The importance of web accessibility and compliance
History of website compliance
ADA website compliance is a set of accessibility standards that are detailed in Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA has been modernized to establish accessibility requirements for websites and software. The purpose of ADA website compliance is to make the information on a site equally accessible for both people with disabilities as well as people who do not have disabilities. An enterprise-sized website could present a challenge when you have hundreds of web pages trying to accommodate all users.
The urgency for ADA compliance and how it affects those who need it
Adopting ADA best practices with respect to your enterprise website site improves your customer’s experience with your business and ensures accessibility. Accessibility, in this case, refers to addressing the needs of individuals who may be using your site, and who may also have a visual or auditory disability or limitation. Accounting for accessibility makes it easier for individuals to navigate your site and consume content. For example, adjusting the contrast of the text and background colors of your website makes it easier for individuals who are colorblind to read your articles or product descriptions. If this is not done someone may have difficulty reading your site.
What happens when you’re not compliant
Although the ADA law does not explicitly state compliance as a requirement for websites and digital solutions, reality dictates businesses to make their website accessible to people with disabilities. Following W3C’s guidelines for accessible design helps avoid the risks of litigation and damages in the form of fines and penalties.
Who needs ADA accessibility services and what if you don’t need it
Enterprises that perform an accessibility audit, and see big errors on their site, need web ADA services. If no errors are shown on their website, it can still help an enterprise by reaching a wider audience, building better PR, improving SEO and higher quality code.