Alabama shoppers get a Christmas upgrade with more efficient, accessible self-checkout at Target

(Target Corporation)

Holiday shopping just got a little brighter in the Rocket City.

Target has switched on a first-of-its-kind accessible self-checkout at its Huntsville store, part of a nationwide rollout designed with and for guests with disabilities — and timed perfectly for Christmas crowds.

Built with extensive input from the blind community, the new experience pairs a tactile controller with braille and high-contrast icons, physical navigation buttons, and a headphone jack with adjustable volume.

Guests hear clear audio prompts for every screen and payment step, making it easier to check out independently — and with a little extra holiday confidence.

Target says the technology is a first in U.S. retail and will expand across self-checkout stations nationwide beginning this holiday season and continuing into early 2026.

Huntsville is among the 200-plus stores already live following pilots that began in May.

“This season brings so much joy for our guests,” said Target Chief Stores Officer Adrienne Costanzo, noting that even “small wins” like accessible self-checkout help shoppers “move fast and feel good.”

Steve Decker, Target’s blind senior manager for customer accessibility who helped lead the project, called it “joy, independence and change.”

Target partnered closely with the National Federation of the Blind, which praised the solution’s collaborative design and industry-first approach.