The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places open to the general public.
ADA compliance extends to digital spaces, requiring websites and online services to be accessible to people with various disabilities. This ensures equal access to information and services for all users, regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities.
What Does ADA Compliant Mean For Websites?
An ADA-compliant website is designed and developed to be accessible to people with disabilities, including visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments. This means the site can be easily navigated and understood using assistive technologies such as screen readers, and its content is perceivable and operable for all users. Compliance involves adhering to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which provide specific criteria for making web content more accessible.
What Websites Need To Be ADA Compliant?
ADA compliance applies to a wide range of organizations and businesses that serve the public. Websites that need to be ADA-compliant include:
- Labor unions
- Schools and other educational institutions
- Government offices
- Restaurants and eating establishments
- Places of entertainment (movie theaters, theaters and concert halls)
- Retail stores
- Large enterprises
- Small and medium businesses of all types (stores, commercial facilities and e-commerce)
Who Is Exempt From ADA Compliance?
While ADA compliance is widely applicable, some entities are exempt from these requirements. Generally, these exemptions are limited and specific:
- Companies that only operate for twenty weeks in a year
- Religious establishments
- Some employee working areas (usually related to repairs, maintenance, etc.)
- Businesses with less than 15 employees
- Private clubs
What Happens If Your Website Is Not ADA Compliant?
Non-compliance with ADA regulations can have serious consequences. Organizations may face legal action, including lawsuits from individuals or advocacy groups. This can result in significant financial penalties, damage to reputation, and the requirement to retrofit websites for compliance, often at a higher cost than implementing accessibility from the outset. Moreover, non-compliance means potentially excluding a significant portion of the population from accessing your services or information, leading to lost business opportunities and diminished user experience.
How To Check If Your Website Is ADA Compliant?
Assessing your website’s ADA compliance is possible using both automated tools and manual evaluation:
1. Online Tools: Utilize automated accessibility checkers that can scan your website for common issues. These tools can quickly identify problems like color contrast, missing alt text, and other technical violations, but keep in mind that these tools are not always accurate and are prone to errors. Here is a list of leading ADA compliance scanning tools:
2. Manual Assessment: Check out our ADA Compliant Website Checklist and ADA Compliant Website Examples to help you with your manual assessment. The following four principles are used in conduct a thorough web accessibility review:
- Perceivable: Ensure information is presentable to users in ways they can perceive.
- Operable: User interface components and navigation must be operable.
- Understandable: Information and operation of the user interface must be understandable.
- Robust: Content must be robust enough to be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.
How Much Does It Cost To Make A Website ADA Compliant?
The cost of making a website ADA compliant can vary significantly depending on the size and complexity of the site. However, the total cost for implementing necessary changes can range widely.
At Emet Digital, we’ve developed a very affordable ADA package specifically designed for medium and small-sized businesses. For as little as $299 per month, you can ensure your website is compliant and protect your business from potential lawsuits and complications. With our comprehensive service, you can rest easy knowing your site meets the latest accessibility standards.
Contact our team to learn more and safeguard your business today!
