Block Accessibility Checks - ChoosePlugin.com

Configure a series of block checks to prevent WCAG Accessbility errors in content.

Author:	Troy Chaplin (profile at wordpress.org)
WordPress version required:	6.7
WordPress version tested:	6.9.1
Plugin version:	3.0.1
Added to WordPress repository:	06-10-2024
Last updated:	24-02-2026
Rating, %:	0
Rated by:	0
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Total downloads:	1 832
Active installs:	10+
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Block Accessibility Checks is a comprehensive WordPress plugin that proactively prevents accessibility issues in your content before they reach your audience. Designed for the Gutenberg block editor, it provides real-time validation with a three-tier system that ensures your blocks, post meta fields, and overall document structure meet WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) requirements.

Unlike reactive accessibility tools that scan published content, this plugin catches problems during the editing process—giving immediate visual feedback and preventing publication of content with critical accessibility errors. Content creators get clear guidance on what needs fixing, while developers can extend the system with custom checks for blocks, meta fields, and editor-level validation.

Whether you’re a content creator ensuring your posts are accessible, a developer building accessible blocks, or an organization maintaining compliance standards, Block Accessibility Checks provides the tools you need to create inclusive content effortlessly.

Features for Content Creators & Editors:

Real-time Visual Feedback – See accessibility issues instantly with color-coded borders (red for errors, yellow for warnings) around problematic blocks and detailed error messages in the block inspector panel
Smart Publishing Control – Critical accessibility errors prevent publishing until resolved, while warnings allow publication with user awareness
Comprehensive Block Coverage – Built-in validation for images, buttons, tables, headings, and galleries with clear guidance on how to fix issues
Document-Wide Validation – Advanced heading hierarchy checking prevents skipped heading levels and ensures proper content structure across your entire post
Title Validation – Ensures posts and pages have a title set for accessibility and SEO, validates in real-time as you type
Intelligent URL Validation – Real TLD validation using the Public Suffix List ensures only legitimate domains are accepted in button links
Configurable Settings – Control which checks are errors (prevent publishing), warnings (allow with notice), or disabled through an intuitive admin interface
Grouped Error Display – All accessibility issues shown at once in organized groups, eliminating the “fix one, see another” frustration
Works Everywhere – Validation runs in both the post editor and site editor (templates/template parts) with separate configurable settings

Features for Developers & Plugin Authors:

Three-Tier Validation API – Register custom checks for block attributes, post meta fields, and editor-level validation using comprehensive hooks and filters
JavaScript-Only Validation – All validation logic runs in JavaScript for real-time editor feedback without server round-trips
Automatic Settings Integration – External plugins automatically get their own settings pages under the Block Checks menu
External Plugin Support – Works seamlessly with custom blocks from third-party plugins and themes
Extensive Hook System – 20+ action and filter hooks for complete customization of registration, validation, and display behavior
Well-Documented API – Complete developer documentation with quick start guides and working code examples

How It Works:

The plugin provides immediate feedback as you edit content through a sophisticated three-tier validation system:

Block Validation – Validates individual block attributes in real-time as you type and edit
Meta Field Validation – Checks required post meta fields with automatic post locking when validation fails
Editor-Level Validation – Validates document-wide concerns like heading hierarchy that span across multiple blocks

When accessibility issues are detected, they are highlighted with visual indicators (red for errors, yellow for warnings) and detailed messages explain how to fix the problems. Critical errors prevent publishing until resolved, while warnings allow publication with user acknowledgment.

