How to fix scrollable region focusable on BigCommerce

Steps for BigCommerce

1. In your BigCommerce Admin, go to Storefront → My Themes → click Customize on your active theme → click Edit Theme Files (or use Theme Editor → Edit Code for Stencil themes).
2. Locate the Handlebars template file containing the scrollable element (e.g. templates/components/products/description.html or a custom partial).
3. Add tabindex="0" aria-label="Product description" to the scrollable wrapper element.
4. Add a :focus CSS rule in assets/scss/ or assets/css/ for that element class.
5. Push/save the change, then preview and test keyboard navigation on the storefront.

What is scrollable region focusable?

A "scrollable region" is any box on your page that shows a scrollbar — think a product description with a fixed height, a reviews panel, a custom dropdown list, or a map embed. When a visitor uses only a keyboard (Tab key) to navigate, they must be able to move focus into that box so they can scroll through its content. If the box itself is not reachable by keyboard, or contains no focusable element (like a link or button) that would pull focus inside it, the content is effectively hidden from anyone who cannot use a mouse. WCAG Success Criterion 2.1.1 (Keyboard) requires that all functionality — including scrolling to read content — is operable without a mouse.

Keyboard accessibility directly affects an estimated 7–26 % of users who rely on keyboards, switch devices, or screen readers to navigate the web. If those users cannot reach a scrollable product description, image gallery, or terms-of-service box, they cannot read critical information that may influence a purchase — leading to lost conversions and abandoned carts. More importantly, WCAG 2.1 Level AA is referenced in accessibility laws including the ADA (US), the European Accessibility Act, and the UK Equality Act; failing this criterion exposes your business to legal complaints, lawsuits, and regulatory action. Accessibility auditors and automated scanners flag this issue, making it a liability that is easy to prove and hard to defend.

See the complete Scrollable region focusable guide for every platform and the full background.