The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has set the benchmark for accessibility across various facets of public life, and increasingly, this extends to digital spaces. As the internet becomes more integral to our daily routines, ensuring websites are accessible to all, including those with disabilities, is not just a legal requirement but a moral necessity. This blog post explores why ADA compliance is essential for websites, outlines what makes a website compliant, and showcases examples of compliant websites and how they help our friends with disabilities enjoy our websites.
Importance of ADA Compliance
- Legal Requirements: ADA compliance for websites is enforced under Title III, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in "places of public accommodation". Websites facing non-compliance may be subject to lawsuits and hefty fines, a risk that has become more pronounced with recent legal precedents.
- Ethical Considerations: Providing an accessible website is part of ethical business practices. Accessibility ensures that all individuals, regardless of their physical abilities, have equal access to information and functionalities.
- Business Benefits: Beyond compliance, making your website accessible can significantly expand your audience, improve overall site usability, and enhance your company's reputation. Accessible websites often see lower bounce rates and higher engagement from users. “Today, it’s estimated that companies without accessible sites are losing $6.9 billion a year to competitors whose sites are accessible.” (Monsido)
What Makes a Website ADA Compliant?
ADA compliance involves several key factors:
- Textual Alternatives: Provide alt text for all images, video captions, and other non-text content.
- Navigability: Ensure that your website can be fully navigated using a keyboard and supports screen readers and other assistive technologies.
- Visibility: Maintain a high contrast ratio for text and background colors and ensure that interactive elements are clearly visible and identifiable.
Current website accessibility testing tools often provide conflicting results, making it difficult to determine a website’s true compliance with the ADA.
Even major websites like Apple may be flagged as non-compliant by some tools. This is why it’s important to seek guidance and ensure you’re doing what’s needed to be as compliant as possible.
Screen Readers
ADA compliance involves several key factors:
- Textual Alternatives: Provide alt text for all images, video captions, and other non-text content.
- Navigability: Ensure that your website can be fully navigated using a keyboard and supports screen readers and other assistive technologies.
- Visibility: Maintain a high contrast ratio for text and background colors and ensure that interactive elements are clearly visible and identifiable.
Current website accessibility testing tools often provide conflicting results, making it difficult to determine a website’s true compliance with the ADA.
Even major websites like Apple may be flagged as non-compliant by some tools. This is why it’s important to seek guidance and ensure you’re doing what’s needed to be as compliant as possible.
