Online shopping should be easy for everyone. People with disabilities should be able to browse products and search. They should add items to their cart without barriers. Completing payments and managing their orders should also be without obstacles.

Accessibility is not only about following the law. It also improves the shopping experience, increases customer satisfaction, and helps businesses reach more people.

Many organizations now ask software vendors to provide a VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) before buying an ecommerce platform. A completed VPAT shows how well a product meets accessibility standards.

This guide explains the accessibility requirements for common ecommerce features and covers important regulations such as:

ADA
WCAG 2.2 AA
European Accessibility Act (EAA)
EN 301 549
Section 508
AODA
Accessible Canada Act (ACA)
UK Accessibility Requirements

Ecommerce Accessibility Compliance Guide covering WCAG 2.2 AA, ADA, EAA, VPAT/ACR, online shopping, checkout, and digital accessibility.

Accessibility Standards Covered in a VPAT

Standard	Region
WCAG 2.2 AA	Worldwide
ADA	United States
Section 508	United States Federal Government
EN 301 549	European Union
European Accessibility Act	European Union
AODA	Ontario, Canada
Accessible Canada Act	Canada
UK Accessibility Requirements	United Kingdom

ADA Compliance

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires businesses to provide equal access to their products and services.

For ecommerce websites, this means customers should be able to:

Browse products
Search easily
Use only a keyboard if needed
Read content with a screen reader
Complete checkout without barriers
Understand error messages
Fill out forms easily

Following WCAG 2.2 AA is the best way to support ADA compliance.

European Accessibility Act (EAA)

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) helps make digital products and services accessible across the European Union.

For ecommerce businesses, this includes:

Accessible websites
Mobile apps
Payment systems
Customer support
Product information
Digital documents

If your business sells products or services in the EU, these requirements may apply to you.

EN 301 549

EN 301 549 is the European accessibility standard used to evaluate digital products and services.

It covers:

Websites
Mobile applications
Software
Digital documents
Hardware

Most VPAT reports include EN 301 549 compliance.

Section 508

Section 508 applies to United States federal agencies and companies that provide technology to them.

It requires:

Accessible websites
Accessible documents
Keyboard navigation
Screen reader support
Accessible forms
Accessible multimedia

AODA

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) helps make Ontario more accessible.

Organizations should provide:

Accessible websites
Accessible customer service
Accessible communication
Accessible digital documents

Many organizations follow WCAG standards to meet these requirements.

Accessible Canada Act (ACA)

The Accessible Canada Act focuses on removing barriers for people with disabilities.

It covers areas such as:

Information technology
Customer service
Employment
Procurement
Communication

UK Accessibility Requirements

Organizations in the United Kingdom should make their digital services accessible.

Common requirements include:

Keyboard navigation
Screen reader support
Accessible forms
Clear error messages
Good color contrast
Visible keyboard focus
Text that can be resized

WCAG 2.2 AA is the recommended accessibility standard.

Accessibility Requirements for Ecommerce Features

Product Discovery

Product Catalog

The product catalog should include:

Proper headings
Easy keyboard navigation
Accessible categories
Screen reader support

Search

Search should provide:

Accessible autocomplete
Keyboard support
Clear search suggestions
Screen reader announcements

Filters

Filters should work with:

Keyboard navigation
Screen readers
Clear labels
Logical tab order

Common filters include:

Price
Brand
Size
Color
Rating

Wishlist

Users should be able to:

Add products using the keyboard
Hear confirmation through screen readers
Remove products easily

Product Comparison

Comparison tables should include:

Accessible table headers
Keyboard navigation
Clear row and column labels

Product Pages

Product Images

Images should include:

Descriptive alternative text
Keyboard-accessible image gallery
Accessible zoom controls

Product Videos

Videos should provide:

Captions
Keyboard controls
Transcripts when available

Product Variants

Options such as size and color should:

Have clear labels
Announce selected options
Support keyboard navigation

Stock Status

Availability should clearly indicate:

In Stock
Out of Stock
Limited Stock

Screen readers should announce these updates.

