ADA Requirements for Businesses
ADA website guidelines are in place to ensure that people with disabilities have full and equal access to content and information. If you’re a small or medium-sized business that serves the public, it’s imperative that you meet the standards of relevant laws and regulations. Doing so will make your website more inviting and accessible to your entire audience regardless of physical or cognitive ability. WebAccessible.Biz provides a comprehensive website scan that will evaluate whether your business meets ADA requirements and where upgrades can be made to accommodate the needs of your visitors.
What are ADA Guidelines for Small Businesses?
Using WCAG guidelines as a benchmark will help you determine if your business is compliant with ADA requirements. An easy-to-understand page structure, functional forms, and clearly labeled buttons are some basic examples of what a website needs to have. Other features have to do with the web design aspects that create color contrast for improved readability and incorporate responsive features that work on different screen sizes and devices. It’s also important for a website to be assistive technology-compatible for adaptive keyboards and screen readers. Small businesses should follow these four fundamental principles referred to as POUR, which stands for:
Perceivable
The web design needs to present information in a way that is clearly visible. Color contrast, resizing text, line spacing, and font type will make content easier to read on a page for those with low vision. Text-to-speech technology can also convey information to people with hearing loss.
Operable
It must be easy to navigate the site and interact with the user interface. Keeping it simple is the best way to achieve this, whether it’s clicking links or navigating to different pages. Your visitors should be able to use all site functionalities without disruption with this concept in mind.
Understandable
Information needs to be interpreted in a comprehensible and accurate manner. This means that the message is clearly understood in a text format, but also that videos contain close captions and images that have alt tags to describe them. These aids help include users with certain physical or cognitive impairments.
Robust
Standard web browsers and assistive devices must be compatible with the website. The right HTML code should be written on that back end in order to allow these technologies to communicate effectively with your website. This includes devices like adaptive keyboards and software like screen readers and voice recognition.
What are ADA Exempt Businesses?
While most businesses must comply with ADA laws, some are exempt from certain requirements. Title III prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in places of public accommodation. However, there are exemptions made when there is a limited public impact, or they have few resources due to being a temporary operation.
Your organization might fall under this category if any of these apply to you:
- Small businesses that operate less than 20 hours per week
- Religious institutions
- Members-only clubs
- Those owned by federally recognized Native American tribes
Even with an ADA small business exemption, your brick-and-mortar space and some aspects of your website may still need to be accessible to individuals with disabilities. A professional scan can determine whether you’re exempt and which standards you need to meet.
ADA Website Requirements FAQs
ADA business requirements are essential to an inclusive and future-focused website. It establishes trust with your audience, builds a strong reputation, and keeps you compliant with the law. These are answers to common questions about compliance that may help guide you:
Prioritize Web Accessibility for Your Small Business
Whether you’re a small-to-midsize business, large company, or government agency, you must comply with ADA website laws. You may face fines and legal penalties as a result of non-compliance. This is why it’s crucial to make web accessibility a priority. By doing a site audit, you can ensure that you’re meeting ADA business requirements and staying on top of developing technologies that will aid you in this area. It also creates a welcoming and inclusive space for your audience, establishing trust and a positive user experience. Build a reputation as a forward-thinking company that puts its customers first.
Meet ADA Requirements for Your Website
Make your website accessible to everyone in your community by following ADA requirements for small businesses. Request a scan of your website and audit pages to identify areas for improvement. WebAccessible.Biz will evaluate your level of compliance and make the necessary accommodations to meet standards.