What is ADA Compliance for Websites? 

What does ADA compliance mean? And what does it mean to have an ADA compliant website? If you don’t know about ADA compliance already, it’s time to learn all about it.

The U.S. Department of Justice released the The Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design in 2010. That means that it is mandatory for companies to have and maintain websites that anyone with a disability can use.

It is important for every business to have a website that is accessible for everyone everywhere. In this article, we will discuss the meaning of ADA compliance, when you should consider getting an ADA accessibility audit, help you figure out if ADA accessible standards affect your website, and how to make sure your website is ADA-compliant. If you need help making your website ADA compliant, contact us at SEO Design Chicago today. We are experts in web accessibility.

What Does ADA Compliance Mean?

The Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design states that all electronic and information technology (for example, a website) needs to be accessible for people with disabilities. If your site is accessible for everyone, then it is ADA compliant. ADA compliance is not the same as 508 compliance.

Who Needs to Follow ADA Requirements?

You might be wondering, is ADA compliance mandatory for my website? The following are some organizations that are required to adhere with ADA requirements:

• Government agencies, both state and local;
• Private employers that have at least 15 employees; and
• Any business that operates for the benefit of the public.

ADA compliance affects nearly every business and website, because the ADA includes all electronic and information technology.

Even if you are not included in one of those categories, it is still important to build a website for everyone to access and use.

Why Is It Important to Have an ADA Compliant Site?

Many times, when a website is not following web content accessibility guidelines, it is not intentional. Usually, the company simply does not know about the standards. However, if your site isn’t offering equal access to everyone, you’re still liable. If people with disabilities can’t access or use your site, it could result in a lawsuit being filed against your company. It doesn’t matter if your company didn’t intend to discriminate or exclude anyone. It could still mean that you could pay thousands of dollars in lawsuits. That’s why it’s important to offer web accessibility.

The U.S. Department of Justice has provided recommendations on how to achieve ADA compliance for a website. It is important to follow their recommendations.

How Do I Increase My Website Accessibility?

Next, we will tell you how to make sure your website is following ADA compliance standards. These recommendations come from the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. This website lists several ways to make your site ADA compliant for everyone across the U.S. Your website should follow these basic principles:

Perceivable

It’s important that users can perceive all of the content on your website, like the text, images, and video. Make sure to include an alternative in case a user isn’t able to see the words on your website or listen to a video.

Operable

Your website’s users need to be able to easily maneuver your site and use all of its features. For example, any user should be able to use your site’s navigation menu and any tools on your site.

Understandable

Any user who arrives to your website should be able to understand its content. So, any user should be able to understand the site’s text, images, videos, and tools.

Robust

All users of your website should have the same experience. Even if a user is using assistive technology like a voice reader, that person should get the same content as someone reading the actual text on your site. (Even if the content is delivered differently.)

Next, you will learn how to apply these principles to your website to make sure it’s ADA compliant.

How to Use the WCAG 2.0 Level AA Guidelines

The WCAG took the principles we just discussed and put them into an ADA compliance checklist for website owners to follow to achieve ADA compliance. There are levels of the checklist:

• Level A: A Level A website is one that some users can access.
• Level AA: A Level AA website is one that almost all users can access.
• Level AAA: A Level AAA website is one that all users can access.

Most organizations recommend meeting the requirements of a Level AA website in order to become ADA compliant. Here is how you can follow the WCAG 2.0 Level AA guidelines to become ADA compliant:

Add Captions

Make sure to provide captions for all the live videos on your site. There is software you can use that will add captions to your videos for you, or you can use a professional service.

Add Audio Descriptions

Also, make sure to provide audio descriptions for all pre-recorded content on your website. Also, you can add a link near the content that takes users to the audio description.

Contrast Ratio

It’s important to maintain a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for text and images of text. However, exceptions can be made for large text, images of large text, logotypes, or incidental text.

Offer Text Resizing

Make sure to allow your users to resize text on your website up to 200 percent. They need to be able to do so without any assistive technology, and the resize must not cause a loss of content or any site function. However, you do not need to add this resizing feature to captions or images of text.

Avoid Images of Text

Try to avoid using images that feature mostly text, unless it’s necessary or your users can customize the image. If you still want to use these types of images (for example, a pull quote), substitute them using CSS.

Offer Navigation Options

It’s important to offer users more than one way to find a page on your website, unless that page is a step in a process, like checking out. To do this, make sure to add an HTML sitemap, site search, and a navigation menu to your site.

Headings and Labels

Make sure to use headings or labels to describe the purpose of your content. Your labels and headings should be clear, detailed, and straight to the point. Also, be sure to label all your site elements, for example, a contact form or a table with prices.

Keyboard Focus Indicator

Anyone who uses a keyboard to use your site should be able to see the keyboard focus indicator (the outline that appears on a form field) on all your site’s elements like links, form fields, and menus. You can use CSS to add this feature to your site.

Language

If there is any text on your website that is not in your default language, make sure to add a language attribute to that page. For example, if your website is in English, but there is one page with content in Spanish, make sure to add a language attribute for that page.

