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Sahl Tuesday,13 May 2025

Have you ever thought that your online store might not be suitable for a large segment of visitors?
People with disabilities represent a significant segment of society today, and in Saudi Arabia in particular, there's a strong focus on digital inclusion and providing services accessible to everyone without exception.
A store that caters to people with disabilities not only serves a noble humanitarian goal, but also opens up a wider range of customers and presents you with a professional image.
In this blog, we'll walk you through the most important steps to ensure your store serves people with disabilities in a professional and simple manner.
1. Use clear colors and high contrast.
People with vision problems or color blindness need a design that helps them see clearly.
If the text is too close to the background color, or the font is too light, it will be difficult to navigate.
Tip: Use high contrast between the background and text, and make buttons stand out in a different color so users can easily distinguish them.
2. Support for screen readers.
Many blind people use screen readers to browse websites.
If your store doesn't have image descriptions or the order of items is unclear, the software won't be able to explain the content to the user.
Tip: Add alt text for each image, and ensure the order of items on the page is logical from right to left.
3. Facilitate navigation using the keyboard
Some users can't use a mouse and rely on the keyboard for navigation.
If your site relies entirely on the mouse, their experience will be very limited.
Tip: Design your store so that the user can navigate between sections and products using buttons like Tab and Enter.
4. Scalable font size
Small fonts aren't suitable for many people, especially those with visual impairments.
You need to ensure the font is clear and can be enlarged without disrupting the appearance of the page.
Tip: Use large, clear fonts, and ensure the page design remains consistent even if the user adjusts the font size on their device's settings.
Descriptive text for buttons and links
Write clear text on buttons instead of ambiguous symbols or words.
For example, instead of writing "Click here," write "See details" or "Add to cart," so the meaning is clearer for a screen reader.
Tip: Don't use icons without a description, and write text that clearly indicates the function of the button or link.
5. Avoid annoying animations and effects
Some users are sensitive to animations or flashes, especially those with epilepsy or autism.
Excessive animations can harm them rather than help them.
Tip: Minimize movement, try to keep the browsing experience calm and steady, and reduce unnecessary visual effects.
6. Add an "Accessible Mode" option
Some stores offer an "Accessible Mode" or "Easy Browsing" option, which gives customers more control, such as changing colors, enlarging the font size, or even reading the content aloud.
Tip: You can add this option using ready-made add-ons or ask a developer to implement it in your store.
People with disabilities are an essential part of society, and your store should reflect this reality.
When you care about their experience, you're not just providing a humanitarian service; you're also reflecting a high-quality, professional image for your business and opening up greater scope for growth.
In Saudi Arabia, there's a clear trend toward comprehensive digital access, and your store should be among the first platforms to support this principle.
And if you don't know where to start, the Sahal team can help you design an online store that serves everyone, with complete professionalism and ease.
Make your store "easy" for everyone... especially for those who need a little support so they can enjoy a complete shopping experience, just like you.