Episode 177 - ADA Compliance in Shopify Stores

1/21/26

Episode Summary

The host, Scott Austin, talks with Jordan Brannon from Coalition about ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance for online stores and why it has become a major concern for Shopify merchants. They discuss how ADA compliance is currently not clearly defined in law, leading to a surge in lawsuits from attorneys targeting e-commerce sites.

Key points covered include:

• What ADA compliance means for online stores and why it matters domestically in the U.S. context.
• How stores built with Shopify themes may be partially compliant out-of-the-box but often require additional work, especially after customizations or apps are added.
• Tools and practices that help evaluate and improve accessibility, such as contrast checks and alt text for images.
• Limitations of low-cost ADA apps and the need for deeper adjustments like CSS changes and structured content.
• Discussion on when to bring in an agency for compliance support and what to look for in a partner.

Overall, the episode emphasizes that ADA compliance is important for accessibility and legal risk reduction, but achieving it requires more than just add-on tools — it involves careful evaluation and ongoing effort.

Show Links

• Coalition - https://coalitiontechnologies.com/
• Wave Evaluation Tool for Chrome - https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/wave-evaluation-tool/jbbplnpkjmmeebjpijfedlgcdilocofh
• axe DevTools Web Accessibility Testing for Chrome - https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/axe-devtools-web-accessib/lhdoppojpmngadmnindnejefpokejbdd
• Accessibly Shopify app - https://apps.shopify.com/accessibly-app?ref=835204
• AccessPro Accessibility Widget - https://apps.shopify.com/access-pro?ref=835204
• Badgezilla - https://apps.shopify.com/badgezilla

Video & Transcript

https://jadepuma.com/blogs/the-shopify-solutions-podcast/episode-177-ada-compliance-with-jordan-brannon