Navigation Consistency

Make sure to give users a consistent navigation location. For example, your navigation menu should always be in the same place on every web page, perhaps the upper right-hand side.

Identification Consistency

It’s important to have consistent identification for all site elements with the same function. Make sure to label and name each element, then use the same alt text for other site elements with the same purpose.

Error Suggestion

If a user makes an error when inputting information on your website, make sure the site offers the user a suggestion for how to fix it.

Error Prevention

Make sure that all pages that generate legal commitments, include financial transactions, or modify or delete user-controlled data are reversible, checked for errors, and confirmed before they are submitted. For example, add an order confirmation page for users, or allow them to cancel orders within a certain time frame.

If you complete these tasks for your website, you’re on your way towards ADA compliance. Do you have a WordPress site? Good news: you can make this process even easier by adding an ADA compliance plugin.

Do You Need Help Increasing Your Web Accessibility?

It is difficult to make sure your website is ADA compliant on your own, especially if you don’t have a web development team. However, it is important to become ADA compliant in order to make your website accessible for everyone (and to avoid legal fees that could cost your company thousands of dollars.) If you need help making your website ADA compliant, contact SEO Design Chicago today! We can help you create an accessible website.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I be sued if my website isn’t ADA compliant?

Yes, you can face lawsuits for non-compliant websites. ADA lawsuits have increased significantly, with thousands filed annually against businesses of all sizes. Even if discrimination wasn’t intentional, you’re still liable if people with disabilities can’t access your site. Lawsuits can result in thousands of dollars in legal fees, settlement costs, and court-ordered compliance updates. The risk applies to all businesses open to the public, regardless of size. Proactive compliance is much more cost-effective than reactive legal defense and remediation after a lawsuit.

2. How much does it cost to make my website ADA compliant?

Costs vary widely based on website complexity, current accessibility level, and chosen approach. Basic compliance for small websites might cost $3,000-$10,000, while complex e-commerce sites could require $15,000-$50,000+ for full remediation. Ongoing maintenance typically costs $1,000-$5,000 annually. DIY approaches using plugins or automated tools cost $100-$500 but may not provide complete compliance. Professional audits alone cost $2,000-$8,000. Building accessibility into new websites from the start is significantly cheaper than retrofitting existing sites.

3. Are automated accessibility tools enough to ensure ADA compliance?

Automated tools and plugins can identify many accessibility issues but cannot ensure full compliance alone. They typically catch 20-30% of accessibility problems, missing nuanced issues like proper heading structure, meaningful alt text, or logical navigation flow. Use automated tools as a starting point, but combine them with manual testing, user testing with disabled individuals, and professional audits. Screen reader testing and keyboard navigation testing require human evaluation. Automated tools are helpful for ongoing monitoring but shouldn’t be your only compliance strategy.

4. What’s the difference between WCAG 2.0 AA and WCAG 2.1 AA standards?

WCAG 2.1 AA is the current standard and includes all WCAG 2.0 AA requirements plus additional criteria for mobile accessibility, cognitive disabilities, and low vision users. WCAG 2.1 adds 17 new success criteria covering mobile touch targets, orientation requirements, and better support for users with cognitive disabilities. Most legal experts recommend following WCAG 2.1 AA standards as they represent current best practices. The Department of Justice hasn’t officially adopted specific standards, but courts increasingly reference WCAG 2.1 AA in ADA lawsuit decisions.

5. Do small businesses with fewer than 15 employees need ADA compliant websites?

The ADA’s employee threshold applies to physical accommodations, but digital accessibility requirements are less clear-cut. Any business serving the public should consider ADA compliance regardless of size, as courts have ruled against small businesses in website accessibility cases. The “public accommodation” interpretation often includes websites of businesses open to the public. Additionally, many state laws have broader requirements than federal ADA. From both legal risk and ethical perspectives, all businesses should strive for accessible websites to serve the 26% of adults with disabilities.

6. How often should I test my website for ADA compliance?

Conduct comprehensive accessibility audits annually, with quarterly checks for high-traffic or frequently updated sites. Test immediately after major website updates, new feature launches, or content management system changes. Set up monthly automated scans to catch obvious issues early. During active development periods, test weekly or before each release. Train content creators to consider accessibility when adding new content. User testing with disabled individuals should occur at least annually. Regular monitoring is essential since accessibility can degrade over time through content updates and technical changes.

7. What are the most common ADA compliance mistakes that websites make?

Common mistakes include missing or inadequate alt text for images, poor color contrast ratios, inaccessible forms without proper labels, videos without captions, and websites that don’t work with keyboard navigation. Many sites have unclear heading structures, making screen reader navigation difficult. Auto-playing videos, pop-ups that trap keyboard focus, and images containing text instead of actual text are frequent issues. E-commerce sites often have inaccessible shopping carts and checkout processes. Focus indicators that aren’t visible and inconsistent navigation across pages also create accessibility barriers for users with disabilities.