26 Steps for ADA Website Compliance: Meaning, Requirements and Checklist
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 mandates accessibility for people with disabilities. While the original act didn’t include the web, courts have increasingly interpreted Title III to apply to websites. And with 75% of Americans with disabilities using the internet daily, this makes logical sense. Title III requires private businesses to ensure both physical and online accessibility if they want to avoid lawsuits and penalties for non-compliance, so there’s never been a better time to get familiar with the requirements. Even more so when you consider that the average cost of a web accessibility lawsuit is $100,000.
The ADA Explained
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), enacted in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush, is a landmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and public and private spaces. The ADA primarily benefits people with various disabilities, including but not limited to visual impairments, auditory impairments, mobility impairments, and cognitive impairments. The ADA consists of five titles, each addressing different aspects of disability rights and accessibility:
- Title I: Employment. Title I prohibits discrimination against qualified people with disabilities in all aspects of employment, including hiring, job assignments, promotions, and termination.
- Title II: State and Local Government Services. Title II prevents discrimination by state and local governments and their agencies, ensuring that people with disabilities have equal access to public services, programs, and activities.
- Title III: Public Accommodations and Commercial Facilities. Title III requires businesses and other entities open to the public to ensure their facilities are accessible to the disabled community.
- Title IV: Telecommunications. Title IV requires telephone and internet companies to provide relay services.
What Is ADA Compliance for Websites?
Digital spaces were once not explicitly mentioned in the original ADA act, but today, courts interpret websites and online platforms as “public accommodations,” making them subject to ADA compliance. The ADA’s web accessibility requirements are based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, with 2.2 being the latest version. Websites need to adhere to the four core principles of WCAG, which means your site needs to be:
- Perceivable
- Operable
- Understandable
- Robust
What Are the ADA Tools That Make Your Website ADA Compliant?
To help you navigate these standards and do your part in providing a more inclusive experience for all users, we provide various remediation software and platforms. Our unique research methodology for digital accessibility combines user testing, feature analysis, and hands-on experience to offer the following solutions:
| Tool / Service | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| AC Accessibility Compliance Platform | Ensure WCAG compliance | - |
| AC Chrome Extension | Scan interactive elements | - |
| AC Statement Generator | Keep your statement current, always | Free |
| AC Color Contrast Checker | Check color accessibility | Free |
| Expert Audit | Manual accessibility review | - |
| PDF Remediation | Make PDFs accessible | - |
Requirements and Checklist
There are 26 basic steps that should be followed to ensure a website meets basic web accessibility standards. A combination of automated and manual web accessibility testing is recommended to achieve full compliance. Blind people rely on screen readers to navigate websites, while those with mobility impairments such as spina bifida may use alternative input devices. To ensure a thorough review, use various tools like the AC Chrome Extension to scan interactive elements and perform User Testing to gather real user feedback.