Shopify Store Accessibility: Why It Matters and How to Get It Right

Accessibility means building your store so that everyone can use it, including people who use screen readers, navigate by keyboard, or need larger text or higher contrast. It is the right thing to do, and it is also good business: a more accessible store reaches more customers, carries less legal risk, and often ranks and converts better. Here is what it means in practice for a Shopify store.

Why it matters

• More customers. A significant share of people have a disability. An inaccessible store simply loses those sales.
• Legal risk. Accessibility lawsuits against online stores are common and rising. An accessible store is a safer store.
• SEO and usability overlap. Much of what makes a site accessible (alt text, semantic structure, contrast, keyboard support) also helps search engines and every other user.

The most common problems

Most accessibility issues on stores come down to a familiar list:

• Missing image alt text, so screen-reader users and search engines cannot understand images (this includes product images).
• Poor colour contrast, making text hard to read.
• Text that cannot be resized without breaking the layout.
• Forms without proper labels, so fields are unclear to assistive tech.
• Mouse-only interactions, so keyboard users get stuck.
• Unlabelled buttons and links ("click here", or icon-only buttons with no accessible name).

How to improve a Shopify store's accessibility

1. Start with an accessible theme. Modern themes like Dawn are built with accessibility in mind. A good foundation prevents a lot of problems. (See Dawn vs a custom theme.)
2. Add real alt text to images, describing what they show, especially product images.
3. Check colour contrast for text against its background and fix anything hard to read.
4. Label forms and buttons clearly so assistive technology can announce them.
5. Test keyboard navigation. Can you reach and use everything with only the Tab and Enter keys?
6. Respect reduced motion for users who prefer less animation.
7. Audit apps and customisations, which often introduce new issues even on an accessible theme.

Test it, do not assume

• Run your store through an accessibility checker to catch obvious issues.
• Navigate with the keyboard only.
• If you can, try a screen reader on your key pages (home, product, cart, checkout).

Automated tools catch a lot, but real testing catches what they miss.

The takeaway

Accessibility is not a niche extra, it is part of building a store well. It widens your audience, lowers legal risk, and improves SEO and usability at the same time. Start with an accessible theme, get the fundamentals right (alt text, contrast, labels, keyboard support), and test rather than assume. Everyone benefits, including your bottom line.

Want your Shopify or WordPress store checked and improved for accessibility? Get in touch.