Are you confident your PrestaShop store is accessible to everyone? Many enterprise companies believe they are, relying on superficial fixes or relying solely on themes. However, a growing number of lawsuits and declining customer loyalty reveal a harsh truth: accessibility isn’t a checkbox; it's an ongoing commitment. This article details seven critical accessibility mistakes that are impacting enterprise PrestaShop stores, leading to lost revenue and legal challenges, and provides actionable solutions tailored for PrestaShop users.
The Rising Tide of Accessibility Lawsuits & Customer Loss
The legal landscape surrounding web accessibility is shifting. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the US, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) 2026 in Europe, and similar legislation globally are intensifying scrutiny. While the specifics vary, the core principle remains the same: businesses must ensure their digital presence is usable by people with disabilities. > A recent study by the WebAIM found that 98.1% of websites have accessibility errors. Ignoring accessibility isn't just unethical; it's financially risky.
Beyond legal repercussions, inaccessible websites actively lose customers. Approximately 15% of the global population has a disability. That's a significant portion of your potential customer base being excluded. Poor accessibility leads to frustration, abandoned carts, and negative word-of-mouth.
7 Costly PrestaShop Accessibility Mistakes
Let's examine seven common accessibility pitfalls and how to rectify them specifically within the PrestaShop environment.
1. Missing or Incorrectly Implemented ARIA Labels
ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes provide crucial context to assistive technologies like screen readers. Missing or inaccurate ARIA labels render interactive elements – buttons, links, form fields – unintelligible to users who rely on screen readers.
- Problem: Imagine a complex custom filter on a category page. Without proper ARIA labels, a screen reader user wouldn’t understand what the filter does or how to interact with it.
- PrestaShop Solution: When customizing modules or themes, always include ARIA attributes. In your PrestaShop theme files (e.g.,
modules/your_module/views/templates/front/your_template.tpl), use attributes likearia-label,aria-describedby, andaria-expanded. For example:<button aria-label="Filter products by price" ...>. Leverage the PrestaShop templating engine to dynamically generate these labels based on the content. - Advanced Tip: Use ARIA live regions (
aria-live="polite") to announce dynamic content updates without requiring a full page reload.
2. Inadequate Keyboard Navigation
Many users, including those with motor impairments or who prefer keyboard-only interaction, rely on keyboard navigation. A website that isn't fully navigable by keyboard is effectively unusable.
- Problem: Users can't tab through essential elements like the shopping cart, checkout process, or account login.
- PrestaShop Solution: Ensure all interactive elements receive focus when tabbing. PrestaShop's default theme provides a reasonable starting point, but custom modules or themes often disrupt this flow. Carefully review your code to ensure focus order is logical and consistent. Use the
tabindexattribute judiciously to control focus order when necessary, but generally, rely on the natural order of the HTML. - PrestaShop Admin Panel: Test keyboard navigation extensively within the "Live Preview" functionality when editing modules or themes.
3. Poor Color Contrast
Insufficient color contrast between text and background makes it difficult for users with low vision or color blindness to read content.
- Problem: Important product information or call-to-action buttons are illegible.
- PrestaShop Solution: Use a color contrast checker (like the WebAIM Contrast Checker) to ensure a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text (18pt or 14pt bold). PrestaShop’s theme configuration allows for some color customization, but be mindful of accessibility when making changes. Consider using a PrestaShop module specifically designed to enforce color contrast standards.
- Pro Tip: Don't rely solely on visual inspection; color blindness simulators can help you see how your site appears to users with different types of color vision deficiency.
4. Missing Alt Text for Images
Alternative text (alt text) provides a textual description of images for users who cannot see them. Missing or generic alt text renders images meaningless.
- Problem: A product image is displayed without any description, leaving screen reader users with no context.
- PrestaShop Solution: In the PrestaShop admin panel (Catalog > Products), always provide descriptive alt text when uploading images. For purely decorative images, use
alt=""to signal to screen readers that they should be ignored. Consider using dynamic alt text based on product attributes. - PrestaShop Module: Several PrestaShop modules can automate alt text generation based on image filenames or product descriptions.
5. Complex and Unstructured Forms
Long, complex forms, especially in the checkout process, can be incredibly challenging for users with cognitive disabilities or those using assistive technology.
- Problem: Users struggle to understand form requirements or complete the checkout process.
- PrestaShop Solution: Break down forms into smaller, logical steps. Use clear and concise labels for all form fields. Provide helpful error messages. Utilize fieldset and legend elements to group related form fields semantically.
- PrestaShop Configuration: Review the default checkout process and simplify it where possible. Consider using PrestaShop modules that offer one-page checkout options with improved form layouts.
6. Inconsistent Heading Structure
An illogical or inconsistent heading structure makes it difficult for users to navigate and understand the content hierarchy.
- Problem: Users can’t quickly scan a page to find the information they need.
- PrestaShop Solution: Use headings (<h1> to <h6>) in a logical order to structure your content. Don't skip heading levels (e.g., don't jump from <h1> to <h3>). PrestaShop’s default theme generally follows a good heading structure, but custom modules or themes often introduce inconsistencies.
- PrestaShop Theme Development: When developing custom themes, adhere strictly to a logical heading hierarchy.
7. Reliance on JavaScript for Critical Functionality
While JavaScript is essential for many PrestaShop features, over-reliance on it can create accessibility barriers if not implemented correctly.
- Problem: Core functionality, like adding items to the cart, breaks when JavaScript is disabled.
- PrestaShop Solution: Provide fallback options for critical functionality when JavaScript is disabled. Ensure JavaScript-driven interactions are accessible via keyboard. Use ARIA attributes to enhance the accessibility of dynamic content updates. Consider using a PrestaShop module that provides server-side alternatives to JavaScript-heavy features.
In our experience, many PrestaShop stores rely too heavily on JavaScript for essential features, creating significant accessibility hurdles.
The Power of AI-Powered Accessibility Solutions
Manually auditing and fixing accessibility issues in a PrestaShop store can be incredibly time-consuming and resource-intensive. Accessio.ai offers an AI-powered approach that identifies and fixes accessibility issues at the source code level, unlike widget-based overlays which only provide a superficial fix. It automatically generates and applies ARIA labels, improves color contrast, and ensures keyboard navigation is seamless, significantly reducing the burden on development teams.
Key Takeaways
- Accessibility isn't optional; it's a legal and ethical imperative.
- Focus on ARIA labels, keyboard navigation, color contrast, alt text, form structure, heading structure, and JavaScript usage.
- Manual fixes are time-consuming; consider AI-powered solutions like Accessio.ai for faster and more comprehensive results.
- Regular accessibility audits are essential for maintaining compliance.
Next Steps
- Conduct an accessibility audit: Use tools like WAVE, axe DevTools, or Accessio.ai to identify accessibility issues on your PrestaShop store.
- Prioritize fixes: Address the most critical issues first, focusing on those that impact the largest number of users.
- Educate your team: Train developers and content creators on accessibility best practices.
- Explore PrestaShop accessibility modules: Several modules can automate some accessibility tasks.
- Consider a consultation: Engage an accessibility expert for a comprehensive assessment and remediation plan.
- Explore Accessio.ai: Visit Accessio.ai to learn how AI can automate your PrestaShop accessibility efforts.