Many of us see the Internet as a tool for making life easier, allowing us to perform necessary life functions from wherever we have Internet access. We can apply for jobs online, manage our bank accounts online, order groceries online, and even decide what we want to eat before we get to a restaurant by looking at their menu online. As more and more businesses advertise and offer goods and services online, their websites have gained almost the same level of importance as their brick-and-mortar stores, and the ability to access business websites unencumbered has become integral to being able to navigate the world as independently as possible.
Recently there have been a slew of lawsuits filed under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), targeting companies with websites that are allegedly inaccessible to the disabled, such as the visually impaired and the deaf. These types of lawsuits are particularly common in states like California, where statutory damages for ADA violations are set at a minimum of $4,000 and the law allows for plaintiffs to recover attorney’s fees.
Unfortunately, neither the Federal nor state governments have created any official guidelines for how to ensure your website is completely ADA-compliant, however you can find some basic tips below:
- Include subtitles in videos you post on your website.
- Make sure all text is coded so that it can be audio translated by screen-reader software.
- Design your page so that text is easily readable, such as by having visual contrast between any text and its background, or by allowing users to adjust font size.
- Provide alternative text for any non-text content, such as images, that comprise a brief description of the content and its function (i.e. a link to purchase an item).
- Allow users to navigate your website while only using a keyboard.
A more comprehensive list of guidelines can be found in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. While making your website ADA-compliant can seem like a daunting task, it is important that you do not wait until a lawsuit is filed against you before taking action. The cost to defend these lawsuits can often times outweigh the cost of bringing your website into compliance and settling the suit.
If you have any questions about website ADA-compliance, or you are facing legal issues from lack of compliance, please contact The Myers Law Group for assistance.