v1.40.0

v1.40.0 delivers significant Accessibility Reports Emails and front‑end highlighter accessibility/UI upgrades, including improved focus management, clearer new‑window indicators/announcements, and added screen reader–only formatting support in both the block editor and frontend. It also enhances table header detection, tightens scan/admin edge-case handling, plus ongoing translation and docs regeneration.

What's Changed

• [Backport] Release v1.39.0 by @github-actions[bot] in #1572
• chore: regenerate hooks docs by @github-actions[bot] in #1571
• PTC accessibility-checker (1985): Automatic Translations March 17, 2026 18:10:11020106 by @SteveJonesDev in #1573
• chore: regenerate hooks docs by @github-actions[bot] in #1570
• Update POT translation file by @github-actions[bot] in #1574
• PTC accessibility-checker (1985): Automatic Translations March 17, 2026 22:07:34183358 by @SteveJonesDev in #1575
• PTC accessibility-checker (1985): Edits by William Patton (March 17, 2026 22:59:26185507) by @SteveJonesDev in #1576
• Guard admin notice removal when current screen is unavailable by @SteveJonesDev in #1438
• Guard plugin action links pro check when EDAC_KEY_VALID is undefined by @SteveJonesDev in #1408
• Fix UTM key names in settings and widget links by @SteveJonesDev in #1405
• Disable broken automated bug hunter workflow by @Copilot in #1602
• Enhance table-has-headers check to handle colspan, rowspan, and ARIA header relationships by @Copilot in #1154
• Add handling to create playground links when creating zips for testing on a PR by @pattonwebz in #1603
• Add Accessibility Reports settings page and UI enhancements by @SteveJonesDev in #1605
• chore: regenerate hooks docs by @github-actions[bot] in #1609
• Update backport action to use env vars on process.* instead of inlined by @pattonwebz in #1597
• Exclude non-publicly-queryable post types from scanning and detect redirected scan iframes by @Copilot in #1594
• Skip Missing Table Header check for tables with role="presentation" or role="none" by @Copilot in #1591
• chore: regenerate hooks docs by @github-actions[bot] in #1614
• feat: add screen reader only format support in block editor and frontend by @SteveJonesDev in #1606
• chore: regenerate hooks docs by @github-actions[bot] in #1616
• Update new window warning css variables and make some tweaks to allow code reuse by @pattonwebz in #1596
• Fix article landmark label displaying "Landmark: Landmark" instead of "Landmark: Article" by @Copilot in #1593
• Make the cleanup routine for orphaned issues run twice a day by @pattonwebz in #1580
• Add support for registering sites with myDot and exchanging a jwt token that can be used to share site stats by @pattonwebz in #1315
• Front-end highlighter: Add missing heading markup to panel elements by @Copilot in #1621
• Add screen reader announcements for panel move/dock/undock actions by @Copilot in #1622
• Fix frontend highlighter: hide decorative arrow from screen readers, announce new-window intent by @Copilot in #1623
• Updated: Frontend UI by @SteveJonesDev in #1615
• chore: regenerate hooks docs by @github-actions[bot] in #1630
• Update POT translation file by @github-actions[bot] in #1631
• PTC accessibility-checker (1985): Automatic Translations April 20, 2026 20:05:16258211 by @SteveJonesDev in #1632
• Swap to a new image for the email report preview by @pattonwebz in #1641
• Email reports admin page change legal language by @pattonwebz in #1642
• Add label and icon indicating that these links open in a new window by @pattonwebz in #1644
• Steve/pro 734 front end highlighter redesign issue type accessible name by @SteveJonesDev in #1645
• Fix aria-label not updating when enable/disable styles button state changes by @SteveJonesDev in #1647
• Fix focus returning to panel close button instead of Fix Issue trigger by @SteveJonesDev in #1646
• Add role and aria-labelledby attributes to highlight panel controls for improved accessibility by @SteveJonesDev in #1648
• Steve/pro 737 front end highlighter redesign missing screen reader by @SteveJonesDev in #1649
• Bail early if we do not have a stored site id (not connected for email reports) by @pattonwebz in #1650
• Replace article landmarks with div on Accessibility Reports admin page by @SteveJonesDev in #1651
• William/pro 772 remove email report dashboard link in the plugin by @pattonwebz in #1654
• Add GAAD 2026 flash sale banner (May 13–22) by @Copilot in #1659
• Release v1.40.0 by @pattonwebz in #1633

Full Changelog: v1.39.0...v1.40.0