ADA Friendly Websites

I work with both retail clients and web design agencies to develop a plan for a website that is as close as possible to the latest ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards.

ADA / accessibility is an ongoing process as the laws, and the way to achieve compliance can be out of reach for most.  I review each case by case to develop a plan that will suit the individual, organization, and agency.

If you are looking for help developing an accessibility strategy, please contact me to set up an appointment.

I have developed partnerships with many of the major ADA compliance organizations in the US, and I am a member of the IAAP (International Association of Accessibility Professionals). If you have already been served with litigation, I have partner attorneys I can recommend.

It is important to develop an ADA & accessibility plan as part of your business model. This will be important for the initial development as well as the ongoing maintenance of your website.  This should be done not only to maintain compliance with US federal law but to open your business to a larger audience.

My 2021 model is to continue to increase my accessibility / ADA knowledge to assist my clients. Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, and concerns regarding ADA, accessibility, website development, or marketing.

My ADA Methodology

My ADA / accessibility methodology is as follows:

1 – Continue to learn and develop websites with the best ADA / accessibility standards possible.
2 – Understand any practical limitations regarding ADA / accessibility website development.
3 – Continue to develop partnerships with other qualified ADA / accessibility professionals to increase my knowledge and ability to deliver more accessible websites.
4 – Continue to research the current US federal laws and their application.

Facts About ADA Compliance

The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) legally requires certain businesses to provide accommodations to people with disabilities. The philosophy behind the Act is simple: users who are deaf and blind should be able to access web content.

Web content should also be fully accessible to individuals who use screen readers, digital voice assistant software, and other assistive technologies. Title I businesses that operate at least 20 weeks or more annually and have a minimum of 15 full-time employees are covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Many business owners don’t know that not having an ADA-compliant website can create fissures or openings where the business can face lawsuits.

Lawsuits can easily damage an established or fledgling brand’s reputation and produce financial liabilities – financial liabilities that could have easily been avoided had the business owner worked with a professional web developer who specializes in building powerful ADA-compliant sites in any industry.

ADA is a federal law, which means it doesn’t matter what state your business operates in – it will be a problem if you are a Title I business. ADA is often associated with physical business locations and the accommodations expected in these physical locations, such as ramps for wheelchair access and lifts that make it easier for the disabled to function in society. However, the ADA extends far beyond physical locations – it also covers digital spaces that the public uses.

ADA Compliance and the Digital Realm

The legislation associated with digital technology stretches back to 2010 and 1990, but there aren’t specific standards included in the laws. What’s stated is there must be reasonable access to websites.

For a time, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines or WCAG was close to being adopted to establish some concrete goalposts for complying with ADA.

Unfortunately, these standards have yet to be legally codified. The upside is WCAG by the W3C is widely considered the mother set of standards for web accessibility. The latest version of these guidelines (which also happens to be ISO-compliant) is WCAG 2.1.

The WCAG is produced by the AG WG or the Accessibility Guidelines Working Group, a part of the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium).

The US Department of Justice, courts, and accessibility advocates all recognize the WCAG. While the WCAG has not yet been legally set, it would be easy to avoid litigation threats by working with a specialist web developer familiar with both ADA and the WCAG.

If you are wondering if your site is in any way ADA-compliant, then the likely answer is no, it isn’t. A site has to be built in a way that complies with specific standards, and if these standards weren’t part of the initial design or blueprint of your site, then your site is not properly ADA-compliant.

The first step to having an ADA-compliant site is a comprehensive site-wide audit, followed by remediation. Proper reporting about the site structure and design is critical in creating the proper solutions. I can help you with audits, remediation, and further development of your site as I am an ADA accessibility specialist with many years of experience working with businesses and organizations that want to be free of the liabilities of not having an ADA-compliant website.

Overview of ADA-Compliant WCAG Standards

Four general principles govern WCAG standards:

Perceivable

The components of the user interface and the information contained are presented so that the users can perceive them. The site must not be invisible to the senses.

Operable

The navigation and components of the user interface must be operable by different users. The interface must not require any interaction that the user is not capable of performing.

Understandable

The user must fully comprehend and understand the information presented, alongside the required operation to make the site work. The site must not go beyond the understanding of the user.

Robust

A site’s content must be sufficiently robust so it can be comprehended and interpreted reliably by a wide user base, including those who rely on different assistive technologies. Users who use assistive technologies should have the same level of access as web technologies advance and evolve.

SEO, PPC, Email & Business Marketing

Graphic & Web Design

Ecommerce Solutions & Development