The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, and transportation. The ADA also requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities. However, it’s important to note that the ADA does not require an employer to lower production standards as an accommodation.

The ADA applies to all public and private websites that are accessible to the general public. This includes commercial websites, government websites, and nonprofit websites. Therefore, any website not accessible to individuals with disabilities may violate the ADA. This is why tools such as accessiBe are critical.

So what are the penalties for violating the ADA requirements for a website? Unfortunately, there is no one answer to this question. The penalties for violating the ADA can vary depending on several factors, including the type of violation, the severity of the violation, and whether or not the website owner has made an effort to comply with the ADA.

One thing is certain – if your website is not accessible to individuals with disabilities, you could be facing some serious penalties. The Department of Justice (DOJ), which is responsible for enforcing the ADA, has said that it intends to pursue website accessibility cases against companies not in compliance with the ADA. And in September of 2018, the DOJ filed its first-ever lawsuit against a company for violating the ADA requirements for a website.

So what can you do to make sure your website is compliant with the ADA? The best thing to do is to consult with an attorney or accessibility consultant who can help you understand your obligations under the ADA and how to make your website accessible. accessiBe also provides many resources to help you get started, including a website accessibility checklist and a guide to creating an accessible website.

5 Ways to Make Your Website ADA Compliant

1. Understand the WCAG standards

WCAG is short for the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. These guidelines were created by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), an international organization that sets standards for the internet. The WCAG standards are the international standard for website accessibility and are used by countries worldwide, including the United States.

2. Use alt text

Alt text is a text alternative for images. It is used to describe an image to someone unable to see it. When adding images to your website, include alt text that accurately describes the image.

3. Add captions and transcripts

Captions are text descriptions of audio content on a website. They are used to provide a text alternative for people who cannot hear the audio. Transcripts provide a text alternative for video content. They can be used in place of captions or as an addition to captions.

4. Use headings and lists

Headings and lists help to organize content and make it easier to read. Headings should be used to organize content into sections. Lists should be used to list items or steps in a process.

5. Use simple language

The use of simple language can make your content easier to understand. When writing content for your website, use short sentences and clear, concise language. Avoid jargon and technical terms.