How to make your website ADA compliant.
Making your website ADA compliant means bringing it up to the WCAG 2.1 AA standard — the benchmark the ADA, the courts and the EU all use — and that work lives in the site’s code, content and structure, whatever you built it on. It is not a widget you switch on.
Standard: WCAG 2.1 AA (W3C). It applies the same whether you’re on Shopify, Wix, Squarespace, WordPress or a custom build.
What it actually takes.
The same core work on every platform.
- Test against WCAG 2.1 AA — audit the site to find the real barriers.
- Fix the code and content — keyboard access, contrast, alt text, labels, structure.
- Test with assistive tech — a keyboard and a screen reader, the way real users browse.
- Publish an accessibility statement that reflects the true state of the site.
- Re-check as you change it so new pages don’t undo the work.
Shopify, Wix, WordPress — same rules.
The platform changes how you make the fixes, not whether you must. A theme can help or hurt — some are built accessibly, many are not — but compliance always comes down to the markup, the content and the structure underneath, not the logo on the builder.
Skip the widget. Fix the site.
- Real fixes live in the build — the markup, structure and content — not in a widget bolted on top.
- The target is WCAG 2.1 AA, the level courts, the ADA and the EU all treat as the benchmark.
- An audit finds what tools miss — the barriers only a human and a screen reader catch.
- Then you maintain it, re-checking as the site changes so it doesn't drift back.
Common questions.
How do I make my website ADA compliant?
Bring it up to WCAG 2.1 AA: audit it to find the barriers, fix the code and content (keyboard access, contrast, alt text, labels, structure), test with a screen reader, and publish an honest accessibility statement. The work is in the build, not a plugin.
Is making a website ADA compliant a one-off job?
No. It is fixed once, then maintained — every new page or feature can introduce barriers, so compliance is checked as the site changes.
Can I make my Shopify or Wix site ADA compliant?
Yes. The platform changes how you make the fixes, not whether you need to. Compliance comes down to the underlying markup, content and structure on any builder.
Does an accessibility overlay make my website compliant?
No. Overlays sit on top of the site and don’t fix the underlying barriers. UsableNet found over 1,000 businesses with a widget installed were still sued in 2024.
What standard do I need to meet?
WCAG 2.1 Level AA. It is the standard the ADA, US courts and the EU’s rules all treat as the benchmark for an accessible website.
How do I know when it’s done?
When the site passes a WCAG 2.1 AA audit, works with a keyboard and screen reader, and has an accessibility statement that matches reality — verified by testing, not by installing a tool.
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Related questions
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