ADA Compliance is essentially adhering to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the law passed in 1990 that guarantees equal rights for people who are differently-abled. Though the law was originally passed to protect people with physical disabilities, it now covers individuals with sensory, mental, and intellectual disabilities as well. In this blog, we will understand what ADA Compliance is, why it matters, and how it can be achieved.
ADA Compliance
ADA Compliance is a set of regulations that ensure everyone, including those with disabilities, can access digital content and use websites with ease. Under ADA, digital accessibility is the right of every person, and digital content should be made accessible to all with no discrimination.
Why Is ADA Compliance Important?
The importance of ADA Compliance cannot be overstated. Digital accessibility is essential in today’s digital world where websites serve as the primary vehicles of communicating with customers. A non-compliant website may cause irreparable harm to the brand and lead to lawsuits, legal penalties, and damage to its reputation.
Moreover, making your website accessible means that you’re creating a welcoming environment to people with disabilities, which demonstrates your company’s social responsibility.
What happens if the website isn’t ADA-compliant?
In most cases, when ADA compliance standards are left unmet, it’s not intentional. However, that doesn’t matter because if your website isn’t ADA-compliant, you’re at risk for a hefty lawsuit. The guidelines provided by the U.S. Department of Justice; you could still end up paying thousands of dollars in lawsuits if you’re website isn’t accessible to everyone.
In addition to a lawsuit, you’ll also be facing the following for being non-compliant with ADA compliance standards:
- Legal fees
- Possible settlement
- Potential public relations problems
- The costs involved in rebuilding your website to be compliant
- On top of all of this, you run the risk of losing customers for not making your website accessible to those that are disabled.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of people with disabilities increases by the millions every year.
How To Achieve ADA Compliance
Now that we have discussed the importance of ADA Compliance, it’s essential to understand how to achieve it.
The first step in achieving ADA Compliance is to conduct an audit of your website. This should be followed by fixing any accessibility barriers, such as providing alt text to images, captions, or transcripts on videos, and using labeling and heading tags appropriately. To build an accessible website, it is essential that you work with a development team that understands what is required to achieve ADA Compliance, including utilizing the latest technologies and user experience design.
Summarization:
ADA Compliance is an essential aspect of creating an inclusive environment and ensures a positive brand image. It provides access to individuals with disabilities and makes it easy for them to access content, including websites.
Achieving ADA Compliance requires a multidisciplinary approach, including conducting audits, fixing accessibility barriers, and working with developers who understand the importance of accessibility. Therefore, it’s imperative for businesses to work towards achieving ADA Compliance and making their digital content more accessible and welcoming.
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