BigCommerce Checkout Accessibility in 2026: 5 Critical Fixes to Avoid Legal Risk

The rise of online commerce has brought immense opportunity, but also increased scrutiny regarding accessibility. For BigCommerce users in Romania, ensuring a legally compliant and inclusive checkout process isn’t just good practice – it’s becoming a necessity. Ignoring accessibility can lead to costly lawsuits, negative brand perception, and exclusion of a significant portion of your potential customer base. This article will detail five common BigCommerce checkout accessibility issues, providing specific, actionable steps to resolve them, all while referencing BigCommerce-specific workflows and terminology.

Understanding the Legal Landscape & Why It Matters

Before we dive into the fixes, let’s briefly address the legal context. Romania, like many European countries, adheres to the principles of the European Accessibility Act (EAA 2026) and aligns with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2. While the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) primarily applies to US businesses, its principles influence global accessibility standards. Failing to comply can result in fines, legal action, and damage to your reputation.

"A recent study showed that 78% of consumers are more likely to purchase from businesses that demonstrate a commitment to accessibility."

The cost of remediation can be significantly lower than the cost of litigation. Proactive accessibility measures are a smart business investment.

1. Missing or Incorrectly Labeled Form Fields

A common issue in BigCommerce checkouts is the lack of proper labels for form fields. Screen reader users rely heavily on these labels to understand the purpose of each field (e.g., "Billing Address," "Card Number," "Expiration Date"). Without correct labels, users become disoriented and frustrated, leading to abandoned carts.

BigCommerce Implementation:

1. Navigate to: Storefront > Checkout Settings in your BigCommerce admin panel.

2. Review each form field: Carefully examine the labels associated with each field, including those in the shipping and billing address sections.

3. Use the <label> tag correctly: Ensure each input field is associated with a clear and concise <label> tag. The for attribute of the label should match the id of the input field. For example:

   <label for="billing_address_1">Billing Address Line 1:</label>
   <input type="text" id="billing_address_1" name="billing_address_1">
   

4. ARIA attributes (Advanced): For complex form fields, consider using ARIA attributes like aria-labelledby and aria-describedby to provide additional context. This is particularly useful for fields with dynamic instructions.

Troubleshooting: Use a screen reader (like NVDA or VoiceOver) to test the checkout flow. Listen carefully to how each field is announced.

2. Lack of Keyboard Accessibility

Many users, including those with motor impairments, rely solely on the keyboard to navigate websites. A BigCommerce checkout that isn't fully keyboard accessible can be incredibly frustrating. This means users must be able to tab through all interactive elements (form fields, buttons, links) in a logical order.

BigCommerce Implementation:

1. Tab Order Verification: Use the "Tab" key to navigate through the entire checkout process. Ensure the focus order makes logical sense.
2. Visible Focus Indicators: Ensure that all interactive elements have a clear and visible focus indicator when they receive keyboard focus. BigCommerce's default theme might require customization to improve focus indicator visibility.
3. Skip Links: Implement skip links (e.g., "Skip to Content," "Skip to Checkout") at the top of the page to allow users to bypass repetitive content and jump directly to the checkout section.
4. Custom JavaScript: In some cases, custom JavaScript may be required to manage focus and ensure accessibility, particularly when dealing with complex form elements or custom widgets. Be extremely cautious when modifying JavaScript; ensure it doesn't introduce new accessibility barriers.

Note: BigCommerce's theme editor allows for some CSS customization, which can be used to improve focus indicator styling.

3. Insufficient Color Contrast

Color contrast is crucial for users with low vision or color blindness. If the contrast between text and background colors is too low, the text becomes difficult or impossible to read.

BigCommerce Implementation:

1. WCAG 2.2 Contrast Ratio Requirements: Adhere to WCAG 2.2's contrast ratio guidelines:
   • Normal Text: 4.5:1
   • Large Text (18pt or 14pt bold): 3:1
2. BigCommerce Theme Customization: Use the BigCommerce theme editor to adjust color schemes and ensure sufficient contrast. Pay particular attention to button labels, form field borders, and error messages.
3. Accessibility Checking Tools: Use accessibility checking tools like the WebAIM Contrast Checker or the Chrome DevTools Accessibility tab to evaluate color contrast ratios.
4. Color Blindness Simulators: Use color blindness simulators to see how your checkout appears to users with different types of color blindness.

Example: If your checkout uses a light gray background, ensure that the text is a sufficiently dark color (e.g., a dark gray or black) to meet the 4.5:1 contrast ratio.

4. Dynamic Content Updates Without ARIA Live Regions

Many BigCommerce checkouts utilize dynamic content updates – for example, when a user enters a postcode and the city is automatically populated. If these updates aren't announced to screen readers, users will miss important information.

BigCommerce Implementation:

1. Identify Dynamic Content: Identify all areas of the checkout where content changes dynamically.
2. Implement ARIA Live Regions: Use ARIA live regions (aria-live="polite" or aria-live="assertive") to announce these updates to screen readers. aria-live="polite" is generally preferred as it doesn't interrupt the user's current activity.
3. Custom JavaScript: This typically requires custom JavaScript to manage the ARIA live regions and announce the content updates in a clear and concise manner.

Example: When a user enters a postcode and the city is automatically populated, the following ARIA live region could be used:

<div aria-live="polite" id="city-update"></div>
<script>
  // JavaScript to update the city-update div with the new city value
</script>

5. Error Messages That Lack Clear Guidance

Error messages are inevitable in any checkout process. However, poorly worded or poorly placed error messages can be incredibly frustrating for users with disabilities. Error messages should clearly identify the problematic field and provide specific guidance on how to correct the error.

BigCommerce Implementation:

1. Associate Error Messages with Fields: Ensure that error messages are directly associated with the corresponding form field using ARIA attributes like aria-describedby.
2. Clear and Concise Language: Use clear and concise language that explains the error and provides specific instructions for correction. Avoid technical jargon.
3. Visual Cues: Provide visual cues (e.g., red borders, error icons) to highlight fields with errors.
4. Programmatic Focus: When an error occurs, programmatically move the focus to the first field with an error.

Example: Instead of a generic error message like "Invalid Input," use a message like "Please enter a valid card number in the format XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX."

Key Takeaways

• Prioritize accessibility: It’s not just a legal requirement; it’s a business imperative.
• Understand WCAG 2.2: Familiarize yourself with the guidelines and their implications for your BigCommerce store.
• Leverage BigCommerce tools: Utilize the theme editor and available apps to address accessibility issues.
• Testing is crucial: Regularly test your checkout process using screen readers and other assistive technologies.
• Consider AI-powered solutions: Tools like Accessio.ai can automate accessibility checks and remediation at the code level, significantly accelerating the process and ensuring consistent compliance. Unlike overlay widgets, Accessio.ai addresses the root cause of accessibility issues, providing a more sustainable and effective solution.

Next Steps

1. Perform an Accessibility Audit: Conduct a comprehensive accessibility audit of your BigCommerce checkout using automated tools and manual testing.
2. Prioritize Remediation: Address the most critical accessibility issues first.
3. Train Your Team: Educate your development and marketing teams about accessibility best practices.
4. Explore BigCommerce Apps: Investigate BigCommerce apps specifically designed to enhance accessibility.
5. Contact Accessio.ai: Learn how Accessio.ai can streamline your accessibility efforts and ensure ongoing compliance with accessibility standards. Visit https://www.accessio.ai/ to schedule a demo.