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Dennis Deacon

When is a Link not a Link?

When is a Link Not a Link

Reading Time: 3 minutesAutomated testing can miss serious accessibility barriers. This article explores how misusing links as buttons breaks keyboard navigation and assistive tech expectations, why semantic HTML matters, and how developers can avoid common pitfalls to create truly accessible user experiences.

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When Accessibility Demand Letters Land on Your Desk: A Framework for Strategic Response

When Accessibility Demand Letters Land on Your Desk. A Framework for Strategic Response

Reading Time: 3 minutesAccessibility demand letters reveal organizational readiness and risk management gaps. This article outlines four response pathways, from non-engagement to structured good-faith engagement, showing how strategic response minimizes litigation, contains costs, and builds long-term compliance resilience.

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Building Accessible WordPress Sites – A Practical Article Series

An illustration of the WordPress ecosystem

Reading Time: < 1 minuteThis series documents the real-world process of building accessible WordPress themes from the ground up. Using two live redesigns, it explores theme development, plugin accessibility testing, and content accessibility, showing how accessibility decisions made early lead to better, more usable WordPress sites.

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From Demand Letter to Lawsuit: Understanding the Digital Accessibility Escalation Path

From Demand Letter to Lawsuit: Understanding the Digital Accessibility Escalation Path

Reading Time: 4 minutesDiscover the predictable path from accessibility demand letters to lawsuits. This guide explains common missteps, escalation patterns, and practical strategies for responding effectively, minimizing risk, and resolving issues before they reach costly litigation.

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Digital Accessibility: The Strategic Imperative Hiding in Plain Sight

The Predictability Paradox: Why Lawsuits Target the Obvious. Common Accessibility Failures; Keyboard Traps, No Alt Text, Screen Reader Issues, Form Fields Missing Labels, Broken Checkout, Confusing Content. High-Risk Targets; Popular Websites, Big Brands, No Accessibility Statement, Overlay “Fixes”. Can You Afford to Ignore the Obvious? Easily Preventable, Entirely Predictable.

Reading Time: 5 minutesDigital accessibility has moved from compliance to strategy. Rising lawsuits reveal systemic design failures and the limits of overlays. Organizations embedding accessibility into design, development, and governance reduce risk, expand markets, improve SEO, and gain durable competitive advantage.

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Testing Methods: Accessible Authentication (Enhanced)

A sign in form

Reading Time: 2 minutesTesting WCAG 3.3.9 Accessible Authentication (Enhanced) requires a hybrid approach: automated tools catch technical issues, AI predicts cognitive and usability barriers, and manual testing with real users validates inclusive, secure authentication flows for all abilities.

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Testing Methods: Accessible Authentication (Minimum)

A sign in form

Reading Time: 3 minutesA hybrid approach to testing WCAG 3.3.8 combines automation, AI, and manual testing to ensure authentication is truly inclusive, eliminating cognitive barriers, validating real-world usability, and proving that secure access can also be seamless and accessible for every user.

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Testing Methods: Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data)

A payment modal dialog with messaging confirming accurate input

Reading Time: 3 minutesTesting WCAG 3.3.4 Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data) requires a hybrid approach. Automated tools check for basic compliance, AI simulates user interactions to detect risks, and manual testing validates real-world usability, ensuring users can safely review, confirm, or reverse critical actions.

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