Accessibility Compliance for E-Commerce: WCAG 2.2 and Beyond
Why Accessibility Is a Business Priority
Web accessibility is both a legal requirement and a business opportunity. Over one billion people worldwide live with some form of disability, and an accessible store serves this market while improving the experience for all users. In 2026, enforcement of accessibility regulations has increased significantly, with the European Accessibility Act and updated ADA guidelines creating clear compliance obligations for online retailers.
WCAG 2.2 Requirements for E-Commerce
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2 introduced new success criteria particularly relevant to e-commerce: focus appearance requirements ensure keyboard users can see where they are on the page, dragging movements must have alternative input methods, and target sizes for interactive elements must meet minimum dimensions. Product images need meaningful alt text, form fields need proper labels, and the checkout process must be fully operable with keyboard alone.
Testing and Remediation
Automated tools like axe and WAVE catch approximately 30-40% of accessibility issues. Manual testing with screen readers (NVDA on Windows, VoiceOver on macOS) and keyboard-only navigation is essential for catching the rest. Prioritize fixing issues on the highest-traffic pages first: homepage, category pages, product pages, cart, and checkout. Document your accessibility statement and provide a feedback mechanism for users to report barriers.