"Feature" Request: WAI-ARIA Compliance

[Kaihaku]

WAI-ARIA, the Accessible Rich Internet Applications Suite, defines a way to make Web content and Web applications more accessible to people with disabilities. It especially helps with dynamic content and advanced user interface controls developed with Ajax, HTML, JavaScript, and related technologies. Currently certain functionality used in Web sites is not available to some users with disabilities, especially people who rely on screen readers and people who cannot use a mouse. WAI-ARIA addresses these accessibility challenges, for example, by defining new ways for functionality to be provided to assistive technology. With WAI-ARIA, developers can make advanced Web applications accessible and usable to people with disabilities.

Web Accessibility is a critical issue of growing importance to e-commerce as predominant groups of consumers enter old age especially in European, Japanese, and American markets. In the foreseeable future, web accessibility will be mandated by standards and may be mandated by law in many nations. Providing support for the hearing and visually impaired is of critical importance for shops catering to the disabled/elderly, would meet standards before they are in place, and would generate significant positive PR for PrestaShop as the first accessibility minded e-commerce platform.

In order to provide this feature, the PrestaShop Front Office would need to be redesigned with Screen Reader compatibility in mind. This would include adopting Web Accessibility Initiative standards for Accessible Rich Internet Applications over all AJAX implementation.

To reiterate, promoting Screen Reader compatibility would provide support to a growing demographic, ensure PrestaShop compatibility with future standards and laws, and, as evidenced by Apple, provide significant positive publicity for PrestaShop.

I have added this Feature Request, please support. Thanks.