The 5-Minute Fix: What EqualFix Handles Automatically vs. What Needs a Human
Every accessibility vendor draws the line between "automated" and "needs a human" somewhere. Most draw it wherever makes their product look best. Here's exactly where we draw it, and why.
What the free plugin fixes automatically
These five fix types share three properties: the issue is mechanically detectable, the fix is deterministic, and the fix is reversible (disable the plugin and your output returns to its original form).
1. Missing page-language attribute. If your <html> tag doesn't declare a language, the plugin adds it from your WordPress locale setting. Zero judgment involved.
2. Empty alt text on decorative images. Images with no alt attribute at all get alt="", which tells screen readers to skip them. Note: this only applies where the image is genuinely decorative — the plugin never invents descriptive alt text, because invented descriptions are worse than none.
3. Accessible names for icon-only buttons and links. An icon-only "menu" button gets its name derived from context — nearby text, title attributes, standard icon semantics. Derived, never invented: if no reliable name can be determined, it's flagged for human review instead.
4. Form-field label association. Where a form field has exactly one unambiguous visible label, the plugin associates them programmatically. Ambiguous cases get flagged, not guessed.
5. Skip-to-content link. If your theme doesn't include one, the plugin adds it — the standard "skip navigation" link keyboard users expect.
Each fix type can be previewed (before/after) and toggled individually. Nothing happens silently.
What gets flagged for human review instead
Color contrast. Fixing contrast means choosing colors — a design decision, not a mechanical one. We report the exact failing pairs; you or your designer pick the fix.
Heading structure. We detect skipped levels and illogical ordering. Restructuring headings requires understanding the page's content hierarchy.
Landmarks and regions. Missing or misused ARIA landmarks get flagged with their location.
Third-party embeds. YouTube iframes, payment widgets, chat bubbles — cross-origin content we can't reach into. Flagged with the provider identified.
Ambiguous names and labels. Anything where the safe derivation isn't certain. We'd rather flag it than guess wrong — a wrong accessible name is worse than a missing one, because it actively misleads.
What Pro adds
The Pro add-on extends the fix set (heading-level correction, redundant link labels, table scope, WooCommerce-specific patterns), adds an approval queue for AI-drafted fixes like alt text and ARIA labels — you approve, edit, or reject each suggestion — plus continuous monitoring, weekly/monthly re-scans, and PDF remediation reports for your records.
The principle
Automation handles what's deterministic. Humans handle what requires judgment. The line between them isn't a marketing decision — it's an engineering one, and we'd rather show you the line than pretend it doesn't exist.
The free plugin includes the full audit and all five automatic fix types. Install it and see your findings.