The Importance of ADA Compliant Websites
The Importance of ADA Compliant Websites
Do you know if your website follows ADA compliance standards? Having an ADA compliant website is a proactive effort in making your business or organization inclusive and accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. At w3 Nerds, all of our websites hold a very high standard for ADA compliance. The blind and visually impaired can use our websites using enhanced screen reader technology. But why is this important? What does it mean to you as a business or organization? We answer these questions and more below.
w3 Web Design Get ADA QuoteWhat exactly is ADA?
The American Disabilities Act is a civil rights law that prevents discrimination against people with disabilities by ensuring equal opportunities and ensuring those requirements apply to websites as well. When you have your website designed by w3 Nerds, we strive for ADA compliance.
Why is Accessibility Important to business owners?
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Legal
Web accessibility is crucial for liability reasons, ensuring disabled individuals can access all website information and resources, as most services and information have moved online.
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DEI
DEI, or diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensures equal rights for people with disabilities in digital inclusion, especially in light of our increased reliance on the web for various tasks.
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Opportunity
If your website isn't ADA-compliant, you're missing out on significant opportunities, as there are over 61 million people with disabilities in the US and a market of over 71 million boomers. Boomers have buying power but also face challenges like hearing disabilities, vision problems, and poor motor and cognitive skills.
Website Accessibility FAQs
Do you have a question not listed below or want a quote for an accessible website?
Contact a Nerd at w3 to get your answer!
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Does ADA Compliance Apply to You and Your Website?
The ADA applies to all electronic information and technology, including websites. This means that businesses and web developers must comply with ADA standards, including state and local government organizations, private organizations with 15 or more employees, public accommodation places, and organizations working for the public's benefit. Ideally, all websites should be ADA compliant and be inclusive to everyone, even if the ADA standards don't apply to your organization.
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What if my website isn’t ADA compliant?
Unmet ADA compliance standards can lead to significant legal fees, potential settlements, public relations issues, and costs associated with rebuilding a website. Additionally, businesses risk losing customers due to not making their websites accessible to disabled individuals. When you have w3Nerds design your website, you won’t have to worry about any of these things because of our strict adherence to ADA guidelines.
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How do I meet ADA compliance standards for my website?
To comply with the ADA, websites must adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The WCAG 2.0 guidelines have a three-tiered grading system: Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA. While Level AA compliance standards are generally acceptable, it is recommended to build or rebuild a website to be AAA compliant.
4 Core Principles of WCAG Guidelines for Website ADA Compliance
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Be Perceivable
Users should be able to perceive all information on a website, including text, images, and videos, by offering accessibility options like audio or closed captioning for those who cannot see.
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Be Operable
To ensure user ease and accessibility, your website should be easily navigated and utilize all features, requiring a web developer with ADA compliance standards.
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Be Understandable
Users should be able to understand your website's content by providing instructions with site tools, navigation menus, forms, and other features.
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Be Robust
Ensure disabled users have the same overall experience as non-disabled users by providing universal content and including short descriptions and explanations.
Do you need help making your website compliant? Contact the Nerds at w3!
At w3 Nerds, all of our websites hold a very high standard for ADA compliance. Contact us to get started making your website more compliant today.
ADA compliance involves overhauling your website to incorporate accessible alternatives into its HTML coding. However, it is essential for making an organization inclusive, leading to increased business and a better reputation. For assistance, contact w3 Nerds, your local specialist in accessibility compliance services. We design your website to meet the highest level of ADA compliance!