Accessibility is no longer a “nice to have” tucked away at the bottom of a project brief. It’s a baseline expectation — for users, for search engines, for AI agents, and increasingly for the law. With the European Accessibility Act now in force across the EU, every WordPress professional has a stake in getting this right.
That’s why Accessibility has its own dedicated focus at WordCamp Europe 2026, and why we’d encourage every attendee — whether you build themes, run an agency, write content, or simply care about a better web — to make space in your schedule for it.
Why accessibility matters (more than ever)
When we talk about accessibility, we’re talking about real people. Roughly one in six of us lives with some form of disability, and around one in seven is neurodivergent. If your website doesn’t work for them, it doesn’t work for a significant share of your audience — full stop.
But the case for accessibility goes beyond reach and inclusion:
- It’s a legal expectation. The European Accessibility Act applies to most digital products and services sold in the EU.
- It improves SEO. Search engines reward clarity, semantic structure and good user experience — exactly what accessible sites deliver.
- It future-proofs your content. AI agents and assistive technologies rely on the same well-structured markup that accessibility demands.
- It lifts conversion. A site that’s easier to use is a site that’s easier to buy from, sign up to and come back to.
In short: building accessibly isn’t a tax on your project. It’s a multiplier.
The Talks
Accessibility in themes: easier than you think
Speaker: Jessica Lyschik
Where: Track 1
When: Friday 5 June at 11:00
Session page: Accessibility in themes: easier than you think
Many theme developers assume accessibility-ready requirements are hard to meet — but that’s rarely true. This session shares practical insights from real theme reviews and shows how both block and classic themes can reach accessibility-ready status with manageable effort.
Jessica Lyschik is a senior developer at Greyd and a WordPress core contributor. She was the Default Theme Co-Lead for the Twenty Twenty-Four theme. Outside of work, she enjoys building LEGO sets, travelling, and listening to music over a cup of tea.
Follow her work on WordPress.org as @luminuu
The clarity dividend: accessibility as an SEO strategy
Speaker: Anne-Mieke Bovelett
Where: Track 1
When: Friday 5 June at 15:15
Session page: The clarity dividend: accessibility as an SEO strategy
Is your website “invisible” to 23% of your potential customers and the world’s leading AI bots? Search engines no longer just look for keywords; they measure User Experience. In this talk, we’ll dive into the data proving that accessible WordPress sites rank higher and reach further.
We’ll explore how designing for the disability community, including the 1 in 7 people who are neurodivergent, creates a “Clarity Dividend” that makes your site easier for Google to rank and for AI agents to recommend. Leave with a practical roadmap to turn accessibility into your most effective, future-proof SEO strategy while honouring every user’s right to digital independence.
Anne is a strategic advisor and coach on digital accessibility and WordPress growth. A designer with development skills, she enables agencies to use inclusive design for conversion and impact.
Follow her on WordPress.org as @annebovelett