There is no definitive web accessibility law for private entities in the United States. But that doesn’t mean businesses can’t face legal repercussions. It only means there’s some gray area around whether or not your website needs to be ADA compliant.

Regardless though, of whether there’s a legal obligation, having an ADA compliant website is something every business should strive for.

What Can Happen When Your Website Isn’t ADA Compliant?

The goal would be that all websites are ADA compliant. However, it’s unrealistic considering the vast size of the internet. This doesn’t mean you should risk the potential consequences though.

The risks of not complying include,

  • A lawsuit
  • Legal fees
  • Potential public relations problems
  • Possible settlement
  • The costs of rebuilding your website

ADA compliance is definitely the route you want to take. Otherwise, you’re dealing with problems that can throw a serious wrench in your business plans.

Non-ADA Compliant Sites May Face Public Backlash

Today’s social climate does not allow much room for error. “Cancel culture” runs deep in today’s society and you don’t want to get wrapped up in it.

If your business is facing backlash for discluding people with disabilities your brand’s reputation can go down the drain. Then, you have a public relations disaster that can be really hard to recover from.

Rebuilding Your Website Can Set Back Your Business

A website that represents your business and mission in a positive light can be a large investment. Even smaller websites can be very expensive. If you have to rebuild your website because you got sued this can be a significant financial burden.

By making your website ADA compliant from the get-go you can save yourself a lot of trouble.

Avoid Losing Potential Customers

According to the U.S. Census Bureau report from 2010, 8.1 million Americans were considered blind or unable to see,  and 7.6 million Americans had difficulty hearing. That’s 15.7 million consumers that you’re missing out on.

Even if there’s no legal obligation, you’re losing business when your site isn’t available to people with disabilities.

Making Your Site ADA Compliant

Your website is a very important aspect of your business. It’s how many consumers will find you, and judge whether your business is up to par. You can trust our team at Strategic Media Inc. with your site and ensuring its ADA compliant.

We implement web content accessibility guidelines for all of our sites. These guidelines include creating alt tags for our images and creating consistent, organized layouts.

Conclusion

Depending on the kind of business you have, your site may or may not have to be ADA compliant. There are no definitive laws but it’s always better to be safer than sorry considering all of the potential consequences you’re risking.

Besides the consequences though it’s important that any business takes the steps necessary to include people with disabilities. Those 15.7 million consumers you’re losing business from, are human beings that are missing out on products, services, or information that they need.

Contact Strategic Media Inc.

Our team of web designers can build a high-quality ADA compliant website that represents and highlights the greatest aspects of your business. You can contact us online or give us a call at 727-531-7622 for any information or questions you may have.