When creating a business website, it is important to ensure that it is ADA compliant. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. The ADA requires businesses to make reasonable adjustments to their websites in order to be accessible to all users, regardless of their physical or mental abilities.
ADA compliance can have significant benefits for businesses, both in terms of customer satisfaction and legal protection. It is not only the right thing to do, but in many cases, it is also required by law. Here is a guide to making your website ADA compliant and the benefits it can offer to your business.
1. Make Your Website Accessible to Everyone
Making your website accessible to everyone should be your top priority. This can be accomplished by adding alternative text, or alt tags, to images so that users with limited sight or vision impairments can understand the images on your website. You should also ensure that text can be resized independently of the images, allow users to navigate by keyboard, and ensure that both color contrast and font size is set to a legible level.
2. Increase Customer Satisfaction
When your website is ADA compliant, it will be more user-friendly for all visitors. This can create a more positive user experience and increase customer satisfaction. Moreover, customers with disabilities will be more likely to use your website if it can be easily accessed. This is an important demographic to reach, as research shows that people with disabilities have a combined annual spending power of $490 billion in the US.
3. Avoid Legal Penalties
Failure to make your website ADA compliant can lead to legal action. The Department of Justice can now impose penalties on businesses with websites that are not accessible and are not making reasonable efforts to comply with ADA standards. This could result in costly legal fees and reputational damage, making it important to take the appropriate steps now to make sure your website is ADA compliant.
By following these steps, you can create an accessible website that will be appreciated by all visitors. Making your website ADA compliant can improve customer satisfaction, increase revenue, and protect your business from potential legal action. It is also important to keep in mind that website accessibility is an ever-evolving standard, so ensure you are monitoring your website and making the necessary changes to keep up with new accessibility requirements.