At least 54% of online users live with a disability. Not every single users’ disability relates to web compliance. You still need ADA compliance for your business website.
But what does an ADA compliant website look like? And how can you ensure you meet every standard for your website?
Read the guide below to learn all about implementing accessibility compliance into your website.
A Guide to ADA Website Compliance
Web accessibility is one of the more modern accommodations established by the ADA. The ADA itself only formed in 1990. Making sure policies are updated to accommodate disabilities in every type of user experience is difficult. This makes it a challenge to uphold ADA requirements for websites.
What Is ADA Compliance?
As of 2018, the Department of Justice mandated ADA compliance for accommodation on public websites. Historically, accommodations only applied to physical public locations.
ADA compliance for websites mostly comes from the DOJ’s interpretation of Title III. It requires that “the goods, services, privileges, or activities provided by places of public accommodation be equally accessible to people with disabilities.” Specifically, it protects from discrimination relative to:
- Public accommodations
- Commercial facilities
- Transportation
- State and local government
- Telecommunications
- Employment
The use of online space is progressively increasing. This makes it important to include persons of all abilities for more than legal reasons.
This process is not something you want to rush. It is an involved process you should invest time and resources into as a caring business owner.
Why Do I Care as a Business Owner?
As a business owner, there are several benefits to including accessibility compliance in your website’s design. Unfortunately, many sites are noncompliant. Beyond ease of use for the disabled community, ADA compliance benefits all end-users.
- You’ll get exposure to new demographics, which means more clients!
- Your SEO strategy will be optimized on an ADA compliant website.
- You significantly decrease your risk of a lawsuit from noncompliance.
- Corporate diversity naturally increases in unexpected ways.
These benefits are not even the main reason to implement web accessibility on your website. They are certainly good incentives. Your primary reason for compliance should be about doing the moral and ethical thing for your clients.
What Is the Difference Between ADA vs. 508 Compliance vs. WCAG?
ADA compliance is based on civil rights law that prohibits discrimination. This includes public spaces of online interaction. 508 compliance is a federal law for the use of information and communications technology by governmental bodies to include persons with disabilities. WCAG is a set of guidelines set by the ISO.
ADA Compliance
ADA compliance requires general terms of accessibility. Its policies directly affect state and local governments, nonprofit agencies, and businesses. Some critical items to address:
- Your website needs to have complete keyboard functionality.
- Any form fields need coded labels that a screen reader will voice aloud.
- Your alt text for anchors and external links has to be descriptive.
- Content headings should be adequately nested. This prevents interrupting user experience (e.g., taking users to the wrong landing page or section.)
The terms of ADA compliance have set financial consequences for the private and public sectors. Fines increase for repeat offenses, and federally funded projects can even be revoked. WCAG guidelines can help you build an ADA compliant website, as well as a plugin or web design service.
508 Compliance
508 compliance is a section of the Rehabilitation Act. It focuses on the use of information and communications technology between federal agencies and departments.
It applies to these federal bodies. It also applies to people who use resources provided by federal entities (e.g., citizens or employees). Examples of such technologies include:
- Call centers (e.g., telephones)
- Websites
- Software
Its consequences entail formal complaints or civil lawsuits. Following 508 compliance can be done by turning to WCAG for guidelines. You can also consult a web design agency that specializes in this form of accessibility compliance.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
Focusing on web accessibility for any device, WCAG works as a guideline for web developers to concentrate on accessible content. WCAG is a reference point for ADA compliance and 508 compliance. It uses four principles to set accessibility compliance standards.
- Perception: alt-text, captions, multiformat content with assistive tech, visual and audible content
- Operation: keyboard functionality, navigation aid, reasonable caption timing
- Understanding: legible text, predictable content, mistake correction and aid
- Robust: compatibility with current and future tools
These principles are measured with success criteria on three levels, A, AA, and AAA. The success criteria determine how accessible a website is under WCAG.
Why Do I Need to Hire a Web Design Agency for ADA Compliance?
You might be asking why you need to hire a web design agency for accessibility compliance for when you can just reference WCAG. Although an excellent reference for general accessibility compliance, with so many regulations, it’s easy to overlook a single detail. It is also an overwhelming, technical process that requires a certain level of expertise.
It’s also quite challenging to alter the coding settings, which impact your compliance. For example, see this video in adjusting the contrast on one single header. There are several website features to include in for an ADA compliant website.
Where to Turn for Accessibility Testing Design
Now that you know the ins and outs of ADA compliance, it’s time to consider your options. There are several web design agencies for you to find. You need a full service marketing agency experienced in accessible web design services.
Optic Marketing Group can audit your current site or build you an entirely new website to support ADA compliance guidelines. After we have completed a site audit for accessibility, we’ll walk you through the necessary steps. Contact us today so we can discuss optimizing your business to the best possible standards for accessible user experience.