Is My Website ADA Compliant? How to Check | Oyova

Website accessibility is no longer just a best practice—it’s a legal necessity. In 2024, over 4,000 website accessibility lawsuits were filed in the U.S., continuing an upward trend from previous years. In 2023, there were approximately 3,000 cases, marking a steady increase year over year. With projections suggesting this number could double by year-end, businesses must take compliance seriously. If you’re wondering, “Is my website ADA-compliant?” now is the time to find out. Making sure your website meets Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards isn’t just about avoiding legal risks—it’s about providing an inclusive and accessible experience for all users. In this guide, you will learn about how to check if my website is ADA-compliant and how to fix it.

Understanding ADA Website Compliance

ADA website compliance enhances accessibility by ensuring all users, including those with disabilities, can navigate and interact with your site. Understanding the different compliance levels, who is affected, and the risks of non-compliance is essential for protecting your business and providing a satisfying user experience. Below, we’ll break down what compliance entails, the different levels, who it affects, and the risks of non-compliance.

What is ADA Website Compliance?

ADA compliance for websites refers to ensuring digital content is accessible to individuals with disabilities. It involves implementing web accessibility standards, such as Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), to make websites navigable for those with visual, auditory, or motor impairments.

What are the Different ADA Compliance Levels for Websites?

ADA website compliance follows the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which are divided into three levels:

• Level A (Basic Accessibility): Addresses the most critical barriers that prevent users with disabilities from accessing content, such as missing alt text for images and keyboard navigation issues.
• Level AA (Industry Standard): The most commonly targeted level for businesses, WCAG 2.1 AA, ensures a more inclusive experience by requiring features like proper color contrast, resizable text, and accessible forms.
• Level AAA (Highest Accessibility): The strictest level, designed for organizations prioritizing full accessibility. It includes enhanced requirements like sign language interpretation for videos and a broader range of text adjustments.

Most businesses aim for WCAG 2.1 AA compliance, which balances accessibility and practicality while reducing legal risks.

Who’s Affected by ADA Website Compliance?

ADA website compliance impacts all businesses with a digital presence, but it is particularly crucial for:

• eCommerce websites
• Government and educational institutions
• Healthcare providers
• Financial services
• Hospitality and travel websites

Regardless of industry, any business with an online presence can be subject to accessibility lawsuits if its website does not meet ADA standards. Taking proactive steps toward compliance minimizes legal risks, expands market reach, and enhances user experience.

What Happens If My Website Isn’t ADA Compliant?

Failing to meet ADA website compliance standards can seriously impact legal standing and business performance. Here’s what’s at risk:

• Lawsuits & Fines: Businesses that fail to comply with ADA requirements face legal action, with lawsuits increasing significantly yearly. Fines can range from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on severity of non-compliance.
• Loss of Customers & Revenue: An inaccessible website alienates potential customers, particularly those with disabilities, leading to lost sales, reduced engagement, and negative brand perception.
• SEO & Performance Impact: Search engines like Google prioritize user experience, and ADA-friendly websites often rank higher in search results. Accessibility improvements, such as proper heading structures and alt text for images, can enhance SEO and site performance.
• Reputation Damage: A non-compliant website can harm your brand’s reputation, leading to negative press and social media backlash. Ensuring accessibility demonstrates inclusivity and a commitment to providing equal access for all users.

Investing in ADA compliance for your website helps to avoid penalties while creating a more inclusive and user-friendly experience that benefits all visitors and strengthens your business’s online presence.

Is My Website ADA Compliant? How to Find Out.

Determining whether your website meets ADA compliance standards requires using automated ADA website compliance tools, manual testing, and professional audits. Here’s how you can check for compliance:

Free ADA Website Compliance Tools to Check Your Website

Automated tools can quickly identify accessibility issues and provide insights for improvements:

• WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool): A browser extension that highlights accessibility errors and provides recommendations for fixes.
• AXE Accessibility Checker: A developer-friendly tool that integrates with browsers and helps identify WCAG violations.
• Google Lighthouse: A built-in Chrome tool that audits accessibility, performance, and SEO to highlight potential compliance gaps.

