When most business owners think of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and ADA compliance, they think about making sure that their physical property is accessible to those who may have a disability. For example, a business owner may install a ramp or an elevator to ensure that their property is accessible to someone who is in a wheelchair. What is less common, though, is for a business owner to give any thought to their website in regards to ADA compliance.
But under Title III of the ADA, a website has been interpreted to be a “place of public accommodation.” As such, if a website is significantly inaccessible to someone with a disability, it may be viewed as discriminatory and a violation of the ADA. If this all sounds like news to you, our web design team at NUVEW can help. Call us today to learn more about making your website ADA compliant–
What Does It Mean to Make a Website Accessible?
Under the ADA, a website that is accessible is a website that can be enjoyed universally by everyone, including someone with a disability. A person who is disabled still needs to be able to access your website, navigate and engage with content, etc. Here are a few things that are recommended, and can help to shield your from liability for non-compliance:
- Your images and non-text content, such as videos or graphics that you post on your site, have complementary text;
- Any audio-only content has a transcript that can be followed;
- Content on your website is presented in a meaningful and logical order;
- You do not rely on the ‘use of color’ alone to relay information;
- Text can be resized/magnified to be larger without affecting the user’s ability to read the text;
- All content on your website is accessible via keyboard without the use of a mouse;
- Time limits, if they exist, on a website can be adjusted or turned off;
- The content is understandable, which means that content has a page title, a logical sequence, etc.;
- Pages on a website are navigable and accessible from numerous different pathways;
- More.
The above are just a handful of some of the best practices that can help you avoid liability for a violation of the ADA, but it’s by no means the full, inclusive list. In most cases, one way to ensure compliance is simply to make sure your website is updated; older websites are more difficult to keep compliant.
Call NUVEW Today for Website Design Services You Can Trust
At NUVEW, we are familiar with best practices for ADA compliance and are available to help you transform your website today. For our website design, development, and content marketing services, please reach out to our team directly today by phone or online.
