Accessibility and Shopify: How to ensure an accessible online store

Online accessibility is a topic that has received increasing attention in recent years, and with good reason. In order to ensure that all users – including those with disabilities – can navigate and use digital solutions, it is important to work with accessibility statements. This also applies to online stores built on platforms such as Shopify.

What is an availability statement?

An accessibility statement is a public description of how well a website or application meets the requirements for universal design. This includes various aspects of user friendliness, such as navigation, readability, use of screen readers and contrasts between text and background. The declaration informs users about how accessible the website is, which standards it meets, and which improvements are possibly on the way.

Why is accessibility important for Shopify online stores?

Accessibility is not only important from an ethical perspective, but also to reach a wider audience. Many people have challenges such as visual impairments, motor impairments or hearing problems that can make it difficult to use websites that are not optimized for accessibility. By implementing accessibility standards in your Shopify online store, you ensure that all customers, regardless of their circumstances, can shop easily and efficiently.

In addition, several countries, including Norway, have statutory requirements that public and some private websites must be universally designed. Shopify online stores may fall under these rules, particularly if they offer services or products to the public sector or have a broad customer base.

How to work with accessibility for your Shopify store?

To ensure that your online store meets the accessibility requirements, it is necessary to carry out an assessment of how user-friendly your site is for people with disabilities. This can be done by following the standards from the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) , which divide the requirements into three levels: A, AA and AAA. For most online stores, it is the AA level that is relevant, and which ensures a good balance between availability and practical implementation.

Follow these steps to create an accessibility statement:

1. Carry out an accessibility assessment : You can do this manually, or by using tools such as WAVE , Lighthouse or ax Accessibility . These tools can identify potential challenges such as missing alternative texts for images, poor contrast or incorrect use of headings.

2. Implement necessary changes : Shopify offers a variety of tools and themes that can help you meet accessibility standards. Several of the built-in Shopify themes have good accessibility features, but it may be necessary to customize some parts of the design or functionality.

3. Write the declaration : The declaration should contain information about:

   • Which WCAG level you are targeting (eg WCAG 2.1 level AA).
   • Which tools or methods have been used to assess accessibility.
   • Information on how users can report any problems they experience with accessibility.
   • Any future measures you plan to further improve accessibility.

4. Place the statement easily visible : The accessibility statement should be easy for users to find. It can, for example, be placed in the footer of the website or in a menu.

Shopify and accessibility features

The Shopify platform already has several built-in features to help you meet accessibility requirements. This includes the ability to add alternative texts to images, create easy-to-navigate menus, and provide good contrast between text and background.

But you should also be aware of any custom customizations or third-party apps you add to your store. Certain apps and themes may reduce accessibility if they are not designed with universal design in mind. It is therefore important to test and ensure that everything works optimally.

The benefits of an accessible Shopify online store

Focusing on accessibility can bring several benefits:

• Larger customer base : You open up more people to use your online store, which potentially increases sales.
• Better user experience for everyone : Many of the principles of accessibility, such as good navigation and clear contrasts, also provide a better user experience for customers without disabilities.
• Legal compliance : By having an accessibility statement and working with accessibility, you ensure that you follow national and international laws and guidelines.