Examining the Relationship Between Legislation and Web Accessibility Compliance: From Theory to Practice

This study examines the relationship between legal frameworks and web accessibility compliance across e-commerce platforms in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and South Africa. Using a mixed-methods design, 56 websites were evaluated against WCAG 2.0 and 2.1 Level AA standards, focusing on visual, auditory, operational, and content-related barriers. In parallel, national legal systems were analyzed using six variables: subject matter, definition, clarity, exemptions, penalties, and reporting. The findings underscore the role of accessible technologies in reducing barriers for people with disabilities and frame digital exclusion as a product of broader structural and systemic inequalities. Although WCAG is widely referenced, substantial implementation gaps persist, particularly in commercial contexts where legal requirements are ambiguous or weakly enforced. While structural and navigational accessibility showed relative strength, major disparities emerged in regulatory clarity, with the United States and United Kingdom leading and South Africa trailing, especially in large commercial e-commerce environments.