Auditing – ShopAccessible.com

The Structural Skeleton: Why ADA Compliance Requires More Than Just Good Looks

ShopAccessible.com — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 22:02:10 +0000

In the world of digital retail, a sleek website design is often the top priority. However, as many established brands are discovering, aesthetic appeal does not guarantee accessibility. Understanding the technical nuances of ADA Compliance is essential to avoid legal pitfalls and provide an inclusive shopping experience for all users.

A recent analysis by ShopAccessible focused on Buck Knives, a well-known outdoor brand that recently faced an accessibility complaint. While the site excels in certain visual areas, a deep dive into its underlying structure revealed critical errors regarding header hierarchy that serve as a vital lesson for any website owner.

Contrast Success: A Foundation to Build On

One area where Buck Knives performs exceptionally well is color contrast. The analysis noted that the website utilizes high-contrast pairings, such as white text on black backgrounds and vice versa.

Why this matters for accessibility:

Readability: High contrast ensures that users with low vision or color blindness can easily navigate content.

Universal Experience: Clear visibility benefits all customers, especially those browsing on mobile devices in high-glare environments.

While contrast is a significant component of ADA Compliance, it is only the first step toward a truly accessible site.

The Structural Slip-Up: The “Two H1” Problem

The most significant issue identified during the audit of a specific product page was a failure in page structure and landmarks. Using a screen reader and a header extension tool, the analysis found that the page contained two separate H1 headers.

The Standard for Web Accessibility: Proper web development dictates that there should be only one H1 header per web page. This header acts as the primary title, telling both search engines and assistive technologies exactly what the page is about.

Screen Reader Confusion: When a screen reader encounters multiple H1 tags, it can disrupt the logical flow of the page, making it difficult for visually impaired users to understand the hierarchy of information.

Hierarchy Breakdown: Assistive technology uses headers to create a “table of contents” for the user. Having two H1s is like having two different titles for the same book, it creates immediate navigation confusion.

Interestingly, the Buck Knives homepage was structured correctly, with a single H1 and multiple H2s. This inconsistency highlights how easily accessibility errors can creep into specific sub-pages if they aren’t carefully audited.

Proactive Steps for Website Structure

Even if your site looks great and includes a strong accessibility statement, something Buck Knives was praised for providing, you must ensure the technical “skeleton” of your site is sound.

Audit Header Hierarchy: Use a header browser extension to ensure every page follows a logical flow: one H1, followed by H2s for major sections, and H3s for subsections.

Verify Landmarks: Ensure your website uses proper HTML5 landmarks (like

The post The Structural Skeleton: Why ADA Compliance Requires More Than Just Good Looks appeared first on ShopAccessible.com.

Is your online Shopify Store ADA Compliant?

ShopAccessible.com — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 21:28:21 +0000

In the fast-paced world of e-commerce, it is easy for merchants to get lost in the aesthetics of their online Shopify store without ensuring it’s ADA compliant. We obsess over high-resolution product photography, sleek themes, and seamless checkout experiences. However, a recent case highlighted in our latest video analysis serves as a stark warning to Shopify merchants and e-commerce business owners everywhere: a beautiful website that is not accessible is a legal liability.

We recently took a closer look at Between the Sheets Inc., a luxury bedding and home décor retailer that recently received an ADA compliance lawsuit. Despite having a visually stunning website featuring high-quality images of Egyptian cotton sheets and Italian-crafted linens, the site failed to meet critical accessibility standards. The result? A federal lawsuit alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

In this article, we will break down exactly what went wrong, why Shopify store owners need to pay attention, and the specific steps you can take today to protect your business.

ADA Compliant

The Legal Reality: ADA Compliance is Not Optional
The lawsuit filed against Between the Sheets Inc. (Case: Dominique Tompkins et al. v. Between the Sheets, Inc.) is part of a growing wave of digital accessibility litigation. Plaintiffs in this case alleged that the digital platform was inaccessible to individuals with visual disabilities, citing barriers such as unlabeled navigation links and inaccessible design elements.

Many Shopify merchants mistakenly believe that the ADA applies only to physical brick-and-mortar stores. This is incorrect. Courts have increasingly interpreted Title III of the ADA to apply to websites, viewing them as “places of public accommodation.” If your online store prevents a person with a disability from browsing products, understanding policies, or making a purchase, you are effectively discriminating against them.

The consequences of ignoring ADA compliance are steep. Beyond the potential for five-figure settlements and legal fees, businesses face the cost of emergency remediation and reputational damage.

Missing Alt Text

The “Silent” Offender: Why Alt Text Matters
The primary offender identified in our video analysis was missing Alt Text (Alternative Text). Alt Text is a brief written description of an image embedded in the HTML of a webpage. It serves two critical functions:

Accessibility: It tells screen reader users what is on the screen. For a store selling bedding, good Alt Text would read: “White Egyptian cotton duvet cover with satin trim on a king-sized bed.”

SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

Search engines like Google cannot “see” images; they read text. Proper Alt Text helps search engines understand your content, which can actually improve your rankings for specific product keywords.

When you neglect Alt Text, you aren’t just risking a lawsuit; you are actively hurting your SEO and ignoring a significant portion of the market that relies on assistive technology.

How to Fix Alt Text on Shopify

If you are running a Shopify store, the platform makes it relatively easy to address this issue, you just have to make it part of your workflow. Shopify has built-in features to help you maintain ADA compliance regarding images.

Based on a your website Step-by-Step Guide:

Go to Products: Select the product you want to edit.

Select Media: Click on a product image to open the preview.

Add Alt Text: Look for the “Add alt text” link or the “Edit alt text” option.

Be Descriptive: Write a clear, concise description of what the image shows. Do not just stuff keywords in there; describe the visual aspects.

Bad Example: “Sheets sale luxury.”

Good Example: “Floral pattern sateen sheet set in blush pink.”

Save: Ensure you save your changes.

Repeat this process for every image on your site, including blog post images and banner graphics.

Auditing Your Store

How do you know if your store is at risk? As demonstrated in our video, you cannot rely on a visual check. You need data.

We recommend performing manual audits along with using tools like to run a free scan of your website. These tools simulate how a screen reader interacts with your code and will flag errors such as:

Missing Alt Text

Low color contrast (text that is hard to read against the background)

Empty form labels

Broken navigation links

Conclusion
The lawsuit against Between the Sheets Inc. is a reminder that in 2025, accessibility is a requirement, not a feature. For Shopify merchants, the tools to achieve compliance are readily available, but they require diligent application.

Don’t wait for a demand letter to land in your inbox. Take the time to audit your site, populate your Alt Text, and ensure your digital storefront is welcoming to everyone. Not only will you protect your business from legal risks associated with ADA compliance, but you will also create a better, more inclusive experience for all your customers.

To watch the full analysis of the Between the Sheets Inc website, check out the video from ShopAccessible.com here: BetweentheSheetsinc receives ADA Lawsuit? Alt Text Warning 🚨

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A Beginner’s Guide to Accessibility Auditing: How to Make Your Website Compliant

ShopAccessible.com — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 08:52:00 +0000

Did you know that millions of people around the world use the internet in different ways? Some people use screen readers because they are blind or have low vision. Others use keyboards instead of a mouse because of mobility challenges. Many people need websites to have clear text and good color contrast so they can read easily.

When websites don’t work for these users, they become impossible or frustrating to use. This is why web accessibility matters. It means making sure your website can be used by as many people as possible, no matter their abilities.

If you own or manage a website, it’s important to check — or audit — your site to see if it is accessible. This guide will help you get started.

What is an Accessibility Audit?

An accessibility audit is like a health check-up for your website. It helps you find out what is working well and what needs fixing so that people with disabilities can use your site.

Audits look at things like:

Can someone use the site without a mouse?
Can a screen reader describe images on the page?
Are the colors easy to see?
Is the text large enough and easy to read?

Once you find the problems, you can make changes to improve your site for everyone.

Why Should You Care About Accessibility?

There are many good reasons to care about web accessibility:

It’s the right thing to do. Everyone should have equal access to information and services online.
It helps your business. A website that works for everyone can bring in more customers. People will feel welcome and are more likely to return.
It protects you from legal trouble. In many countries, including Canada and the United States, businesses can be fined or sued if their websites are not accessible.

How to Get Started With an Accessibility Audit

Don’t worry if this sounds overwhelming! You don’t need to be a tech expert to take the first steps. Here’s how you can begin.

Check for Alt Text on Images
Alt text is a short description of an image that screen readers can read out loud. It helps people who cannot see the image understand what is on the page.

Go through your pages and check if each image has a helpful description. For example:
Bad alt text: image1.jpg
Good alt text: A smiling woman using a laptop at a coffee shop.

Try to Use Your Website Without a Mouse
Use only your keyboard (the tab, enter, arrow, and space keys) to move around your site.

Ask yourself:

Can you reach every link and button?
Can you fill out forms?
Can you see where you are on the page?

If you can’t do these things, someone with mobility challenges probably can’t either.

Check Color Contrast
Good color contrast makes text easier to read. For example, light gray text on a white background is hard to see for many people.

Use a free tool like the WebAIM Contrast Checker (search for it online) to test your colors. Aim for a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text.

Making your website accessible helps everyone, not just people with disabilities. It can improve your site’s design, make it easier to use on phones and tablets, and even help with search engine rankings.

By doing a basic accessibility audit, you’re taking the first step toward a better, fairer internet. And remember — you don’t have to do it all at once. Start today, and keep improving over time.

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