How to fix scrollable region focusable on Squarespace

Steps for Squarespace

1. In Squarespace, go to Pages → select the relevant page → Edit.
2. Click the scrollable content block. If it is a Code Block containing custom HTML, click Edit on the block and add tabindex="0" aria-label="[Region name]" to the scrollable element's HTML tag.
3. For Squarespace-native blocks (e.g. a scrolling text section), inject a CSS override via Design → Custom CSS: .your-block-class { /* already has overflow:auto */ } .your-block-class:focus { outline: 2px solid #005fcc; } — and use a Code Injection (Settings → Advanced → Code Injection) with a small <script> snippet to add tabindex="0" to the element by its class or data attribute.
4. Save and preview. Test keyboard navigation with Tab and arrow keys.

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.