The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a federal law, requires businesses open to the public to be accessible to all patrons, including those with disabilities. Many courts, and state legislatures, have interpreted this obligation to extend to business websites, which must take into account the needs of consumers with disabilities. Failure to be ADA-compliant exposes businesses to costly lawsuits or settlements, since individuals and groups can sue directly and recover attorneys’ fees – and there are some very aggressive lawyers embracing the ADA cause. Making a good-faith effort in this area protects you from legal risk while allowing you to serve a broader range of customers whose needs are frequently unmet.
Consult with specialized web technicians to ensure that your site meets appropriate standards. You’ll want, for example, to make your website available to blind people and others with disabilities that affect their ability to read a computer display, by adding text equivalents to imagery, and posting documents in formats that function well with assistive technology.
As always, we are here to answer any questions.
