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What is an ADA Compliant Website & Why is it Important?

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by | Oct 27, 2020 | News & Insights, Web Design

Picture this: you’re ready to place your weekly online grocery order. As you log on, you notice that the website you’re using won’t let you click on anything. The text is so faded and close to the background color that you can’t read it. 

You keep trying to navigate the site, but you can’t even tell what the pictures are. You frustratingly give up and have wasted an hour of your day. This may seem a bit absurd, but it’s what millions of Americans deal with every day.

Since 2017, the United States has seen a big increase in lawsuits and claims from people against websites that are not ADA compliant. These people usually highlight the fact that these sites are not up to code with Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

This is a pressing issue that addresses the fact that everyone, no matter what you struggle with, should have equal access and ability to use websites and the internet. 

Who Needs to Have an ADA Compliant Website? 

This topic received national attention when The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a blind person suing Domino’s Pizza was in the right when they found the company’s website to not be fully accessible. This person is not alone – according to a study in 2019, over 98 percent of company homepages were found to be non-ADA compliant. This may be a surprise to you – we don’t always realize issues that may not directly affect us, but that doesn’t mean it we can’t help.

In addition to providing equal rights, every business should have an ADA compliant website, as stated by Title III of the Americans with Disabilities act. If your site isn’t currently compliant, you could face a lawsuit, which isn’t ideal for either party. With over a 300% increase in ADA complaint website lawsuits since 2003, it is a pressing issue that needs to be considered by all business website owners.

What Does an ADA Compliant Website Look Like?

Although there are no exact rules for making an ADA compliant website, there are guidelines that should be followed. Many organizations adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, which outline that your website should be:

  • Operable
    • People are able to operate your website through a keyboard
  • Perceivable
    • Content is displayed in an easy-to-interpret manner. This could mean the text and background contrast well so the content is more readable, videos have captions, etc.
  • Robust
    • Content can be interpreted through multiple accessibility devices and platforms (such as screen readers)
  • Understandable

How Do I Know If My Website is ADA Compliant?

There are a bunch of free online reports to inform you about how compliant your website is, but there are also a lot of scams. Unfortunately, some people take advantage of good intentions and will charge you a ton of money for this. So before you jump in, do some research. Learn what you can do to help your website fit these guidelines. 

If you want a guaranteed report and plan of action, iPoint can help. We will make your website accessible for everyone by running an ADA compliance report on your site and fixing related errors. We will help you through the whole process and ensure your site stays compliant as more content is added. Call or contact us to set up a complimentary consultation.

As ADA compliant websites are becoming more openly demanded, a rise in lawsuits has followed. Do the right thing and save your business by making sure that your website is accessible for everyone, your future self will thank you.