Digital Accessibility Index: Learn where the world’s leading brands fall short on accessibility.

See Report

Essential Guide to ADA Accessibility Compliance for Websites [eBook]

FAQs about Accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act

This easy guide answers your top questions about ADA compliance for websites and explains how testing according to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is the best path to compliance.

What's Inside

  • What does the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) require?
  • How and why does the ADA apply to websites?
  • What are the risks of having an inaccessible website?
  • Does the ADA require WCAG compliance?
  • What is the best way to achieve ADA requirements for websites?
  • And so much more!

An ADA compliant website is accessible to people with disabilities

The “ADA compliance” of a website usually refers to how accessible it is. Website accessibility is the measure of how usable it is for people with disabilities.

The ADA requires that private businesses, among others, refrain from discrimination on the basis of disability. Many disabilities impact the ways people might consume or interact with web content. Thus, failing to build websites in a way that is independently usable for individuals with disabilities, along with any assistive technology they might use, prevents equal access to the places, goods, and services of public accommodations.

WCAG conformance offers the best framework for ADA compliance

WCAG 2.1 is the current version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines — a technical standard for digital accessibility published by the World Wide Web Consortium and recommended by accessibility experts around the world.

We strongly recommend that organizations build or fix their websites to conform with WCAG 2.1 A/AA success criteria. Adhering to this standard will help designers, developers, content creators, and testers apply consistent and effective accessibility solutions.

WCAG conformance is not only the industry standard for accessibility professionals; it is commonly specified as providing a satisfactory level of accessibility by plaintiffs and courts alike.

Access our Free Guide