Accessibility & Compliance

Yes. Accessible sites are easier for everyone to use, not just disabled users. Clear navigation, readable text, and simple forms benefit all customers. Studies show accessibility improvements increase overall conversion by 10-20%.

Accessibility and SEO overlap significantly. Alt text, semantic HTML, clear headings, and fast loading benefit both. Search engines can't see images or parse poor markup—accessible sites are inherently more crawlable and rankable.

No. Overlay widgets claiming to make sites accessible are largely ineffective and sometimes make accessibility worse. They don't fix underlying code issues. Invest in proper accessibility improvements instead of quick-fix overlays.

Label all form fields explicitly. Show errors clearly with text (not just color). Allow sufficient time for completion. Ensure keyboard navigation through all steps. Announce page updates to screen readers. Test the full flow with assistive technology.

Alt text describes images for screen reader users and when images fail to load. For products: describe the item specifically ("Blue wool sweater with crew neck") rather than generically ("Product image"). Include relevant details customers need.

ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) adds accessibility information to complex interfaces. Use it for custom widgets, dynamic content, and interactive elements. However, proper semantic HTML is always preferred—use ARIA only when native elements don't suffice.

WCAG AA requires 4.5:1 contrast for normal text and 3:1 for large text (18px+ or 14px bold). Use tools like WebAIM Contrast Checker. This ensures readability for users with low vision and in challenging lighting conditions.

Missing alt text on product images, insufficient color contrast, non-functional keyboard navigation, unlabeled form fields, and inaccessible checkout flows. These affect 15-20% of potential customers with disabilities.

The EAA requires digital services including e-commerce to be accessible by June 2025. It applies to businesses selling in the EU with over €2M revenue or 10+ employees. Non-compliance risks fines and market access restrictions.

Ensure keyboard navigation works fully. Add alt text to images. Maintain sufficient color contrast. Use semantic HTML. Provide text alternatives for media. Make forms accessible with labels. Test with screen readers and keyboard-only navigation.

Use automated tools (WAVE, axe) for basic issues. Test keyboard navigation manually. Use screen readers (NVDA, VoiceOver). Check color contrast ratios. Automated tools catch only 30% of issues—manual testing is essential.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are international standards for web accessibility. WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the typical compliance target. Guidelines cover perceivability, operability, understandability, and robustness across disabilities.