Accessibility on DreamHost
DreamHost hosts WordPress sites as well as custom and static sites. For every one of them, accessibility is decided by the code, theme, plugins and content, not by the host.
Blogs and content-heavy sites have their own common gaps: images without alt text, long posts with no heading structure and links that just say "read more".
Common Accessibility Issues on DreamHost Sites
Blog images
Featured images and in-post images published without alt text.
Heading structure
Long posts that skip heading levels or use bold text instead of headings.
Vague link text
Repeated "read more" and "click here" links that do not say where they go.
Theme contrast
Light gray meta text, captions and buttons that fail WCAG contrast.
Comment and search forms
Fields without labels and buttons without accessible names.
How AccessBell Scans Your DreamHost Site
- Enter any public page. Paste the address of a page on your DreamHost site into the scanner above. There is nothing to install on your hosting account: no plugin, no code snippet and no login.
- We load it in a real browser. AccessBell opens the page in headless Chrome and runs its scripts, so it tests what your visitors actually see, including content added by your theme, builder or plugins.
- We run the WCAG rules. The open-source axe-core engine checks the page against the standard you choose, and every result is mapped to the WCAG success criteria it affects.
- You see what is wrong in seconds. The free scan lists every issue it finds, ranked by severity, with the WCAG criteria each one fails. Start a free trial to get the failing code and the fix for each one. Our methodology explains exactly what runs and what still needs a person.
What You Get From the Free Scan and the Free Trial
Free, with no account
- 63 automated rules for WCAG 2.2 Level AA, or presets for WCAG 2.1 AA, the ADA, Section 508 and EN 301 549
- Every issue found on the page, ranked by severity from critical to minor
- The WCAG success criteria each issue fails, which you can look up in our WCAG library
With a 3-day free trial
- The failing HTML, so you can find the element in your site editor or code
- How to fix each issue, with a corrected example
- Every page scanned, up to 500 per domain, with daily monitoring and an email when something breaks
- A list of checks that need a person to review, so nothing is missed
- A dated record of your scans and fixes
How to Fix What the Scan Finds
- Set up your editor workflow so every post gets alt text, real headings and descriptive link text before it is published.
- Fix theme colors and form markup once, in the theme or a child theme, so every page benefits.
- Run a free scan above on your homepage and a few key pages, fix issues starting with critical and serious, then rescan to confirm.
- For ongoing protection, AccessBell Pro monitors up to 500 URLs per domain every day and alerts you when a theme, app or plugin update introduces a new issue.
Related Guides
DreamHost Accessibility — Frequently Asked Questions
Is my DreamHost site accessible?
That depends on the site, not the hosting. Your theme, plugins and content decide how accessible it is. A free scan shows how many automated issues a page has.
Can AccessBell scan a static site hosted on DreamHost?
Yes. AccessBell scans any public page in a real browser, however it was built.
How often should I scan a blog?
Scan after theme and plugin changes, and regularly as you publish. AccessBell Pro rescans up to 500 pages per domain every day and alerts you to new issues.
Sources
This page explains general accessibility patterns for DreamHost sites and is not legal advice. AccessBell is not affiliated with DreamHost. DreamHost and its logo are trademarks of their owners and are used only to identify the platform. See our disclaimer.
