In today’s digital age, website accessibility isn’t just good practice; it’s essential. Making a website accessible means designing it so all users, including those with disabilities, can easily navigate and interact with the content. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) emphasizes accessibility in public spaces, but more recently, this focus has extended to online spaces, even though there are no strict, universally applied laws for website ADA compliance. Despite this lack of clarity, some attorneys are actively seeking out small businesses and nonprofits, threatening lawsuits for supposed ADA non-compliance. Here’s why website accessibility matters, what businesses can do to improve compliance, and why hiring a reputable professional is often the best course of action.
Why Accessibility Matters
Web accessibility opens up your site to a broader audience, including those who use assistive technologies like screen readers or keyboard-only navigation. Websites that are difficult to navigate for these users may deter customers, harm your reputation, and even increase your legal risks. More inclusive websites help you reach people of all abilities and show your commitment to inclusivity—a priority for many customers today.
Simple Steps to Improve Website Accessibility
You don’t need to be a web developer to make small, impactful changes toward accessibility. Here are some adjustments businesses can make to help make their site more accessible:
- Use Descriptive Alt Text for Images: Adding descriptive text for each image helps users who rely on screen readers understand visual content.
- Ensure Keyboard Navigation: Many users can’t use a mouse and rely on keyboard navigation. Make sure all website elements are accessible via keyboard, and consider adding a “Skip to Content” link for easier navigation.
- Check Color Contrast: Use tools to check that your website’s color scheme meets contrast standards, which helps users with low vision read content clearly.
- Provide Accessible Forms: Properly label all form fields and use ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes where needed to ensure assistive technology can interpret each element.
- Use Descriptive Link Text: Avoid vague links like “click here.” Instead, make sure link text describes the destination or action, so it’s meaningful even out of context.
While these changes are effective first steps, true accessibility often requires a deeper level of coding and user experience testing.
Beware of Predatory ADA Compliance Lawsuits
With the rise in online accessibility expectations, many small businesses and nonprofits are finding themselves the target of predatory lawsuits. These lawsuits claim the business’s website isn’t accessible to someone with a disability—often without a legitimate client or complaint. Unfortunately, because there are no exact ADA standards for websites, attorneys use these gray areas to threaten or sue businesses, often pushing them into costly settlements.
These lawsuits can be particularly harmful to small businesses and nonprofits with limited resources. Often, the accused website is only mildly inaccessible, and addressing the issues would not have required a lawsuit. Instead, these attorneys are capitalizing on unclear ADA regulations for financial gain, rather than for genuine advocacy. Understanding this can help businesses avoid falling victim to these unethical practices.
The Best Solution? Hire a Reputable Professional
For businesses looking to protect themselves from these risks while creating a welcoming experience for all users, hiring a reputable web professional is often the best solution. Professionals familiar with accessibility best practices can assess your website, implement necessary changes, and even provide ongoing support to ensure compliance as standards evolve. Investing in accessibility not only prevents potential lawsuits but also demonstrates a proactive approach to inclusivity, which many customers respect and support.
An accessible website benefits your business and customers alike. By taking proactive steps toward accessibility and enlisting the help of an experienced web developer, you can provide a better user experience for everyone and protect your business from potential legal and reputational damage.
