The rise of UX web design has led many marketers to prioritize how visitors "use" a website, shaping the overall functionality in recent years. However, it’s essential to consider the significant percentage of the population that struggles with accessibility. According to Statista, over 13% of the U.S. population has a disability, making it crucial to ensure that these users' experiences are prioritized. There's also legal backing to protect their rights, mandating access and usability of websites for people with disabilities.
At HIVE Strategy, we have extensive experience working with public entities like universities and charter schools, which are leading the way in adapting to website ADA compliance requirements. Drawing from those experiences, this article aims to help website owners understand the necessary steps to comply with ADA regulations and improve usability for all visitors.
What is the ADA?
The ADA, or the Americans with Disabilities Act, was enacted by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in 1990 as a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. ADA compliance ensures that all “places of public accommodation” are accessible to individuals with disabilities. The law is divided into five sections, or titles:
- Title I (Employment): Prevents discrimination in the workplace.
- Title II (State and Local Government): Applies to public services and transportation.
- Title III (Public Accommodations): Mandates access for people with disabilities to public spaces.
- Title IV (Telecommunications): Covers access to communication systems.
- Title V (Miscellaneous Provisions): Includes miscellaneous regulations regarding ADA enforcement.
Who Needs to Comply with ADA Regulations?
Title III specifies that all businesses open to the public must remove any barriers that would prevent access for people with disabilities. For instance, if a post office lacks a wheelchair ramp, it would be required to install one to ensure accessibility for all.
Since this law was enacted before the Internet became a fundamental part of daily life, the original focus was on physical barriers, such as stairs. However, in recent years, the definition of accessibility has expanded to include digital spaces, particularly websites.
What is ADA Compliance for Websites?
By 2010, the DOJ issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rule Making, indicating the need for websites to be accessible to individuals with disabilities. While the DOJ has yet to finalize official requirements, many court cases have already ruled in favor of website accessibility under the ADA. Currently, the DOJ advises websites to adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
What Are the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)?
The WCAG provides a robust framework for making web content more accessible. These guidelines offer recommendations to improve access for people with disabilities, including those with visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments, as well as older users whose abilities may change with age. The WCAG is structured around four key principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (also known as the POUR principles).
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Perceivable: Information must be presented in ways that users can easily perceive, such as providing text alternatives for images and ensuring content is accessible to screen readers.
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Operable: Website components and navigation must be usable by all individuals, including those who rely on keyboard-only navigation or have limited motor functions.
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Understandable: Content must be clear and comprehensible, ensuring users can understand the information and effectively interact with the interface.
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Robust: Websites should be compatible with various technologies and assistive tools, ensuring continued accessibility as technology evolves.
For a more detailed breakdown of these principles, the W3C provides an extensive explanation of the specifics for each.
How to Make Your Website ADA Compliant
Keeping up with the latest WCAG guidelines and regularly assessing your website’s accessibility are critical practices for businesses that aim to provide inclusive experiences. The WCAG guidelines are continuously updated to account for technological advances and a deeper understanding of accessibility needs.
To begin your compliance journey, you can use online accessibility checkers, which quickly identify potential issues on your website. However, these automated tools only detect about 30% of accessibility problems, so manual testing by experts and individuals with disabilities is vital to get a complete picture. For businesses requiring extensive updates, rebuilding the website using an accessible, modern technology stack might be necessary. Engaging with an accessibility consultant or agency, like HIVE Strategy, can also help implement the required changes correctly and efficiently.
A more detailed assessment can be performed using tools from the Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools List, which offers both automated and manual testing techniques to help businesses comply with WCAG criteria. The combination of automated tools and expert reviews is essential to ensure that your website is truly accessible to all users.
Next Steps
Hopefully, this information helps you identify the changes you need to make to your website to ensure both optimal user experience and ADA compliance. If you’ve determined that updates are necessary but aren’t sure where to start—or if you prefer to avoid the complexities altogether—HIVE Strategy is here to help. Our team has extensive experience working with various website content management systems to create accessible, scalable websites that allow for on-the-fly updates.
Whether you're navigating ADA regulations or looking to improve your website’s usability for all users, contact HIVE Strategy for expert guidance and support in making your website ADA-compliant.
