Monday, June 16, 2025: 10:24 PM: I took a little time this evening to do a deep-dive with Microsoft Copilot into the art of crafting lean, accessible WordPress themes. It’s been years since I built one but after chatting with my AI companion about it, “I now know for certain building a new theme for this site isn’t beyond me.”
So, with this project, I’m moving away from the standard CMS bloat and building a theme from scratch with nothing more than the essential files: index.php, single.php, page.php, home.php, functions.php, and style.css. Microsoft Copilot Pro assures me that won’t be a problem if I really want to do it that way.
We talked about the merits of a minimalist approach—how a solid HTML5 framework combined with well-considered CSS can provide all the structure needed for a truly accessible site. During our little chat, I shared my no-nonsense stance on extra layers like header.php, footer.php, and those bulky templated parts. For me, every file is deliberately self-contained, letting me tailor each page type exactly as it needs to be, with accessibility at the core.
One of the highlights of my conversation with Copilot was discussing how modern JavaScript often complicates things, especially for screen readers—a pain point I’ve encountered too many times. Given that I’m blind, every design decision must ensure that I can navigate and understand my own work seamlessly. It’s not just about aesthetics or conventional usability. “Even the AI gets that it’s personal!”
I prefer relying on HTML5 and CSS, leaving Java in my coffee cup. I also mentioned that while many CMS platforms neglect accessibility, WordPress—the way I use it—offers the best canvas so far. Themes like TwentySixteen still serve as sound foundations because of their design. But, even still, “I can do better!”
Tonight, the fact finding conversation was a bit of an unexpected reaffirmation of my intention to build something lean, effective, and unquestionably accessible. I’m actually looking forward to starting this project soon. The conversation not only sharpened my ideas but also made me feel even more empowered to create a theme that truly serves real users—especially those who depend on accessibility features.