Recently updated on March 1st, 2023
In 2010, the US Department of Justice issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking indicating that they intended to amend the language in Title III of the ADA to ensure it would also apply to website accessibility.
On June 13, 2017, a Florida federal judge issued the first web accessibility trial verdict against grocer Winn Dixie for having a website that could not be used by the blind plaintiff. Two days later, a California federal judge held that a blind plaintiff’s website accessibility lawsuit against retailer Hobby Lobby could proceed to discovery. Now two federal judges in New York have weighed in, denying restaurant Five Guys’ and retailer Blick’s motions to dismiss lawsuits alleging that the defendants’ inaccessible websites violate the ADA and New York State and City civil rights laws.
Next Horizon suggests you get ahead of this alarming trend by making sure your website is ADA compliant.
A final ruling is expected to be announced sometime in 2018. This will set the official standard for website accessibility for businesses.
Guide To Help You Determine If Your Website Is ADA Compliant:
- Understand the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): The Americans with Disabilities Act is a federal law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. In the context of websites, the ADA requires that websites be accessible to individuals with disabilities, including those who are visually impaired, hearing impaired, or have mobility impairments.
- Check for Accessibility Standards Compliance: One way to determine if your website is ADA compliant is to check if it meets the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 or 2.1. These guidelines provide a set of technical standards that websites should meet to ensure accessibility for individuals with disabilities. There are several tools available online that can scan your website and identify any accessibility issues that need to be addressed.
- Review Your Website’s Design and Content: Another way to determine if your website is ADA compliant is to review your website’s design and content. Are your website’s images and videos tagged with alternative text descriptions that allow visually impaired individuals to understand their content? Is your website’s navigation system easy to use for individuals with mobility impairments? Are your website’s colors and font sizes easy to read for individuals with visual impairments?
- Use Assistive Technology to Test Your Website: Another way to determine if your website is ADA compliant is to use assistive technology to test your website’s accessibility. Assistive technology includes tools like screen readers, which read out the content of a website to individuals with visual impairments, and keyboard navigation, which allows individuals with mobility impairments to navigate a website using only their keyboard. By testing your website with these tools, you can identify any accessibility issues that need to be addressed.
- Consult with Accessibility Experts: Finally, if you are unsure if your website is ADA compliant, it is always a good idea to consult with accessibility experts. These experts can provide guidance on how to ensure your website is accessible to individuals with disabilities and can help identify any accessibility issues that may be present on your website.
In conclusion, ensuring that your website is ADA compliant is important to ensure that all individuals, regardless of disabilities, can access and use your website. By following these steps, you can identify and address any accessibility issues on your website, and ensure that your website is accessible to all.
Disclaimer:This article is intended to build awareness of a trend to business leaders and business owners. This is not legal advice. If you need legal advice, we recommend you consult with an attorney specializing in ADA conformance.