These tools provide a good starting point but should be combined with manual testing for accuracy to answer the question of how do I know if my website is ADA-compliant.

Manual Testing for Website ADA Compliance

Automated scans can miss specific accessibility barriers, making manual testing essential. Key checks include:

• Keyboard Navigation: Ensure users can navigate the website without a mouse using only keyboard shortcuts (e.g., Tab, Enter, and Arrow keys).
• Color Contrast Checks: Verify that text and background colors meet WCAG contrast ratio requirements to ensure readability for visually impaired users.
• Screen Reader Testing: Use assistive technologies like JAWS, NVDA, or VoiceOver to assess how well your website interacts with screen readers.

These tests help identify real-world usability challenges that automated tools may overlook.

Professional ADA Website Audits

While free tools and manual testing provide insights, they may not capture all compliance issues. Hiring an experienced website development company like Oyova ensures:

• A comprehensive audit of your website’s accessibility.
• A detailed remediation plan to address compliance gaps.
• Ongoing monitoring and support to maintain long-term accessibility.

Prioritizing ADA compliance for websites minimizes legal risks, improves user experience, and expands your audience reach.

How to Make Your Website ADA Compliant

Knowing how to check if my website is ADA-compliant is the first step to ensure your website remains ADA-compliant. Still, it requires ongoing attention and regular updates to meet evolving accessibility standards. It’s not a one-time fix—it’s about building accessibility into your website’s DNA. Use this checklist to get started:

1. Implement WCAG 2.1 AA Standards

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA are the industry standard for ADA compliance and cover everything from text contrast to navigation and multimedia accessibility. Ensure your website meets these standards to provide an inclusive experience for users with disabilities.

2. Add Alt Text to Images

Every image on your website should include alt text that describes the image’s content. Alt text is crucial for users who rely on screen readers, as it helps convey information about visual elements. Ensure that your alt text is concise, descriptive, and contextually relevant.

3. Ensure Keyboard Navigability

Your website must be fully navigable without a mouse. Keyboard accessibility is essential for users with motor disabilities who rely on keyboard shortcuts to navigate a website. Test your website to ensure all interactive elements, such as forms, links, and buttons, can be accessed via keyboard alone.

4. Provide Video Captions and Transcripts

Video content must be accessible to all users, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Closed captions for videos and transcripts for audio content help ensure that users can access and understand your media. Provide accurate captions for speech, sound effects, and relevant non-verbal cues to improve the user experience.

5. Conduct a Quarterly ADA Website Compliance Review

Website ADA compliance is an ongoing process. As your website evolves and new content is added, it’s essential to perform regular reviews to ensure compliance. Set up a quarterly ADA compliance audit to identify and fix any emerging issues, which includes testing new features, pages, and content for accessibility and ensuring that any changes to the site meet WCAG standards.

6. Regularly Test with Real Users

To truly understand how accessible your website is, test it with real users who have disabilities. Feedback from individuals using assistive technologies, like screen readers and voice recognition software, provides invaluable insights into the practical usability of your site.

7. Stay Updated on Accessibility Changes

Accessibility standards and legal requirements evolve. Stay informed about updates to the WCAG guidelines and ADA regulations to ensure your website remains compliant. You can subscribe to accessibility news and updates or work with accessibility consultants to keep your site current.

By integrating these ongoing practices, you can make your website ADA-compliant and ensure it stays that way, improving user experience and legal protection.

Make Your Website ADA Compliant with Oyova

Achieving and maintaining ADA website compliance can seem overwhelming. However, with Oyova, we make it straightforward and manageable. Our team of experts provides comprehensive ADA website compliance audits and remediation services to help your website meet legal standards while enhancing the user experience.

To get started, contact Oyova today to schedule an ADA website compliance audit. We’ll walk you through making your website fully accessible, ensuring it meets legal requirements and provides a seamless user experience. Let us help you navigate the complexities of website ADA compliance so you can focus on confidently growing your business.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. The contents of this blog may not reflect the most current legal standards or interpretations. Please consult with a qualified attorney for specific legal advice regarding ADA compliance or other legal issues. Oyova does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information on this site and is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or results obtained from using this information.