If your brand sells on Shopify, accessibility is now a central pillar of growth, risk mitigation, and experience design. Global regulation is accelerating, user expectations are rising, and the business case is undeniable. An estimated 1.3 billion people, or 1 in 6 worldwide, live with a disability according to the World Health Organization’s overview of disability, which means accessibility is a direct route to a larger total addressable market. The WebAIM Million 2024 report also found that 95.9 percent of home pages still have detectable WCAG failures, which presents a competitive opportunity for premium brands that get accessibility right.
Why WCAG 2.2 now matters for Shopify brands
WCAG 2.2 became an official W3C Recommendation on 5 October 2023, adding nine new success criteria focused on mobile, cognitive load, and real-world operability. The W3C’s summary of what’s new in WCAG 2.2 explains changes like Focus Not Obscured, Target Size, Dragging Movements, Consistent Help, Redundant Entry, and Accessible Authentication. Lawsuits continue to push private-sector adoption in the United States. In its 2024 Year-End ADA Web Lawsuit Report, UsableNet reviewed more than 4,000 ADA digital accessibility lawsuits across federal and state courts, and notes that ecommerce companies are disproportionately targeted. Their report further shows that 77 percent of 2024 cases hit ecommerce sites, and that repeat defendants are common.
Regulation is expanding beyond the US. The European Accessibility Act applies to ecommerce websites and apps that sell to EU consumers. As Level Access explains in its EAA overview, providers had until June 2025 to meet requirements, which are expected to align with EN 301 549 and WCAG 2.1 to 2.2. For premium brands with global ambitions, aligning to WCAG 2.2 AA across your Shopify experience is both a legal hedge and a product-quality advantage.
The WCAG 2.2 changes that impact ecommerce most
Target Size (Minimum). The W3C’s Understanding doc for 2.5.8 requires a minimum interactive target size of 24 by 24 CSS pixels or sufficient spacing. Shopify’s own theme guidance recommends at least 44 by 44 pixels for primary mobile touch targets, which is even more comfortable for thumbs on small screens. Size up add to cart, variant swatches, links in navigation, and filter chips.
Dragging Movements. The Understanding doc for 2.5.7 clarifies that any action requiring dragging must have a single-pointer alternative without dragging. Apply this to price sliders, reordering lists in account areas, and any drag-and-drop merchandising UI in custom sections by offering click or tap controls.
Accessible Authentication (Minimum). The W3C’s Understanding doc for 3.3.8 requires that login does not rely on cognitive function tests like solving puzzles or memorizing complex strings without alternatives. Support password managers, allow show password, enable copy and paste for codes, and consider magic links or passkeys for frictionless sign-in.
Redundant Entry. The Understanding doc for 3.3.7 aims to stop asking users to re-enter the same information during the same process. In Shopify flows, this means persisting values between steps in custom forms, using autocomplete attributes, and minimizing duplicate fields for shipping and billing when possible.
Focus Not Obscured and Focus Appearance. WCAG 2.2 adds new focus-related requirements. The Understanding pages for 2.4.11, 2.4.12, and 2.4.13 set expectations that focused elements must remain visible and have a clearly visible indicator. Watch for sticky headers, chat widgets, sticky “Add to cart” bars, and promotional popups that can cover focus.
Consistent Help. The Understanding doc for 3.2.6 asks brands to keep help consistently placed across the site when it is present. If you offer chat, phone, or self-help, keep the mechanisms and ordering consistent across templates and breakpoints.
Design patterns that work on Shopify
Start with semantic HTML, accessible naming, and predictable behavior. Shopify’s Accessibility best practices for themes recommends correct heading structure, clear label associations, and announcing dynamic changes. For product templates, use aria-live regions to announce price or availability updates when variants change. Use proper roles for dialogs and keep focus trapped within modals until closed. For navigation, use nav elements, aria-expanded, and keyboard support for dropdowns.
Color and contrast are table stakes. The Shopify Help Center’s accessibility guidance outlines contrast ratios aligned to WCAG and stresses that text links must be visually distinguishable beyond color. Avoid autoplaying media and always provide controls and captions. For product media, offer captions and transcripts for videos, and descriptive alt text for images that reflects the product context.
On mobile, size and spacing matter. Shopify’s theme guidance suggests a 44 by 44 pixel minimum for primary touch targets, which is compatible with WCAG 2.2 since it exceeds the 24 by 24 CSS pixel minimum. Ensure adequate spacing between adjacent actions like Save and Delete, and think carefully about sticky CTAs that might obscure focus.
A quick QA checklist before you launch
Keyboard complete a purchase journey. Tab from the home page to a collection, product, cart, then through any custom forms. Verify visible focus, logical order, and no focus traps. The W3C’s Focus Not Obscured criteria are a good lens for catching sticky UI issues.
Test screen reader basics. Use NVDA or VoiceOver to check that page titles, headings, product options, error messages, and announcements for price or stock changes are clear.
Validate target sizes. Check key actions for the 24 by 24 CSS pixel minimum, and aim for Shopify’s 44 by 44 pixel comfort size on mobile.
Verify authentication and forms. Allow copy and paste for codes, support password managers, and persist entries across steps to satisfy Accessible Authentication and Redundant Entry.
Automate and integrate. Shopify recommends Lighthouse, WAVE, and Accessibility Insights. If you ship with CI, consider the Shopify Lighthouse CI GitHub Action to guard regressions.
The business impact for premium brands
Legal risk is real. UsableNet’s 2024 report shows over 4,000 digital ADA lawsuits, with ecommerce taking the majority of claims and many companies sued more than once. The EAA brings enforcement and potential fines to the EU market, and as Level Access explains, compliance will be assessed against EN 301 549 and WCAG. The upside is just as clear. WHO reports 1 in 6 people experience significant disability, underscoring the revenue potential of accessible experiences. And with WebAIM’s finding that most sites still fail basic checks, accessible Shopify storefronts gain an immediate UX and conversion edge.
How BoomSprint makes WCAG 2.2 practical on Shopify
At BoomSprint, accessibility is baked into our 5-step delivery model, not treated as an add-on. We start with discovery and interactive prototyping to validate flows early, then craft high-end visual design and custom development around modular, reusable components that meet WCAG 2.2 AA standards. Our services include performance-oriented SEO and content, and our onboarding workshops teach your team how to update content in the CMS without breaking accessibility. Explore our Shopify work, from Space to Nova and Solar, and see how design polish can meet pragmatic QA. If you are planning a new store or migration, you can start quickly with Shopify and then partner with us to shape a premium, accessible experience.
If you want deep dives on conversion-friendly UX, our blog covers related topics like 10 website elements for maximum user engagement, why responsive web design is critical for your business, and how to write content that ranks on Google. For a scoped WCAG 2.2 audit, design patterns tailored to your brand system, and a fast build in weeks not months, view our pricing or contact us. A website that leaves a lasting impression can also be one that everyone can use.
