Don’t you just love it when you open up a website and it’s instantly accessible?
Everything is in the right place, there’s a logical flow, and you can navigate it without thinking twice.
For millions of people, especially those with disabilities, website accessibility is the be-all and end-all for their online experience.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is one of the most important pieces of legislation protecting the rights of people with disabilities in the US.
While it was originally written to make physical spaces more accessible, the law has increasingly been interpreted to apply to online spaces like websites and digital services.
But what does all of this mean for you?
Well, the short answer is that your business could face legal and financial consequences if your website creates any barriers for users with disabilities.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at what ADA compliance means in the digital world, who needs to comply, and how to get your site on the road to compliance – while also improving user experience, SEO, and your brand’s reputation.
ADA compliance is – as the name suggests – compliance with the requirements of the ADA, shorthand for the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The original law prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including employment, education, transportation, and access to goods and services.
The act was originally enacted by the 101st United States Congress on July 26th, 1990.
But a lot has changed since then, with the digital world taking off and becoming a much larger part of our day-to-day lives and society.
So, while the original ADA text doesn’t specifically mention websites, US courts and the Department of Justice have made it clear that websites can be considered places of public accommodation under Title III of the ADA – especially for businesses open to the public.
Failing to make your website accessible has several downsides, not just in a legal sense.
It also means:
The simple truth is that accessible websites perform better, serve more users, and show a commitment to inclusivity – which today’s customers increasingly expect.
So, making your website ADA-compliant is a real win-win situation.
In general, ADA compliance applies to:
In practice, this means that if you run a business website that allows users to browse products, book appointments, make purchases, or access information, your digital presence is expected to be accessible – especially under Title III of the ADA.
Even if you’re not based in the US, if your website targets or serves US users, you could still be at risk.
Unfortunately, there’s no single checklist published by the US government that guarantees ADA compliance. However, the DOJ has repeatedly pointed to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) as the standard businesses should aim to meet.
The WCAG, currently in version 2.1 (with 2.2 recently published), outlines best practices for making digital content accessible to people with various disabilities – including visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments.
Some of the key principles include:
That means that making your website WCAG-compliant is the best step you can take to reduce your legal risk and support users with disabilities.
And remember, meeting these requirements improves usability for everyone – not just people with disabilities.
Sometimes, even the best-designed websites can accidentally fall short on accessibility.
Here are some of the more common issues to look out for:
Some of these might seem like small, even insignificant details, but they can make a huge difference in whether or not someone can actually use your site – so they’re worth your consideration.
Here are a few key steps that could bring you closer to ADA requirements:
The first step is to run an accessibility audit on your website. You can do this by using tools such as:
These tools can help you pick out common issues. But remember that automated tools don’t catch everything, so a manual review is still needed.
After you have your list of issues, you can start fixing the most urgent accessibility problems. Things you should focus on first include:
If your site uses pre-built themes or components, make sure they follow accessibility best practices.
Tools like the iubenda Accessibility Solution can help improve your website’s usability through real-time adjustments, such as resizing text, enabling keyboard navigation, or changing contrast.
Just remember, overlays and widgets can support accessibility, but they don’t replace a fully accessible website. The DOJ has made it clear that compliance requires addressing accessibility at the source.
An accessibility statement is a page or document that outlines your accessibility goals, what you’ve done to meet them, and how users can contact you if they face difficulties.
It shows transparency and helps fulfill requirements under the ADA and the European Accessibility Act (EAA).
ADA compliance isn’t a one-time fix. Every time you update your site – whether it’s a new blog post or a redesign – accessibility needs to be part of the process.
As we just mentioned, there are some tools out there that can help support your efforts to make your website more accessible.
Here are a few:
When you ignore accessibility, you create a bad user experience for people who visit your website – but you can also land yourself in legal trouble.
In recent years, ADA website lawsuits have skyrocketed in the US. In fact, according to an ADA website accessibility annual report, 2024 saw over 3,000 lawsuits filed in state and federal courts.
Businesses in all industries, from retail and finance to hospitality and healthcare, have been targeted for failing to provide accessible websites.
The penalties for non-compliance can include:
To put it simply, the cost of non-compliance can far exceed the cost of doing it right in the first place.
There isn’t a direct one-to-one equivalent of the ADA in Europe. Instead, the responsibilities are split across two key pieces of legislation:
Together, these laws cover many of the same areas as the ADA, although they apply differently across sectors.
Read our guide on the EAA and international accessibility laws here to learn more.
ADA is about so much more than just avoiding lawsuits and fines.
When you make your website more accessible, you’re creating a space that allows everyone to interact with your brand – regardless of their capabilities.
That means fewer barriers, better experiences, and more loyal customers.
Remember, an accessible website:
It also sends a clear message that your business values inclusion, usability, and doing the right thing.
And with the right tools and mindset, accessibility doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
iubenda’s Accessibility Solution offers a simple, cost-effective way to start improving your website’s accessibility today.
