In the world of website management, ADA Compliance is not a new concept but it holds immense importance in ensuring an inclusive and exceptional user experience. Neglecting ADA compliance on your website can have adverse effects on your customers and ultimately impact your business’s financial performance.

Shockingly, in 2022, a staggering 74% of ADA-related lawsuits targeted eCommerce sites, and more than half of these lawsuits were directed at companies with revenue below $25 million. On average, settling an ADA lawsuit can cost up to $26,000, encompassing compensation, legal fees, and expenses for website remediation.

The good news is that proactively addressing ADA compliance is an achievable goal that can safeguard your business. In this blog post, we will delve into the essence of ADA compliance and outline the steps you can take to attain and sustain compliance.

So, let’s begin by clearly defining what ADA compliance entails.

What Does ADA Compliance Mean?

In simple terms, ADA compliance refers to the ability to develop websites and web tools that are of high quality and inclusive, ensuring that individuals with disabilities are not excluded from accessing and using your products and services.

When you design and code your website and web tools with the needs of people with disabilities in mind, you provide them with the accessibility and user experience necessary for seamless interaction. This not only brings significant benefits to your business but also promotes inclusivity and equality in society. ADA compliance and web accessibility empower individuals with disabilities to navigate and engage with the web, enabling them to contribute and participate fully.

The Importance of ADA Compliance Explained

ADA compliance holds significant importance for eCommerce sites as it guarantees accessibility to all users, including those with disabilities. When an eCommerce site is ADA-compliant, it ensures that individuals with disabilities can effortlessly access the website and its content. This involves implementing features such as compatibility with screen readers, providing alternative text for images, enabling keyboard navigation, and offering closed captions for videos.

The benefits of ADA compliance extend beyond inclusivity. By making your eCommerce site accessible, you not only expand your user base but also mitigate potential legal issues and associated costs, as mentioned earlier. The ADA Compliance act permits individuals with disabilities to file lawsuits against businesses that fail to adhere to ADA standards. By ensuring your site is ADA-compliant, you can steer clear of costly legal fees and, more importantly, enhance the overall user experience for all visitors.

The Business Benefits of ADA Compliance

As mentioned earlier, ensuring ADA compliance for your website helps protect your business from potential legal actions. However, there are three more significant advantages to making your site ADA-compliant.

Enhanced User Experience for All Users:

• While ADA compliance primarily benefits individuals with disabilities, it also positively impacts the overall user experience for all visitors. By making accommodations for ADA compliance, you improve site navigation, readability, and overall usability, making it easier for users to find the information they seek. This, in turn, can lead to increased engagement, repeat visits, and higher conversion rates across your site.

Improved SEO:

• ADA compliance can also have a positive impact on your site’s search engine optimization (SEO). Google prioritizes accessible and user-friendly sites in its search results. If your site surpasses your competitors in terms of accessibility, it is more likely to achieve higher rankings. This increased visibility can attract more customers and drive organic traffic to your site.

Expanded Audience Reach:

• By making your website accessible to people with disabilities, you open doors to a wider audience. In the United States alone, approximately one in four adults has some form of disability. By ensuring ADA compliance, you tap into this market and attract more potential customers. Additionally, by demonstrating your brand’s commitment to inclusivity and customer care, you establish a positive reputation and align with the ongoing trend of brands emphasizing empathy and accommodation.

If there isn’t a clear legal requirement, why should I prioritize ADA compliance for my website?

First and foremost, ensuring that your website is accessible to all individuals, including those with disabilities, is the ethical thing to do. It demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity and equal access for everyone. Moreover, when more people can effectively use your website, it can have a positive impact on your sales. In fact, it may even give you a competitive advantage over businesses that overlook accessibility.

Furthermore, even if you believe you have valid reasons for not prioritizing ADA compliance, the consequences can be costly once you receive a demand letter or face legal action. Engaging an attorney to handle the legal proceedings can be expensive, and you will likely be required to remediate (fix) your website to present a strong argument in court. By neglecting ADA compliance initially to save expenses, you may end up incurring even higher costs in the long run.

What are some of the guidelines to follow for your website?

Developing websites and applications that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is crucial to ensure accessibility and inclusivity for all users, including those with disabilities. Here are some guidelines for developers to consider when aiming for ADA compliance:

• Provide alternative text for non-text content: Use alt text attributes to describe images, graphs, and other non-text elements. This helps visually impaired users understand the content through screen readers or other assistive technologies.
• Ensure proper document structure: Use proper HTML markup to create a logical structure for your content. This includes headings (h1, h2, etc.), paragraphs, lists, and other semantic elements. Assistive technologies rely on these structural elements to navigate through the content.
• Use accessible forms: Ensure that all form inputs are properly labeled using the <label> element. This helps screen readers associate labels with form fields and improves usability for users with visual impairments.
• Provide sufficient color contrast: Ensure that there is enough contrast between the text and background colors. This makes the content readable for users with low vision or color blindness. Use tools or guidelines, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), to determine appropriate color contrast ratios.
• Enable keyboard accessibility: Ensure that all functionality and interactive elements on your website or application can be accessed and operated using only a keyboard. This is particularly important for individuals who cannot use a mouse or other pointing devices.
• Design for resizable text: Users with visual impairments may rely on the ability to enlarge the text for better readability. Make sure your design accommodates resizable text without causing layout or functionality issues.
• Provide captions and transcripts for multimedia: Include captions or transcripts for audio and video content. This helps users with hearing impairments access the information presented in the media.
• Avoid relying solely on color: Ensure that important information is not conveyed solely through color. Use other visual cues, such as icons or text, to convey meaning to users who may have difficulty perceiving color.
• Test with assistive technologies: Regularly test your website or application using assistive technologies such as screen readers, magnifiers, and voice recognition software. This helps you identify and address accessibility issues specific to different disabilities.
• Stay up-to-date with accessibility standards: Familiarize yourself with accessibility guidelines, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 or newer versions, and implement them in your development process. These guidelines provide detailed recommendations for creating accessible digital content.

Remember that ADA compliance is an ongoing process, and it’s important to continually assess and improve the accessibility of your websites and applications. Consulting with accessibility experts and involving users with disabilities in the testing and feedback process can further enhance the accessibility of your digital products.