Web Accessibility Services for WCAG & ADA Compliance

Initially passed in 1990, the ADA is a civil rights law that outlaws discrimination against people with disabilities. Though it was written before the rise of the internet, the law's language makes it broadly applicable to digital telecommunications. There are no explicit regulations or codified standards within the law, but ADA compliance generally requires that websites make a good-faith effort to accommodate disabled visitors.

While ADA compliance intends to prohibit discrimination broadly, its nebulous language is unnecessarily confusing and open to interpretation. That's where the WCAG comes in. As an internationally recognized standard, the WCAG lays out specific, detailed guidelines and best practices for ensuring website accessibility.

Although the WCAG isn't a formal legal requirement, it serves as a clear and comprehensive guide to optimizing accessibility. These guidelines encompass a wide range of elements, including images, videos, text, navigation, input functionality, and more. If you're following WCAG standards, you can be sure your website is also fully ADA-compliant.

Everyone deserves the right to browse the internet as they wish. Unfortunately, disabilities can make it much harder for some people to interact with the digital world in ways others take for granted. By focusing on accessibility, you're doing your part to ensure that every visitor can experience your website on their terms. Simply put, it's the right thing to do.

Considering that nearly a quarter of all U.S. adults have a disability, there are also practical reasons to focus on accessible design. Poor usability can reduce engagement and even drive away potential customers. In 2021 alone, e-commerce websites lost an estimated $828 million because of accessibility issues. Conversely, foregrounding accessibility can help foster a more positive, inclusive culture, building goodwill and earning customers' trust.

Making your website more accessible is always a laudable and worthwhile goal. Depending on the situation, however, it may also be a legal imperative. The laws regulating online accessibility are somewhat ill-defined. Still, the U.S. Department of Justice has clarified that commercial websites must provide "reasonable accommodations" to people with disabilities.

This rule generally applies to any business that serves the public or employs 15 or more people. Websites that aren't ADA-compliant may be subject to various legal actions, including civil penalties, official complaints, and federal lawsuits. In the most severe cases, these actions can easily cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and damage a company's reputation.