ADA Compliance: Steps to Ensure Your Website Meets Standards

ADA compliance is no longer optional – it’s a critical priority for businesses that want to be inclusive and avoid legal pitfalls.

With digital accessibility lawsuits on the rise (over 4,600 filed in 2023, a 42% jump from the previous year​), organizations are under pressure to ensure their websites meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. 

Don’t fall behind your competition. Below is a step-by-step guide to achieve ADA digital accessibility compliance 👇

Why ADA Compliance Matters More Than Ever

Digital accessibility is both a moral imperative and a legal requirement. U.S. courts and the Department of Justice have made it clear that websites of businesses open to the public must be accessible under ADA Title III.

But beyond legal risk, inclusive design improves user experience for everyone. Features like alt text and clear navigation not only assist users with disabilities but also enhance SEO and overall usability – a clear ROI win-win.

Step-by-Step Guide to ADA Compliance

To help you get started, here’s a practical roadmap for bringing your website up to standard:

1. Audit Your Website’s Accessibility: Begin with a thorough assessment of your current site. Use automated scanning tools (e.g. WAVE, aXe, and User1st’s own free tools) to catch common issues and perform manual testing for user experience.
   

2. Understand Standards and Prioritize Fixes: Familiarize your team with WCAG 2.1/2.2 Level AA guidelines, (the generally accepted benchmark for ADA compliance). Not every issue can be fixed overnight, so prioritize high-impact and high-risk problems first.
   

3. Implement Accessibility Improvements: Now, get to work on fixing the issues. This step will involve your developers, designers, and content creators:
   

   • Code and Design Fixes: Add descriptive alt text to images, ensure proper heading structure (H1, H2, etc.), create sufficient color contrast, and enable full keyboard navigability on all interactive elements.
     

   • Content Adjustments: Provide transcripts for videos, captions for audio content, and avoid presenting information solely through color or images. If your site has PDFs or documents, make sure they are accessible or offer alternate formats.
     

   • Leverage Tools and Plugins: Many modern development frameworks and CMS have accessibility linters or plugins; use these to catch mistakes early. An integrated accessibility testing tool (like the one we provide, for example) can flag issues in your code repository or CMS before they go live​, saving time for your team.
     

4. Test with Assistive Technologies and Real Users: After fixes, testing is crucial. Have QA testers or team members navigate the site using a screen reader (like JAWS or NVDA) and only a keyboard (no mouse). This helps verify that a blind or motor-impaired user can actually use all features. Testing with a screen magnifier or voice control tool can uncover issues for low-vision or mobility-impaired users. And whenever possible, involve users with disabilities for user testing. Their feedback is invaluable and can validate that your changes truly improve accessibility.
   

5. Maintain Compliance and Document Your Efforts: Achieving compliance is not a one-and-done project; it’s an ongoing commitment. Integrate accessibility into your development lifecycle: require new content and features to meet accessibility guidelines before launch, and provide training for your developers, designers, and content managers. Additionally, keep records of your audit reports, fixes, and training sessions – this documentation can demonstrate due diligence if you ever face a legal challenge.

Fostering an Inclusive Digital Culture

Remember that accessibility is a journey, not a destination. Even advanced organizations continually learn and iterate as standards evolve and user needs change. 

By following these steps, you’re doing more than mitigating legal risk – you’re fostering an inclusive culture that values every user. 

You’ll reduce the threat of costly lawsuits and demand letters, improve customer satisfaction, and enhance your brand reputation as an accessibility champion.

Ready to elevate your digital accessibility? Explore our innovative tools and resources on achieving WCAG compliance and empower your team to build inclusive, compliant user experiences.