---
title: Worried About Web Accessibility Lawsuits? Start Here.
description: While the number of web accessibility lawsuits is rising, businesses can take immediate steps to improve compliance with the ADA. Here’s how.
---

[Digital Accessibility Blog ](https://www.boia.org/blog)

# [Worried About Web Accessibility Lawsuits? Start Here.](https://www.boia.org/blog/worried-about-web-accessibility-lawsuits)

 Written by [Jack](https://www.boia.org/blog/author/jack) | Sep 22, 2023

 

If you’re concerned about web accessibility lawsuits filed under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), [California’s Unruh Act](https://www.boia.org/blog/californias-unruh-civil-rights-act-and-digital-accessibility-an-overview), or other non-discrimination laws, you’re not alone — and you’ve got good cause to be concerned. 

In 2022, [the number of digital accessibility lawsuits increased substantially](https://www.boia.org/blog/2022-web-accessibility-lawsuits-recap-4-key-takeaways), with at least 2,387 lawsuits filed in federal court or California state court. The trend will likely continue in 2023, and while the [Department of Justice (DOJ) has released guidance for business owners](https://www.boia.org/blog/despite-new-doj-guidance-many-organizations-havent-adopted-accessible-web-design), the vast majority of major websites contain serious accessibility barriers.

Here’s the good news: Website accessibility is achievable, and most businesses can take simple, immediate steps to improve digital compliance. Below, we’ll explain the basics of the ADA, then provide a roadmap for achieving your compliance goals.

## WCAG is a solid foundation for digital compliance

 

Title III of the ADA applies to private businesses (and nonprofits, and other “places of public accommodation"). It doesn’t contain technical standards for websites — which is reasonable, since the ADA became law in 1990, long before the internet was an essential part of our lives. 

The DOJ is in the process of [establishing digital accessibility standards for Title II](https://www.boia.org/blog/doj-announces-title-ii-web-accessibility-regulations-are-coming-whats-it-mean) of the ADA, which applies to state and local government entities. Those standards are widely expected to be the Level A/AA requirements of the [Web Content Accessibility Guidelines](https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/) (WCAG), the international standards for digital accessibility.

Published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), WCAG contains principles, guidelines, and *success criteria, *which can be used to evaluate digital content. The [DOJ recommends using WCAG](https://www.ada.gov/resources/web-guidance/) Level A/AA to test websites for Title III compliance — and with good reason.

Related: [Is There a Legal Requirement to Implement WCAG?](https://www.boia.org/blog/is-there-a-legal-requirement-to-implement-wcag)

 

## Many web accessibility lawsuits cite WCAG

 

WCAG conformance is not explicitly required under the ADA (*conformance *means voluntarily following the standards). 

But plaintiffs frequently use WCAG when making allegations of non-compliance. For example: 

 

- In [*Robles v. Domino’s Pizza, LLC*](https://www.boia.org/blog/the-robles-v.-dominos-settlement-and-why-it-matters)*, *the plaintiff, who has a visual disability, cited specific WCAG criteria that require accurate alternative text (also known as “alt text") for images, relevant hyperlink text, and keyboard accessibility.
- A recent wave of [lawsuits filed against California acupuncturists](https://www.boia.org/blog/california-acupuncturists-stuck-with-digital-accessibility-lawsuits) focused on WCAG failures such as missing form labels, non-accessible PDFs, and improper use of semantic HTML.
- In [*Mejico v. Kraft Heinz Foods Company*](https://www.boia.org/blog/kraft-heinz-company-sued-kool-aid-site-alleged-to-not-be-accessible), the plaintiff alleged that [www.koolaid.com](http://www.koolaid.com/) was missing alternative text, relevant hyperlink text, and an HTML-defined language for each web page.

 

By following WCAG, business owners can limit their exposure to ADA lawsuits. And because WCAG reinforces the best practices of web design, [conformance has other benefits](https://www.boia.org/blog/6-unexpected-benefits-of-web-accessibility): Accessible websites work better for every user, perform better in search engine rankings, and cost less to maintain over time. 

Related: [The 5 Most Common Website Accessibility Issues (And How To Fix Them)](https://www.boia.org/blog/the-5-most-common-website-accessibility-issues-and-how-to-fix-them)

 

## Build your strategy for digital compliance

 

Whether you operate a small business, a non-profit, or a major enterprise, digital accessibility is essential. To start your accessibility initiative, you can take simple steps: 

 

- Set a goal. Most businesses should aim for Level AA conformance with the latest version of WCAG (currently, WCAG 2.1). Read: [What's The Difference Between WCAG Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA?](https://www.boia.org/blog/whats-the-difference-between-wcag-level-a-level-aa-and-level-aaa)
- Test your content for common accessibility barriers. Automated tests can be extraordinarily helpful, particularly in the first phase of a digital compliance plan. Read: [How to Check WCAG Compliance: A Quick Guide.](https://www.boia.org/blog/how-to-check-wcag-compliance-a-quick-guide)
- Communicate the importance of accessibility. Don’t assign the work to a single person or team; instead, build accessibility into your practices. Read: [Five Strategies for Creating an Inclusive Design.](https://www.boia.org/blog/five-strategies-for-creating-an-inclusive-design)
- Develop a long-term testing strategy. Most websites should perform WCAG audits every few months, but you may need to test more frequently if you update your content regularly. Read: [How Often Should You Test Your Website for Accessibility?](https://www.boia.org/blog/how-often-should-you-test-your-website-for-accessibility)
- Publish an accessibility statement. Your accessibility statement provides users with disabilities with information about your website’s current level of conformance. It also provides options for reporting accessibility barriers. [Read: Do I Need an Accessibility Statement On My Website?](https://www.boia.org/blog/do-i-need-an-accessibility-statement-on-my-website)

 

While ADA compliance requires effort, it’s achievable — regardless of your business’s size or budget.

The Bureau of Internet Accessibility provides training resources, comprehensive accessibility audits, and free tools for testing WCAG conformance. We help organizations develop long-term, self-sustainable strategies for compliance.

To learn more, [send us a message](https://www.boia.org/contact) or get started with a [free automated web accessibility analysis](https://www.boia.org/products/free-wcag-2-0-aa-report/).

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