In a time when inclusivity is becoming increasingly more significant in our society, it’s time that more websites and brands reflect inclusivity not just in the products that they sell, but also in the way their Shopify websites are designed and built. For ecommerce shop owners who want to learn more about how to make their Shopify websites more inclusive and accessible to all their users, it's time to look into and learn about the concept of web accessibility.

What is web accessibility?

We all like to think of the internet as a place where everyone can have access, but there are millions of users out there with special needs that may make accessing and interacting with your ecommerce website more challenging.

Web accessibility means the degree to which a website is accessible to users with disabilities, with the help of tools, technology, and design.

The types of disabilities that can affect a user's ability to access and navigate your website include auditory, visual, cognitive, neurological, physical conditions and others.

When your website is accessible, it means that you have taken measures to make sure that people with disabilities can perceive, navigate, interact with, and even contribute to your website.

In this article, we look into common conditions and how they may affect your website's accessibility, and what you can do to make your site more accessible.

Common Types of Disabilities and Challenges They Pose for Users

There is a multitude of conditions that people live with that can affect how accessible your website will appear to them. Below, we highlight conditions and their challenges to give you an idea of how they limit the use of your site.

Visual Impairment : This includes individuals with a partial or total inability to see. It also includes those who suffer from colorblindness. Individuals with Visual impairment are limited in their ability to perceive content and distinguish between visual/colored elements on your site.

Auditory Impairment : These are users who have partial or a total inability to hear. These users are limited in their ability to perceive audio content on your site.

Physical Disabilities : This includes limitations in a person's physical functions, like mobility and dexterity. This can impair people's ability to navigate your site successfully.

Photosensitive Epilepsy : In this example, people who have photosensitive epilepsy suffer from seizures when triggered by exposure to flashing lights or certain visual patterns. This can result in major injuries to your users.

Learning Disorders/Cognitive Disabilities : A wide spectrum of conditions, examples of commonplace disorders include the likes of dyslexia, which often comes with difficulty in reading or decoding text efficiently.

Web Accessibility also benefits those without disabilities

It's important to note that it's not only the people with disabilities who will benefit from web accessibility. Here are examples of people and situations wherein users can benefit from web-accessible sites:

• Older users
• Users on mobile, smartwatches, smart TVs.
• Users with temporary injuries.
• Situational limitations such as crowded areas where users cannot hear audio.
• Users with slow internet

Why Should you Make Your Shopify Website More Accessible?

Web accessibility makes your website and brand more inclusive, a concept and social movement that is close to the hearts of many consumers. Inclusivity makes people view your brand under a positive light, meaning they are more likely to bond with your brand and have positive associations with what you do.

Additionally, website accessibility helps your brand connect to a larger audience, helping you widen your potential customer base to include those with certain conditions. Making your website more accessible to users with disabilities may also put you steps ahead of your competitors who do not consider the special needs of their customers, giving you a better reputation as a more approachable and humanistic brand.

There is a strong business consideration for website accessibility. It improves user experience while extending your market reach.

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