Making your website ADA compliant involves implementing various accessibility features to ensure that people with disabilities can easily navigate and interact with your site. This process requires attention to detail in design, content, and functionality. By following ADA guidelines, you not only make your website inclusive but also potentially avoid legal issues and expand your audience reach.
Is ADA Compliance Mandatory For Websites?
While the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) doesn’t explicitly mention websites, recent legal interpretations have extended its application to digital spaces. For businesses that operate physical locations and offer services to the public, having an ADA-compliant website is increasingly considered a legal requirement. Even for online-only businesses, compliance is highly recommended to avoid potential lawsuits and to ensure equal access for all users.
ADA Compliance Levels
ADA compliance for websites is typically categorized into three levels: A, AA, and AAA. Each level builds upon the previous one, with AAA being the most comprehensive and stringent.
ADA Compliance Level A:
This is the minimum level of compliance. It addresses major accessibility issues that could prevent users with disabilities from accessing content or using basic website functions.
ADA Compliance Level AA:
Level AA includes all Level A requirements and adds additional criteria. It’s the standard most organizations aim for and is often considered sufficient for legal compliance.
ADA Compliance Level AAA:
This is the highest level of accessibility compliance. It includes all Level A and AA requirements plus additional enhancements that may not be achievable for all websites due to the nature of their content.
ADA Compliant Website Checklist
Ensuring ADA compliance for websites involves addressing various aspects of your site, from design elements to functional features. We used this very same checklist to make our list of ADA Compliant Website Examples. This checklist covers all the key areas to focus on when making your website accessible to users with disabilities.
1. Color Schemes
Provide a strong color contrast between foreground content and background colors to accommodate people with eye-related disabilities. ADA Compliant color combinations ensure that text and other important elements are easily distinguishable and readable for all users.
2. Accessible Buttons
Integrate accessible naming conventions and ARIA labels for all website buttons. These are essential for people with vision or hearing-related disabilities, as they allow assistive technologies to properly interpret and convey button functions to users.
3. Accessible Fonts
Use website fonts that are easier to read for people with dyslexia. ADA Compliant Fonts designed specifically for this user group are the best option, as they can significantly improve readability and comprehension for individuals with reading difficulties.
4. Alt Text
Integrate easy-to-understand, detailed descriptions of all graphical website elements (e.g., images and buttons). This allows users with visual impairments to understand the content and purpose of images through screen readers or other assistive technologies.
5. Accessible PDF Files
Provide accessible PDF web files for people who utilize assistive technology. This is crucial to meeting compliance guidelines and ensures that all users can access and understand important documents or information shared in PDF format.
6. Video Captions
Provide synchronized text corresponding to all video content on your site, including both narrated and non-narrated videos. This makes video content accessible to users who are deaf or hard of hearing.
7. Audio Captions
Include simultaneous text equivalents for all audio website files. This ensures that users with hearing impairments can access and understand audio content on your site.
8. Online Form Filling
Ensure your online forms are clearly labeled, simple to follow, and offer access via keyboards to maximize accessibility. This allows users with various disabilities to easily complete forms without relying on mouse input.
9. Zooming Functionality
Provide browser functionality that enables end users to zoom to enlarge text and all site content. This feature is particularly helpful for users with visual impairments or those who need to adjust content size for better readability.
10. Keyboard Functionality
Ensure all site elements can be navigated with a keyboard to accommodate people with various disabilities. This allows users who cannot use a mouse to access all parts of your website using only keyboard commands.
11. Error Reporting
Include a way for users to inform you of accessibility barriers so that you can rectify them as soon as possible. This feedback mechanism helps you continually improve your site’s accessibility and address issues you may have overlooked.
12. Avoid Flashing Imagery
Flashing images can cause adverse reactions in some users, including seizures. Avoid using rapidly flashing content or provide warnings and options to disable such features to ensure the safety and comfort of all users.