Reviews and Ratings

Review sections should support:

Keyboard navigation
Accessible rating labels
Easy review submission

Product Questions

The Q&A section should have:

Accessible expand and collapse controls
Clear headings
Keyboard support

Size Guide

Size guides should include:

Accessible tables
Mobile-friendly layouts
Accessible downloadable files

Cart and Checkout

The shopping cart should allow users to:

Update quantities
Remove items
View totals
Navigate using only a keyboard

Checkout should include:

Accessible forms
Helpful error messages
Clearly labeled fields
Guest checkout
Multiple payment options
Coupon code entry
Shipping cost calculator
Address validation
Order summary before payment

Account and Post Purchase

Customers should be able to:

Register or sign in
Track orders
Download invoices
Save addresses
Manage payment methods
Request returns
Join loyalty programs
Manage subscriptions

All features should be fully accessible.

Customer Engagement

Accessibility should also apply to:

Live chat
Chatbots
Email notifications
Push notifications
Referral programs

These features should work with keyboards and screen readers.

Admin Accessibility

Accessibility is important for administrators as well.

The admin dashboard should support:

Catalog management
Inventory management
Order processing
Marketing tools
Reports
Analytics
User management
Discount management

Every feature should be usable without a mouse.

Sample VPAT Summary

Feature	WCAG	ADA	EAA	Section 508	Status
Product Search	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Supports
Product Pages	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Supports
Shopping Cart	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Supports
Checkout	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Supports
Reviews	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Partial Support
Admin Dashboard	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Supports

Best Practices

Follow these best practices to build an accessible ecommerce website:

Design with accessibility in mind from the beginning.
Follow WCAG 2.2 AA guidelines.
Test with real users and assistive technologies.
Keep your VPAT updated after major product changes.
Train designers, developers, testers, and content teams on accessibility.
Review accessibility regularly as your website grows.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is WCAG enough for ADA compliance?

WCAG 2.2 AA is widely recognized as the technical benchmark for demonstrating accessibility under the ADA, though the ADA itself is a civil rights law rather than a technical standard.

Is a VPAT legally required?

However, many enterprise customers and public-sector procurements require a VPAT or Accessibility Conformance Report during vendor evaluation.

Does the European Accessibility Act apply outside Europe?

It applies to products and services offered within the EU market, regardless of where the provider is headquartered.

Should mobile apps be included in a VPAT?

Yes. Native mobile applications and responsive web experiences should be evaluated against the relevant accessibility standards.

How often should a VPAT be updated?

Update the VPAT after significant product changes, major releases, or whenever accessibility issues are remediated.

Is automated testing sufficient?

No. Automated tools identify only a portion of accessibility issues. Manual testing with assistive technologies and user validation is essential.

Why Choose Enabled.in?

Enabled.in helps organizations build digital products that are accessible, inclusive, and compliant with global accessibility standards.

Their team collaborates with businesses across various industries. They focus on enhancing websites, web applications, mobile apps, enterprise software, AI products, and ecommerce platforms.

Their accessibility services include:

WCAG 2.2 AA Accessibility Audits
Ecommerce Accessibility Testing
Mobile App Accessibility Testing
Assistive Technology Testing
Screen Reader Testing
VPAT and Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) Preparation
ADA Compliance
Section 508 Compliance
European Accessibility Act (EAA) Compliance
EN 301 549 Compliance
UK Accessibility Compliance
Accessibility Consulting and Remediation Support

Enabled.in also performs manual accessibility testing using various assistive technologies.

Examples are JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. They also use keyboard-only navigation, magnification tools, and voice control software. These tests help organizations identify and fix accessibility barriers.

Contact Enabled.in

If you need help with an accessibility audit, VPAT preparation, WCAG compliance, or accessibility testing, you can contact Enabled.in.

Email : info@enabled.in

Phone : +91 98 40 51 56 47

Related Resources

To learn more about Ecommerce Accessibility, VPAT preparation, and global accessibility compliance, consider the following resources from Enabled.in. They provide detailed guidance.

These resources explain accessibility audits, WCAG 2.2 AA testing, VPAT and Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) preparation.

They cover Section 508 compliance, European Accessibility Act (EAA), and EN 301 549. Additionally, they include accessibility best practices for websites, mobile applications, SaaS products, AI solutions, and ecommerce platforms.

Ecommerce Accessibility VPAT: Complete Guide to ADA, WCAG, EAA & Section 508