Accessibility & WCAG

TheGem WordPress Theme v. 5.11.0 introduces significant advancements in Accessibility (a11y), aligning closely with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2) requirements.

These improvements ensure that websites built with the TheGem theme are more inclusive and usable for everyone — including people with disabilities who rely on assistive technologies such as screen readers or keyboard navigation.

Accessibility is not just a legal or technical requirement — it’s a commitment to providing an equitable digital experience for all users. The WCAG 2.2 standards serve as the global benchmark for creating accessible websites by defining clear criteria for perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust web content.

The WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), developed by the W3C, form the foundation for most accessibility laws and policies worldwide, including the EAA (European Accessibility Act) and the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act).

Using the updated TheGem theme helps website owners and developers align with key accessibility requirements. The theme’s structure, semantics, and interaction patterns have been enhanced to comply with WCAG 2.2 AA standards — helping ensure that sites are more accessible right out of the box.

Key Accessibility Improvements

This release (v. 5.11.0) includes a wide range of technical and usability improvements designed to make websites easier to navigate, understand, and interact with for all users. Highlights include:

• Skip to Main Content

  A keyboard-accessible “Skip to Main Content” link has been added, allowing users to bypass repetitive navigation menus and jump directly to the core content of the page.

• Enhanced Keyboard Navigation

  Improved tab order and focus management make it easier for users navigating via keyboard to move logically through interactive elements.

• Accessible Forms

  Search, contact, and newsletter subscription forms now include proper labels and ARIA attributes for improved accessibility and usability.

• ARIA Attributes and Semantic HTML5 Roles

  Correct use of ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes and semantic HTML5 roles across content elements ensures better interpretation by assistive technologies.

• Improved Landmarks and Structure

  Enhanced use of landmarks (header, main, navigation, footer, etc.) helps users and screen readers understand the page structure.

• Screen Reader Optimizations

  Additional context and alternative text have been added to key elements to provide a smoother experience for screen reader users.

• Accessible Controls

  Interactive components now include clear Accessible Names, Roles, and States, ensuring users can understand and control them effectively.

Content and Technical Compliance

While TheGem provides a technical foundation for WCAG and EAA compliance, true accessibility and full compliance depends on the content as well. Website owners, editors, and content creators carry responsibility for maintaining accessible content by following best practices such as:

• Ensuring sufficient color contrast between text and backgrounds
• Adding alternative text to all images
• Using a logical heading structure (H1–H6)
• Providing clear labels for form fields
• Writing meaningful link text
• Avoiding content that relies solely on color or motion for meaning
• Ensuring all interactive elements are accessible using the keyboard

By combining the theme’s built-in accessibility features with accessible content practices, users can create a truly inclusive web experience that benefits everyone. TheGem gives you the technical support needed for accessibility, however meaningful results depend on how you create and structure your content.

Testing Tools, Validation, and Prebuilt Demos

Users can verify accessibility using various online tools, with some of the popular being:

• Accessibility Checker
• WAVE
• AccessiBe Scan
• Lighthouse

These tools help identify potential accessibility issues, giving website owners and content creators actionable insights to maintain compliance as their websites evolve.

To better demonstrate the latest improvements in accessibility compliance, TheGem now includes new prebuilt demos. These demos showcase the combination of technical enhancements and accessible content in line with WCAG 2.2 and EAA guidelines:

• Health & Wellness Coach (Accessibility Checker, WAVE)
• AI Solutions (Accessibility Checker, WAVE)
• Nutrition & Health Coach (Accessibility Checker, WAVE)
• Gym & Fitness (Accessibility Checker, WAVE)
• AI Startup (Accessibility Checker, WAVE)

These demos provide a practical reference, showing how accessibility best practices can be implemented effectively in real-world scenarios.

While these new demos fully meet accessibility standards, some other prebuilt demos (previews) may not yet reach the same level, as not all have been updated. This is not due to any technical limitations of the theme, but rather reflects how content can be implemented. As outlined in "Content and Technical Compliance" section, accessibility is a combination of technical design and content practices: the theme provides a solid foundation through structural and interactive improvements, while content creators ensure that text, media, and other elements are presented in a way that all users can access. By addressing both aspects, website owners can create sites that are truly inclusive and compliant with WCAG 2.2 and EAA guidelines.