAG version and conformance level they will assess, evaluates your actual WordPress site with both automated checks and human testing, and gives your team findings it can act on. A theme’s accessibility label or a clean automated scan is not proof that your assembled site is accessible.
Set the accessibility target before comparing proposals
Ask each consultant to state the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version and conformance level in the proposal. W3C encourages using the latest WCAG version; its overview, updated September 17, 2026, says content conforming to WCAG 2.2 also conforms to 2.1 and 2.0. See the W3C WCAG 2 Overview.
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WordPress.org’s coding standards say code integrated into the WordPress ecosystem—including WordPress core, WordPress.org websites, and official plugins—is expected to conform to WCAG 2.2 AA. That expectation is not a guarantee about third-party themes, plugins, or your live site. Your legal obligations may depend on your location and organization; WCAG 2.2 AA should not be treated as universal legal advice. Identify the official requirements that apply to you. (WordPress accessibility coding standards; W3C WCAG 2 Overview.)
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesMake sure the proposal covers your real site
A WordPress site is the combination of its theme, configuration, plugins, content, and interactive features. Ask the consultant to identify what they will inspect rather than relying on a general statement about WordPress or a theme’s status. WordPress says it aims for WCAG 2.2 AA in the admin and bundled themes where possible, but acknowledges that current features may not fully comply and that it cannot guarantee all themes are compliant.
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WordPress.org describes an “accessibility-ready” theme as one that has been checked by its Theme Review Team against basic accessibility requirements. That label describes the theme review, not a full evaluation of your configured, populated website. (WordPress.org accessibility.)
Have the proposal list the scope in concrete terms:
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- Domains, page templates, and representative pages to be evaluated.
- Important user journeys, such as finding information, submitting a form, or completing a purchase.
- Relevant plugins, content types, and interactive components.
- Any exclusions, sampling method, and limits on what the evaluation can establish.
Look for human evaluation alongside automation
Automated tools are useful for finding potential issues, but they cannot determine accessibility on their own. W3C’s Web Accessibility Initiative says, “no tool alone can determine if a site meets accessibility standards.” Tools can also return false or misleading results, so ask how the consultant verifies findings and investigates issues automation may miss. (W3C evaluating web accessibility; W3C guidance on selecting evaluation tools.)
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Ask what the manual evaluation includes. The proposal should explain how the evaluator will inspect the interface and test relevant interactions, including keyboard use and assistive technology where appropriate. A tool-generated score without a description of human review leaves you unable to tell what was actually checked.
Check the evaluator’s expertise and perspectives
Good evaluation draws on more than familiarity with a scanning tool. W3C identifies web technologies, accessibility guidelines, evaluation methods, disability-related barriers, and assistive-technology use as relevant areas of expertise. Ask who will perform the work, what experience they bring, and how they will fill gaps through collaboration or outside expertise. (W3C guidance on combined expertise.)
Ask whether people with disabilities participate in the evaluation, which disability and assistive-technology experiences are represented, and how their input relates to standards-based conformance testing. User evaluation offers perspectives that a criteria-based review alone may not capture; clarify what each method contributes rather than treating either as a substitute for the other.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Compare reports and follow-through
A report is useful when your team can locate an issue, reproduce it, understand its impact, and decide what to do next. Ask for a sample report or a description of how each finding will be documented. Look for clear locations and reproduction steps, the relevant criteria, priority or impact, and practical remediation guidance.
W3C provides resources for evaluation methods, including WCAG-EM, and reporting. Ask whether the consultant can explain how the scope and report align with a recognized method. (W3C evaluating web accessibility; W3C guidance on combined expertise.)
Do not assume a proposal includes implementation or a second evaluation. Agree in writing on who will make fixes, whether the consultant provides remediation advice or implements changes, what will be retested, when retesting happens, and what counts as completion. These are proposal and contract terms; inclusions vary.
Questions to ask before hiring
- Which WCAG version and conformance level will you assess against, and why is that target appropriate for our site?
- Which templates, plugins, key user journeys, and content types are included? What is excluded or sampled?
- Which checks are automated, which are manual, and what keyboard and assistive-technology testing will you perform?
- Who will evaluate the site, and what experience do they have with WordPress, web technologies, WCAG, disability barriers, and assistive technologies?
- Do people with disabilities participate? What perspectives and assistive technologies are represented?
- How will the report help our team locate, understand, prioritize, and fix each issue?
- Do you provide remediation advice, implement fixes, or only evaluate? Who owns remediation, and is retesting included?
- How does the evaluation scope and report align with a method such as WCAG-EM?
A practical way to compare proposals
Put proposals side by side and compare what each one commits to—not just the quoted service name. A proposal that specifies the target, site scope, human and automated methods, evaluator expertise, report contents, and follow-up makes its limits and value easier to judge.
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