Built-in Accessibility Checks:

Button Blocks – Ensures buttons have descriptive text content and validates link destinations using real TLD validation (Public Suffix List)
Image Blocks – Requires alt text (unless marked decorative), validates alt text length (warns if exceeding 125 characters), prevents caption duplication, and detects non-descriptive patterns like “image of” or “photo123”
Table Blocks – Requires proper headers or captions for screen reader navigation
Heading Blocks – Validates proper heading hierarchy across entire document (prevents skipped levels), ensures appropriate first heading level (H2 recommended, H1 allowed with warnings), and provides configurable heading level restrictions (H1, H5, H6 can be disabled)
Gallery Blocks – Applies comprehensive image accessibility checks to all gallery items (alt text, length, patterns, caption duplication)
Post & Page Title Validation – Ensures posts and pages have a title set for accessibility and SEO, validates in real-time as users type, prevents publishing content without a title, configurable independently for posts and pages
Post Meta Fields – Validate required custom fields with real-time validation, automatic post locking for errors, and seamless integration with block validation system

Perfect For:

Government websites requiring WCAG compliance
Educational institutions with accessibility mandates
Businesses committed to inclusive web content
Developers building accessible WordPress themes and plugins
Content teams who want accessibility guidance built into their workflow

Developer Resources:

Extend the plugin with custom accessibility checks using the comprehensive validation API. See the complete developer documentation for quick start guides, API reference, code examples, and a working example plugin.

Getting Involved

If you would like to get involved and contribute to the development of this plugin or view it’s source code you can find more information in the plugins GitHub repo.

Screenshots
FAQ

How do I use this plugin?

Once activated, navigate to Block Checks Core Block Checks to configure your preferences
Choose which checks should be errors (prevent publishing), warnings (allow publishing with notice), or disabled
Start editing content in the Gutenberg editor – accessibility checks run automatically across blocks, meta fields, and document structure
Blocks with issues will show red borders (errors) or yellow borders (warnings) with detailed messages in the block inspector panel
Fix the highlighted issues or adjust check severity levels as needed

What happens when accessibility issues are found?

The plugin provides immediate visual feedback through its three-tier validation system:
* Red borders and icons around blocks with critical accessibility errors
* Yellow borders and icons around blocks with warnings
* Detailed error messages in the block inspector sidebar panel, grouped by severity and category
* Publishing prevention for critical errors in blocks, meta fields, or editor-level checks (configurable)
* Warning indicators for less critical issues that still allow publishing with user awareness
* Post locking when required meta fields fail validation

Can I add custom accessibility checks for my own blocks?

Yes! The plugin includes a comprehensive developer API with extensive hooks and filters. You can register custom accessibility checks for:

Block validation – Any block type using the ba11yc_register_checks action
Meta field validation – Post meta fields using the ba11yc_register_meta_checks action
Editor-level validation – Document-wide checks using the ba11yc_register_editor_checks action

See the developer documentation for complete examples and quick start guides.

Does this work with blocks from other plugins?

Absolutely! The plugin’s architecture supports any WordPress block, whether from core, themes, or third-party plugins. External plugins automatically get their own settings page under the Block Checks menu, allowing administrators to configure validation levels for each check independently.

Can I configure which checks are errors vs warnings?

Yes, all checks can be configured as errors (prevent publishing), warnings (allow publishing with notice), or disabled entirely. Visit Block Checks in your WordPress admin to access:

Core block check settings
Meta field check settings
Site editor check settings
External plugin check settings (automatically created)

Can I validate required post meta fields?

Yes! The plugin includes a comprehensive meta field validation system. Register required meta fields using the ba11yc_register_meta_checks action hook, implement JavaScript validation using the ba11yc_validate_meta filter, and the plugin will automatically lock post saving when validation fails, provide visual feedback, and integrate seamlessly with block validation.

Does this work in the site editor?

Yes! The plugin works in both the post editor and site editor. The site editor has separate configurable settings accessible at Block Checks Site Editor Checks, allowing you to configure different validation rules for template/template part editing versus post-level content.

Will this slow down my editor?

No, the plugin is optimized for performance with smart caching and efficient validation algorithms. All validation runs in JavaScript for real-time feedback without server round-trips. Checks run in real-time without impacting editor responsiveness.

How to uninstall the plugin?

Simply deactivate and delete the plugin through the WordPress admin interface.

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