I’m not sure if you know already about the ADA (the Americans with Disabilities Act) and what it has to do with your business. In case you don’t, I wanted to tell you that websites are considered a public place of service and are required to be accessible to everyone – including people with disabilities.

What does an accessible website mean?

For a person who is blind and uses a screen reader to access information or a person who uses keyboard navigation instead of a mouse, 97% of websites are inaccessible. An accessible website is coded and formatted in a way that people with disabilities can perceive the content and engage with the commands.

Having an accessible and inclusive website is not only the right thing to do, but it also offers several benefits, such as increased traffic (with improved SEO) and eligibility for tax credits. But perhaps the most obvious reason to have an accessible website is that it’s a legal requirement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In addition to the legislation, we have seen a growing trend of lawsuits filed against businesses in recent years. With timing becoming a significant factor, it is essential to ensure that you and your clients are familiar with the ADA and its relation to web accessibility to stay ahead of the curve and minimize the risks of legal ramifications.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 provides comprehensive civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities in employment, state and local government services, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications. The ADA is America’s most important law regarding accessibility and civil rights for people with disabilities, including web accessibility.

As the internet became essential and websites played a more significant role in how consumers interact with businesses, the way ADA is applied to web accessibility began to change. Since 2018, a clear consensus has emerged that ADA covers the online world. Disability rights activists, legal scholars, and court rulings have agreed that websites, internet portals, and online stores must also be accessible to people with disabilities.

In 2024, the Department of Justice (DOJ) reaffirmed and clarified its 2018 ruling that websites are places of public accommodation and are subject to ADA’s requirements of general non-discrimination and effective communication.

WCAG 

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is a compilation of guidelines for how accessible websites should look and operate for people with disabilities. While it is not stated in the ADA, the WCAG has been widely accepted as the industry standard for being ADA-compliant. Therefore, if you abide by the WCAG guidelines, your website should be compliant with the law.

The laws you need to know about:

• Section 508 refers to a part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It is a set of rules for government entities and any organization that receives federal funding. Based on section 508, any federal agency or government-funded organization must build and maintain all information and communications technology (ICT) so that they are accessible to people with disabilities. That means that if a business works or plans to work with a government entity, it must comply with section 508.

To ensure that your website is complaint schedule a free assessment with Southcoast Marketing Group today.  774-582-0041   www.southcoastmarketinggroup.com