PrestaShop Accessibility: 8 Critical Fixes Your Store Needs Before 2026

The threat of ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) lawsuits is escalating. In Spain and Latin America, similar legislation and increased awareness are driving demand for accessible online experiences. Ignoring website accessibility isn't just unethical; it's a significant legal and financial risk. This article focuses on PrestaShop stores and outlines eight essential fixes you need to implement before 2026 to mitigate that risk.

Understanding the Landscape: ADA, Title III, and Your PrestaShop Store

The ADA Title III applies to places of public accommodation, and increasingly, that includes online stores. Recent court rulings have broadened the interpretation of "place of public accommodation" to encompass websites, particularly those engaged in commerce. In Spain, the Ley de Accesibilidad Web para el Sector Público (Law on Web Accessibility for the Public Sector) sets the baseline, and similar requirements are emerging in other Latin American countries. Failure to comply can result in costly lawsuits and reputational damage. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) 2026 will further solidify these requirements across the EU.

"The average cost of an ADA website accessibility lawsuit in 2024 exceeded $150,000, including legal fees and remediation costs. Proactive accessibility measures are far more cost-effective." – J. Aaron Davidson, Disability Law Attorney

1. Semantic HTML Structure: The Foundation of Accessibility

PrestaShop’s default theme often relies on poorly structured HTML. This makes navigation difficult for screen readers and assistive technologies. Semantic HTML uses elements like <header>, <nav>, <main>, <article>, <footer>, and proper heading tags (<h1> to <h6>) to define content structure.

Implementation in PrestaShop:

1. Access your theme's .tpl files (typically in /themes/your_theme/templates/).
2. Identify areas with repetitive <div> elements.
3. Replace those <div> elements with appropriate semantic HTML tags. For example, wrap the main content area in <main> and the navigation in <nav>.
4. Pay close attention to heading hierarchy – ensure <h1> is used for the main page title, <h2> for section headings, and so on.

2. Alternative Text for Images (Alt Text)

Missing or generic alt text is a common accessibility issue. Alt text provides a textual description of an image for users who cannot see it. It's crucial for screen readers.

Implementation in PrestaShop:

1. When uploading images in the PrestaShop Product or Category pages (Admin > Products > New/Edit or Admin > Categories > New/Edit), always provide descriptive alt text in the "Alt Text" field.
2. For decorative images (those that don't convey essential information), use alt="" to indicate they should be ignored by screen readers.
3. For product galleries, ensure each image has unique and descriptive alt text. Don't just use "Image 1," "Image 2."

3. Keyboard Navigation: Ensuring Full Control

Many users rely on keyboard navigation due to motor impairments or assistive technologies. Your PrestaShop store must be fully navigable using only the keyboard.

Implementation in PrestaShop:

1. Test keyboard navigation extensively. Tab through all elements – links, buttons, form fields – to ensure logical focus order.
2. Verify that all interactive elements are reachable and operable via the keyboard.
3. Ensure clear visual focus indicators are present when an element receives keyboard focus. PrestaShop themes often lack sufficient contrast. Modify the theme’s CSS to improve focus visibility.

4. Color Contrast: Readability for All

Insufficient color contrast between text and background is a significant barrier for users with low vision or color blindness. WCAG 2.2 requires a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text (18pt or 14pt bold).

Implementation in PrestaShop:

1. Use a color contrast checker (like WebAIM’s Contrast Checker) to evaluate your theme's colors.
2. Adjust colors in your theme’s CSS files (.tpl files or custom CSS) to meet the WCAG contrast guidelines. Pay particular attention to button colors, link colors, and text on images.
3. Consider using a PrestaShop module that automatically checks color contrast and provides recommendations.

5. Form Accessibility: Labels, Instructions, and Error Handling

Forms are critical for e-commerce, but they can be major accessibility roadblocks if not implemented correctly. Proper form labels, clear instructions, and helpful error messages are essential.

Implementation in PrestaShop:

1. Ensure all form fields have associated <label> elements. Use the for attribute in the <label> to connect it to the corresponding input field (id).
2. Provide clear and concise instructions for each field.
3. When errors occur, provide specific and actionable error messages near the relevant field. Use ARIA attributes (e.g., aria-invalid="true") to indicate errors to assistive technologies.

6. Video and Audio Accessibility: Captions, Transcripts, and Audio Descriptions

If your PrestaShop store features videos or audio content (product demonstrations, tutorials), ensure they are accessible. This includes providing captions, transcripts, and audio descriptions.

Implementation in PrestaShop:

1. For videos, provide accurate captions and transcripts. YouTube and Vimeo offer built-in captioning tools.
2. For complex videos, consider providing audio descriptions – narration that describes visual elements.
3. For audio content, provide transcripts.

7. ARIA Attributes: Enhancing Semantic Information

ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes provide additional semantic information to assistive technologies when standard HTML elements are insufficient. Use them judiciously.

Implementation in PrestaShop:

1. Use ARIA attributes to define roles, states, and properties of custom UI components. For example, use aria-label to provide a descriptive label for a button that lacks visible text.
2. Be cautious about overusing ARIA. Prioritize semantic HTML whenever possible. Incorrect ARIA usage can actually decrease accessibility.

8. Dynamic Content Accessibility: AJAX and JavaScript

PrestaShop often utilizes AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) and JavaScript to provide dynamic content updates. Ensure these updates are accessible.

Implementation in PrestaShop:

1. When content updates dynamically, announce the changes to screen readers using aria-live regions.
2. Ensure keyboard focus is managed correctly after dynamic content updates.
3. Test your store with screen readers to verify that dynamic content is announced and navigable.

"AI-powered accessibility tools like Accessio.ai can automate many of these checks, identifying and fixing issues at the source code level, significantly faster than manual audits. This proactive approach ensures ongoing compliance and reduces the risk of accessibility regressions."

Key Takeaways

• ADA lawsuits are increasing, and the scope of ADA Title III is expanding.
• Semantic HTML, alt text, keyboard navigation, color contrast, and accessible forms are foundational accessibility elements.
• ARIA attributes enhance accessibility but should be used carefully.
• Dynamic content updates require special attention to ensure accessibility.
• Proactive accessibility measures are far more cost-effective than reactive remediation after a lawsuit.

Next Steps

1. Conduct an Accessibility Audit: Use automated tools (like WAVE or Axe) and manual testing with screen readers.
2. Prioritize Remediation: Address the most critical accessibility issues first.
3. Implement a Continuous Accessibility Program: Integrate accessibility checks into your development workflow.
4. Consider Accessio.ai: Explore AI-powered accessibility solutions to automate many of these tasks.
5. Consult with an Accessibility Expert: Seek professional guidance to ensure comprehensive compliance.

We strongly recommend reviewing the WCAG 2.2 guidelines and the EAA 2026 requirements to stay abreast of evolving accessibility standards. Ignoring this will only increase your legal vulnerability.