Accessibility & ADA Compliance

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a United States civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life and ensures equal access to goods, services, and facilities, whether physical or digital. 

ADA compliance requires websites to be accessible to users with disabilities, including those who use assistive technologies like screen readers, voice recognition software, or alternative input devices. Since individuals have different needs, it is important to have flexible support options to accommodate the differing requirements.

Failing to provide content in a consumable format may cost your business. If a potential customer, client, or partner cannot successfully navigate your website, digest your content, and take action to engage, you are leaving opportunities on the table and neglecting to serve everyone seeking your services. This is an ethical responsibility and aligns with any business claiming to prioritize customer service or customer experience by actively prioritizing the user.

In addition to the business aspect, there are also legal ramifications for neglecting to comply with accessibility regulations. Legal actions may include fines and hefty lawsuits that far outweigh the investment of being digitally accessible. According to ADA Site Compliance, “the economic impact of web inaccessibility is about $16.8 billion,” making a substantial statement to businesses who avoid compliance

ADA compliance is a legal mandate for most websites, enabling users to access, read, understand, and engage with your content. The Americans with Disabilities Act applies to any business with 15 or more employees, including private businesses at the local, state, or federal level that rely on the general public. There are a few exemptions, such as places of worship and private clubs, but everyone should provide accessible content regardless of legality. 

Section 508 of the Act pertains to all Electronic and Information Data, including your website. It imposes additional technical standards from the Federal Government on top of the functional performance criteria already mandated. If you have an eCommerce website, ADA Compliance should be an immediate concern to mitigate the risk of legal action against your business. 

In addition to the ADA, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide specific criteria for making digital content accessible.

There is a lot to adhere to, especially with the legality considerations, so we recommend consulting a professional agency partner or accessibility compliance expert to help you implement the correct tools and cover all requirements.