Making Websites Accessible: Why ADA Compliance Matters
By Dale West,
The internet should be usable by everyone. For businesses, that means a website should be designed so people with visual, hearing, motor, cognitive, and other disabilities can access information, complete forms, watch videos, make purchases, and communicate with the business.
Website accessibility is not just a technical issue. It is a customer service issue, a usability issue, and, for many businesses, a legal concern. The Americans with Disabilities Act applies to state and local governments under Title II and to businesses open to the public under Title III. The U.S. Department of Justice has consistently taken the position that ADA requirements also apply to goods, services, programs, and activities offered online.
The Importance of Accessibility
More than one in four adults in the United States reports having some type of disability. That includes disabilities affecting vision, hearing, mobility, cognition, independent living, and self-care. When a website is not accessible, a large number of potential customers may be unable to use it properly.
Accessibility also helps reduce legal risk. Website accessibility lawsuits continue to be filed across the country, especially against businesses whose websites do not work well with assistive technology. While no website owner can guarantee they will never face a claim, following recognized accessibility best practices can help demonstrate a good-faith effort to serve all users.
Beyond compliance, accessibility is simply good business. Clear navigation, readable text, captions, keyboard-friendly forms, and well-structured pages improve the experience for everyone.
Challenges Faced by Users with Disabilities
Blind and Low-Vision Users: Many blind users rely on screen readers, which read page content aloud or send it to a refreshable Braille display. If a website is poorly coded, missing alt text, or built with confusing structure, screen readers may not be able to communicate the content clearly.
Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Users: Video and audio content can be difficult or impossible to understand without captions, transcripts, or other text alternatives.
Users with Motor Impairments: Some users cannot operate a mouse or trackpad. They may rely on a keyboard, switch device, voice recognition software, or other assistive technology. If a website requires mouse-only navigation, those users may be blocked from important content.
Users with Cognitive Disabilities: Clear headings, consistent layouts, simple language, helpful instructions, and predictable navigation can make a website easier to use for people with cognitive, learning, memory, or attention-related disabilities.
Techniques for Building Accessible Websites
Here are some common accessibility practices used in professional web design:
Use Semantic HTML: Proper HTML elements help browsers, screen readers, and search engines understand the structure of a page. Headings, navigation, main content areas, forms, buttons, and links should be coded according to their purpose.
Make Navigation Keyboard-Friendly: Users should be able to move through menus, links, forms, and buttons without using a mouse. Visible focus indicators are also important so keyboard users can see where they are on the page.
Use Buttons and Links Correctly: Links should take users to another page or location. Buttons should trigger an action, such as submitting a form or opening a menu. Both can be accessible when coded correctly.
Add Useful Alt Text for Images: Informative images should include short, descriptive alt text. Decorative images can usually use empty alt text so screen readers skip them.
Provide Strong Color Contrast: Text should have enough contrast against the background to remain readable for users with low vision or color blindness. Avoid using color alone to communicate important information.
Use Readable Text: Font size, spacing, line height, and clear formatting all affect accessibility. Visitors should be able to read content comfortably on desktop and mobile devices.
Label Forms Clearly: Form fields should include clear labels, helpful instructions, and understandable error messages. This helps screen readers and improves form completion for all users.
Use ARIA Carefully: ARIA attributes can help make complex interactive features more accessible, but they should not be used as a substitute for good HTML. When possible, start with native HTML elements first.
Add Captions and Transcripts: Videos should include captions for spoken content and important sounds. Audio files should include transcripts when practical.
Test the Website: Automated accessibility tools are helpful, but they do not catch every issue. A strong accessibility review should include automated testing, manual checks, keyboard testing, and screen reader testing when appropriate.
The Benefits of Accessibility
Accessible websites provide a better experience for all visitors. They are usually easier to navigate, easier to read, easier to understand, and easier to use on different devices.
Accessibility can also support SEO. Search engines benefit from clear structure, descriptive text, logical headings, image alt text, and crawlable content. While accessibility and SEO are not the same thing, many good accessibility practices also improve search visibility and overall website quality.
Most importantly, accessibility helps ensure that more people can interact with your business online. A website should welcome visitors, not accidentally turn them away.
Conclusion
Investing in website accessibility is a smart decision for any business. It supports legal compliance, improves usability, expands your audience, and shows that your business values all customers.
A more accessible website does not happen by accident. It requires thoughtful design, clean code, clear content, regular testing, and ongoing maintenance. By following recognized accessibility best practices, your website can become more inclusive, more effective, and more useful for everyone.