ADA Compliance: Why It Matters and How to Make Your Website Accessible

May 22, 2024

97% of Top Websites Fail ADA Compliance—Is Yours One of Them?

Introduction

In today’s digital age, having an accessible website is more important than ever. Yet, according to UserWay, a staggering 97% of the top 1 million websites are not accessible. This statistic underscores a significant issue that businesses must address to ensure they are inclusive and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In this blog post, we will explore the importance of ADA compliance, the challenges businesses face, and how you can make your website accessible to all users.

Understanding ADA Compliance

ADA compliance requires businesses to make their websites accessible to individuals with disabilities. The ADA, enacted in 1990, prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including digital spaces. Ensuring your website meets ADA standards means that all users, regardless of physical or cognitive abilities, can access and navigate your site effectively.

Challenges in Achieving ADA Compliance

Common Accessibility Issues

Many websites fail to meet accessibility standards due to a variety of issues. These can include:

Inaccessible Navigation: Menus and links that are not easily navigable using a keyboard or screen reader.
Poor Color Contrast: Text that is difficult to read due to insufficient contrast with the background.
Missing Alt Text: Images without descriptive text for screen readers.
Non-Translatable Multimedia: Videos and audio content without captions or transcripts.
Inconsistent Heading Structures: Improper use of heading tags that disrupt the logical flow of content.

Impact on Users with Disabilities

Non-compliance affects millions of users with disabilities who rely on assistive technologies to access digital content. For instance, a visually impaired person using a screen reader may struggle with websites without proper text descriptions or navigable structures. This frustrates users and limits their ability to interact with your business online.

Legal Implications

Failing to comply with ADA standards can lead to legal repercussions. Numerous businesses have faced lawsuits for not providing accessible websites, resulting in significant financial penalties and damaging their reputation. Ensuring ADA compliance helps mitigate these risks and demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity.

Key Facts About Website Accessibility

The State of Web Accessibility

The current state of web accessibility is concerning. Despite increasing awareness, many websites fail to meet basic accessibility standards. According to recent studies, only a tiny percentage of websites fully comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which serve as the benchmark for digital accessibility.

Real World Examples

Several high-profile cases highlight the importance of ADA compliance. For example, major retailers and hospitality companies have faced lawsuits due to inaccessible websites, leading to costly settlements and mandatory changes to their digital platforms.

Domino’s Pizza: In 2019, Domino’s was sued by Guillermo Robles, a blind man who could not order food from Domino’s website and mobile app using screen-reading software. The court ruled in favor of Robles, stating that the ADA covers websites and mobile apps, and ordered Domino’s to make their digital platforms accessible (Level Access) (www.accessi.org).
Target: Target faced a class-action lawsuit in 2008 from the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) because its website was not accessible to visually impaired users. Target settled the lawsuit for $6 million and agreed to make its website accessible, train its web developers on accessibility requirements, and allow the NFB to monitor its site for three years (www.accessi.org).
Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment: In 2019, Beyoncé’s company was sued because its website was inaccessible to visually impaired users, making it difficult for them to purchase concert tickets. The lawsuit highlighted issues like the lack of alt text for images and inaccessible navigation menus (Level Access) (www.accessi.org).
Netflix: The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) sued Netflix in 2012 for not providing closed captions for its streaming content. The court ruled that Netflix’s streaming service was a place of public accommodation under the ADA. Netflix settled the lawsuit by agreeing to caption all its streaming content by 2014 and paying $755,000 in legal fees and damages (Level Access) (www.accessi.org).
CVS Pharmacy: In 2009, CVS faced a class-action lawsuit from blind users who alleged that its website was not accessible to screen reader users. The case was settled with CVS agreeing to pay $250,000 to a settlement fund and make its website accessible (www.accessi.org).
Five Guys Burgers and Fries: In 2017, the fast-food chain was sued for having an inaccessible website. The lawsuit highlighted that visually impaired users could not navigate the website using screen readers, and the case emphasized the importance of web accessibility for all customers (Level Access) (www.accessi.org).

These examples underscore the importance of ADA compliance for websites and the significant legal and financial risks businesses face if they fail to ensure their digital content is accessible to all users.

Benefits of ADA Compliance

Making your website ADA compliant offers numerous benefits, including:

Broader Audience Reach: An accessible website can be used by a wider audience, including individuals with disabilities.
Enhanced User Experience: Improved navigation and readability benefit all users, not just those with disabilities.
Avoiding Legal Risks: Compliance helps protect your business from potential lawsuits and associated costs.
Positive Brand Image: Demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity can enhance your brand’s reputation and customer loyalty.

Steps to Make Your Website ADA Compliant

Conduct an Accessibility Audit

The first step in making your website ADA compliant is to conduct a comprehensive accessibility audit. This involves assessing your website against WCAG standards to identify areas for improvement. Various tools, such as UserWay’s accessibility scanner, can help you perform this audit.

Implement Changes Based on WCAG Guidelines

Once you have identified the issues, the next step is implementing changes based on WCAG guidelines. Some key actions include:

Improving Navigation: Ensure that all menus and links are accessible via keyboard and screen readers.
Enhancing Color Contrast: Use color contrast tools to ensure text is readable.
Adding Alt Text: Provide descriptive text for all images and non-text content.
Captioning Multimedia: Add captions or transcripts for all video and audio content.
Structuring Content Properly: Use heading tags consistently to organize content logically.

Use Tools and Resources for Continuous Monitoring

Achieving ADA compliance is not a one-time effort; it requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance. Utilize tools such as UserWay’s accessibility solutions to scan and improve your website continuously. These tools can automate many aspects of accessibility compliance, making it easier to maintain standards over time.

dwellTEK’s Role in ADA Compliance

Our Partnership with UserWay

At dwellTEK, we are proud to be a strategic partner of UserWay, a leading provider of digital accessibility solutions. This partnership offers businesses the tools and expertise to achieve and maintain ADA compliance.

How We Can Help

We’ve empowered numerous businesses to achieve ADA compliance and improve digital accessibility. By partnering with us, our clients enhance user experience and significantly boost customer satisfaction. These improvements translate to tangible benefits, protecting businesses from legal risks and fostering an inclusive online presence.

To help you on your path to ADA compliance, we offer the following services:

Accessibility Audits: Thorough assessments of your website’s accessibility status will show shortcomings and what needs to be done to ensure ADA compliance.
Implementation Support: After the initial audit, we work with you and your website team to make the necessary changes and implement the right tools to ensure compliance.
Continuous Monitoring: Ongoing support ensures your website complies with evolving standards.

Conclusion

Ensuring ADA compliance for your website is crucial for reaching a broader audience, enhancing user experience, and avoiding legal risks. By taking proactive steps to make your website accessible, you demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity and social responsibility. If you need assistance with ADA compliance, dwellTEK is here to help. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your accessibility efforts.

Additional Resources

For more information on ADA compliance and website accessibility, check out these resources:

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