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Are Shopify Stores ADA Compliant?

Last updated on October 1, 2022 @ 9:39 pm

As the Americans with Disabilities Act celebrates its 30th anniversary, ecommerce businesses are coming under increased scrutiny to ensure their websites are accessible to people with disabilities.

Shopify is one of the most popular ecommerce platforms in use today, and many Shopify stores are not ADA compliant. In fact, a recent lawsuit alleges that Shopify violated the ADA by not providing an accessible platform for a visually-impaired customer.

So, what does it mean for a website to be ADA compliant? The ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of public life, including websites. To be compliant, a website must be accessible to people with disabilities who use assistive technologies such as screen readers.

There are many ways to make a website accessible, but some common features include alternate text for images, closed captioning for videos, and transcripts for audio content. Websites must also be designed so that people with disabilities can use them without assistance from others.

Shopify has taken some steps to make its platform more accessible, but there is still work to be done. In the meantime, it is up to individual store owners to ensure their sites are compliant. There are many resources available to help with this, including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0.

ADA compliance is not optional – it is required by law. And while Shopify has made some progress in making its platform more accessible, there is still more work to be done. Store owners must also take responsibility for ensuring their sites are compliant, and there are many resources available to help with this process.

Are Shopify Stores ADA Compliant?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of public life, including websites.

In order for a Shopify Store to be ADA Compliant, it must be accessible to people with disabilities who use assistive technologies such as screen readers. There are many ways to make a website accessible but some common features include:

  • Alternate text for images
  • Closed captioning for videos
  • Transcripts for audio content

Websites must also be designed so that people with disabilities can use them without assistance from others.

What does this mean for Shopify?

Shopify has taken some steps towards making their platform more accessible but there is still work to be done.

It is up to individual store owners to ensure that their sites comply with the ADA.

PRO TIP: There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on a number of factors, including the specific Shopify theme being used and the individual customization of the store. However, it is generally advisable to err on the side of caution and assume that Shopify stores are not automatically ADA compliant. If you are concerned about compliance, we recommend consulting with a qualified accessibility specialist.

There are many resources available online to help store owners make their sites compliant including:

ADA compliance is not optional – it is required by law.

Conclusion:

Madison Geldart

Madison Geldart

Cloud infrastructure engineer and tech mess solver.