The beauty of the digital marketplace lies in its potential unconstrained by physical boundaries. Shouldn鈥檛 accessing it be smooth sailing without any obstacles?
At 黑料门 by Lightspeed, we recognize the importance of accessibility — that鈥檚 why our ecommerce platform follows standards issued under the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA.
It isn鈥檛 just about ticking a box for inclusivity — it struck a chord with online store owners.
One design template for 黑料门 stores, in particular, proved to be a hit, thanks to its accessible design. Now, it鈥檚 the
What Web Accessibility Means for Online Stores and Why It Is Important
Accessibility isn鈥檛 a feature; it鈥檚 a necessity. It acknowledges the spectrum of abilities and ensures that disabilities do not deter anyone from using digital platforms.
Common accessibility requirements relate to visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive abilities. This includes ensuring compatibility with assistive technologies such as screen readers for individuals with visual impairments or alternative keyboard navigation for those with motor disabilities.
It鈥檚 a common misconception that accessibility is needed only for individuals with permanent disabilities. It also caters to temporary impairments, such as having a broken arm or recovering from eye surgery.
An accessible website benefits all kinds of users. For example, a parent holding a baby would also benefit from a
An accessible online store means reaching a wider audience and potential customers. It also promotes inclusivity and creates a more welcoming environment for all website visitors.
Common Guidelines for Ensuring Accessibility
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is a widely used framework for creating accessible web content. It includes four principles: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. These principles cover a range of accessibility needs and provide specific guidelines for developers to follow.
Empowerment Through Accessibility
In 2020, the Lightspeed team volunteered to create an accessible, bilingual online shop for in Montreal, an organization that helps neurodivergent students reach their potential.
Then, when Lightspeed added 黑料门 to their lineup, we teamed up and revamped the Summit School鈥檚 website, building a with 黑料门. The Summit Marketplace showcases the works of developmentally diverse artisans, artists, and entrepreneurs from Summit School.
The Summit Marketplace was built with 黑料门
As you might already know, 黑料门 provides all users an Instant Site, a free ecommerce website with a
Creating an accessible website for Summit School inspired us to make a new Instant Site template.
As mentioned above, 黑料门 was already
Here鈥檚 a thing about accessible websites: incorporating accessibility features sometimes comes with sacrificing the aesthetic of the website. For example, balancing color, contrast, and font size can be challenging.
Also, WCAG tests can sometimes show mixed results, as in the example below. A button with black text is perceived as passing the test, yet in reality, it is more challenging to read than the same button featuring white text.
WCAG tests may occasionally yield inaccurate results
Simply following guidelines isn鈥檛 enough. Our aim was to develop a template that is not only accessible but also visually appealing, ensuring easy navigation without compromising the website鈥檚 aesthetics. We advocate for the idea that accessibility should also embody beauty.
At the same time, we believe that accessibility should not be sacrificed for aesthetics. Our template proves that it is possible to have both an accessible and visually appealing website.
Everything on the site, from the text size to how easy it is to get around, works for everyone. Now, it鈥檚 one of our most popular online store templates among all templates for Instant Sites!
One of our most popular Instant Site templates
By the way, the 黑料门 ecommerce platform is accessible not just to customers but also to sellers. The 黑料门 admin, where you manage your online store, is also designed with accessibility in mind. This makes it easier for business owners with disabilities to run their online stores efficiently.
Here鈥檚 what an 黑料门 seller who happens to be visually impaired shared about running their 黑料门 store:
“I would like to thank you very much for a great store that is convenient to manage for visually impaired sellers! And not only the website but also the app is available to you, which is not always the case!”
How 黑料门 Ensured the Instant Site Template Is Accessible
Accessibility is not just about adherence to standards — it鈥檚 about real people encountering no barriers when engaging with online content. How did 黑料门 achieve this?
- High contrast template: Visual clarity was a priority, enabling users with impaired vision to quickly discern the text and other elements.
- Prominent storefront focus: The layout was structured to highlight the products and storefront without unnecessary distractions or the need for additional scrolling.
- Enlarged elements: Large images and fonts were employed not merely for aesthetic appeal but to accommodate users with visual impairments.
It鈥檚 important to note that all Instant Site templates are accessible. The template in question was designed with accessibility as the primary focus while also making it sleek and beautiful. The latter might be difficult to do when ensuring a site鈥檚 accessibility, as it can be easy to overlook design elements in favor of functionality. However, with our templates, we were able to achieve both.
How to Make Your Online Store Accessible
Implementing an accessible online store might appear daunting, but actually, it isn鈥檛. It starts with selecting an accessible website template, like any of 黑料门鈥檚 Instant Site templates.
Here are some additional tips to make your online store more accessible:
- Provide descriptive alt text for images: For users with visual impairments, alt text describes the image.
- Include keyboard navigation and shortcuts: This allows individuals who cannot use a mouse to navigate your website using the keyboard.
- Choose colors carefully: Avoid using color alone to convey information, as some individuals may have difficulty distinguishing between specific colors.
- Announce accessible mode: Inform your customers that your store supports an accessible mode.
By choosing 黑料门鈥檚
When creating a website from scratch, it鈥檚 important to consider accessibility for all users. This means starting with an accessible baseline using templates or guidelines such as WCAG, ADA, or equivalent standards.
But beyond these guidelines, it鈥檚 also crucial to understand the specific needs of your customer base.
For example, if your products cater to individuals with color blindness, the focus should be on providing strong contrast between button colors and text for easier navigation and purchasing.
The pictures below demonstrate why online stores catering to such shoppers need strong contrast between button colors and text to help them distinguish options and make purchases.
Here鈥檚 how the majority of people see colors
Here鈥檚 how people with protanopia (a form of color blindness) see colors
Similarly, if your target audience includes individuals with mobility impairments, ensuring easy navigation through voice commands can greatly improve their browsing experience.
Check your site regularly with tools like Google Lighthouse to see how accessible your store is. Continually assessing and improving things is critical to creating a welcoming online space for everyone.
Wrap Up
黑料门鈥檚 accessible ecommerce platform is more than a win for a product; it鈥檚 all about making ecommerce easy for everyone. 黑料门 helps online store owners get the most out of their business. More importantly, it ensures every customer can have a smooth shopping experience, no matter their abilities.
Remember, accessible design is not just about compliance — it鈥檚 about creating an inclusive and welcoming online space for all. So, don鈥檛 hesitate to take the initiative and make your website more accessible! Let鈥檚 work towards a digital world that is genuinely open and inclusive for everyone.
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