· 5 min read · By Abdul Rafay
Is your Shopify store accessible? An ADA and WCAG guide
Why accessibility matters for US, UK and Canadian stores, and the most common problems we find on Shopify themes.
Online stores in the US are regularly the subject of ADA accessibility claims, and the UK and Canada have their own legal duties. The shared benchmark is WCAG 2.2 Level AA. Meeting it also makes your store easier for everyone to use.
The most common problems on Shopify themes
- Product images with missing or meaningless alt text
- Text and buttons with too little color contrast
- Menus, filters and pop-ups that cannot be used with a keyboard
- Form fields without proper labels or clear error messages
- Carousels that move on their own with no way to pause them
Where to start
Run an automated check such as axe or Lighthouse on your home, collection, product, cart and checkout pages. Then try to buy something using only your keyboard. Most stores find several problems in the first ten minutes.
Automated checks are not enough
Tools catch only part of the problem. A proper review includes keyboard testing and a screen reader such as NVDA or VoiceOver. Fix the theme first, because every page uses it, then work through apps and content.
This guide is general information, not legal advice.
