How to Make Your Website ADA Compliant

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design was published by the US Department of Justice in 2010, mandating that websites must be made accessible to persons with disabilities. But, the Americans with Disabilities Act goes as far back as the 1990s. It stipulated that discrimination against people with disabilities is prohibited, covering all areas of public life, from jobs to public spaces.  

This law affects Americans with disabilities, including their families, friends, and caregivers, private employers who have 15 or more employees, businesses that accommodate the public, and all state and local government agencies.  

Ensuring that your website is ADA compliant helps protect your business against lawsuits and fines while allowing you to cater to any potential customer. Your website would be accessible to users who are blind or visually impaired, deaf, or those who require the use of assistive technologies to navigate a site.  

What is ADA Compliance?

ADA compliance is adhering to the requirements set by the Department of Justice under the ADA Standards for Accessible Design. This means being able to provide full and equal access to all your page visitors, especially if you’re running a commercial website.  

Having a website that’s ADA compliant expands your target audience. Compliance also helps boost your website SEO, while enabling you to build a more solid and trusted reputation. Another benefit that may be of particular interest to small business owners is eligibility for a tax credit of up to $5,000, which you can use for efforts to make your website more accessible.  

But, the ultimate benefit of ADA compliance is how it lets you make the lives of persons with disabilities easier and more convenient. It enables them to find information and solutions on their own. 

How to Make Your Website ADA Compliant

Given that the ADA doesn’t offer guidelines for compliance, many sites opt to follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which has three versions. Version 2.0 is the latest version, with Version 2.1 serving as its extension.  

For a website to be considered as ADA compliant, it should conform with the WCAG 2.1 AA technical standards, which ensure that your site follows the four principles that make it:  

• Perceivable

The content found on your website is easy for visually-impaired users to perceive. You can make your text larger, apply assistive technology, or use an alternative for written text. 

• Operable 

Your website should be easy to navigate, and users should be able to easily go through your content. You can provide users with keyboard accessibilities that allow for more convenient navigation. 

• Understandable 

More than making your website perceivable and operable, it should be understandable. This means that you must use clear or easily understood terms. If you have guides, these should come with a simple set of instructions.  

• Robust 

Your website should be compatible with third-party technologies, particularly assistive technologies and various devices. 

An Easier Way to Achieve ADA Compliance

ADA Web Accessibility offers an easier and more time-saving alternative to make your website ADA compliant. In as little as 48 hours, and with just a few steps, you’d have a website that complies with ADA requirements. 

How ADA Web Accessibility can make your website ADA compliant in five simple steps:

1. Quick Installation

First, we install a single line of JavaScript code on your preferred CMS or web hosting platform

2. Interface Appears

After the installation you’ll find the accessibility interface on your website. 

3. ADA Remediation 

The program’s Artificial Intelligence system then scans and analyzes your website.

4. Achieve Compliance

After 48 hours, your site can achieve full ADA compliance and will be ADA-certified.

5. 24/7 Maintenance

Lastly, you’ll get 24/7 maintenance, and the AI scans your entire website to find new or revised content that needs to be fixed.  

ADA Web Accessibility also gets your business listed on all the major voice search platforms, including Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant, further making your website more accessible to persons with disabilities, particularly those who have visual impairment. This, in turn, makes it easier for them to find your business. 

Make Your Website ADA Compliant Within 48 hours

ADA Web Accessibility can make your website ADA compliant within 48 hours. Get in touch with a representative today and find out how ADA Web Accessibility can help you grow your business while keeping you protected from lawsuits.