ADA Compliance for Websites

May 28

In recent years, there has been a growing demand for websites to be accessible to people with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1990 to prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including education, employment, and access to public spaces. This law has been expanded to include digital spaces, such as websites, and businesses are now required to make their websites accessible to people with disabilities. In this blog post, we will discuss what ADA compliance for websites entails and why it is important.

What is ADA Compliance?

ADA compliance refers to ensuring that websites are accessible to people with disabilities. This means that people with visual impairments, hearing impairments, mobility impairments, and other disabilities should be able to access the website and its content. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a set of guidelines created by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) that provide recommendations for making websites accessible. These guidelines are organized into three levels: A, AA, and AAA. Level A provides the most basic level of accessibility, while level AAA provides the highest level of accessibility.

Why is ADA Compliance Important?

ADA compliance is important because it ensures that people with disabilities have equal access to information and services online. People with disabilities should be able to access and use websites just as easily as people without disabilities. This is not only a legal requirement but also a moral obligation. By making websites accessible, businesses are creating a more inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone.

In addition to the ethical considerations, there are also financial reasons for businesses to comply with ADA guidelines. Non-compliance can lead to legal action and hefty fines. In recent years, there has been a surge in lawsuits against businesses for failing to make their websites accessible. In 2020, there were over 3,500 lawsuits filed in the United States over website accessibility. This number is expected to increase in the coming years. By making websites accessible, businesses can avoid the risk of legal action and protect their reputation.

How to Make Your Website ADA Compliant

There are several steps businesses can take to make their websites ADA compliant. Here are some of the most important ones:

Use Alt Text for Images:
Alt text is a brief description of an image that can be read by screen readers. By including alt text for images, people with visual impairments can understand what the image is and how it relates to the content.
Provide Closed Captions for Videos:
Closed captions provide a written version of the audio in a video. This is important for people with hearing impairments who may not be able to hear the audio.
Ensure Proper Color Contrast:
People with visual impairments may have difficulty distinguishing between colors. Websites should use colors with sufficient contrast to make content easily readable.
Use Descriptive Link Text:
Link text should provide a clear and concise description of where the link goes. This is important for people using screen readers who may not be able to see the link.
Provide Alternative Navigation Methods:
People with mobility impairments may have difficulty using a mouse or trackpad. Websites should provide alternative navigation methods, such as keyboard shortcuts, to ensure that everyone can access the content.
Test Your Website:
Once you have made changes to your website, it is important to test it to ensure that it is accessible. There are several tools available that can help you test your website, including the WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool and the AChecker Web Accessibility Checker.

The easiest and effective way to make sure that your website is ADA Compliance and adheres to WCAG 2.1 AA requirements is to use a software plugin like AccessiBe*.

ADA compliance for websites is an important issue that businesses cannot afford to ignore. Making websites accessible to people with disabilities is not only a legal requirement but also a moral obligation. By taking steps to ensure that websites are accessible, businesses are creating a more inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone. It is important to remember that.