ADA website compliance refers to designing and developing websites in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires that people with disabilities have equal access to all public accommodations—including websites. For websites, this means making your digital content accessible to people with various disabilities through technical and content accommodations that follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Yes. The ADA applies to all “places of public accommodation,” and courts have increasingly interpreted this to include websites. Small businesses are not exempt from these requirements. In fact, small and medium-sized businesses are often targeted for ADA compliance lawsuits specifically because they may be less likely to have addressed accessibility concerns.

Accessible websites benefit:

• People with visual impairments who use screen readers
• People with hearing impairments who need captions for audio content
• People with motor disabilities who navigate with keyboard or voice commands
• People with cognitive disabilities who need clear, consistent navigation
• Elderly users who may have age-related impairments
• Mobile users and those with temporary disabilities (like a broken arm)
• People using slow internet connections or older technology

Yes. Website accessibility lawsuits have increased dramatically in recent years. In 2024 alone, thousands of businesses received demand letters or were named in lawsuits for inaccessible websites. Small businesses are frequently targeted because they often settle quickly rather than engage in costly litigation.

If your website isn’t compliant, you risk:

• Legal action including demand letters requesting remediation and settlement fees
• Potential lawsuits that can cost $10,000-$25,000 or more to settle
• Mandatory remediation of your website under court deadlines
• Potential damage to your reputation and loss of customers
• Missing out on 25% of the market that includes people with disabilities

Timeline depends on:

• Website size and complexity
• Current level of accessibility
• Available resources
• Level of compliance desired

For small business websites with standard features, remediation typically takes 4-8 weeks. Larger, more complex sites may take 3-6 months. The process includes auditing, remediation, testing, and ongoing maintenance.

No. Accessibility is an ongoing process. You’ll need to:

• Regularly audit your website for new issues
• Train content creators on accessibility best practices
• Test new features before launching them
• Stay updated on changing WCAG standards
• Address accessibility feedback from users

Think of accessibility like security or SEO—it requires ongoing attention and maintenance.

Absolutely! Accessible websites offer numerous advantages:

1. Larger audience: Access to the 25% of the population with disabilities (over 61 million Americans)
2. Improved SEO: Many accessibility practices also improve search engine optimization
3. Better user experience for everyone: Clearer navigation and content benefits all users
4. Mobile optimization: Accessibility improvements often enhance mobile usability
5. Positive brand reputation: Demonstrates social responsibility and inclusivity
6. Competitive advantage: Stand out from competitors who haven’t addressed accessibility
7. Faster loading times: Clean, well-structured code often improves performance
8. Reduced support costs: Fewer usability issues means fewer customer service calls

Helpful tools include:

• WAVE: Browser extension that identifies many common accessibility issues
• Lighthouse: Google’s automated website auditing tool (built into Chrome DevTools)
• Axe: Accessibility testing engine
• Color Contrast Analyzers: To check text visibility
• Screen Readers: NVDA (free), JAWS, or VoiceOver for testing
• Keyboard Testing: Using Tab, Enter, Space, and arrow keys to navigate your site
• ADA Site Compliance: Monitoring and remediation services