A civil rights statute passed in the 1990s is known as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It strives to provide equal access to public life, services, and accommodations for people with disabilities and protect them from discrimination. These include government, public accommodations, public transit, employment, and communications. According to the ADA national network, public accommodations include the following: the retail, restaurant, and hotel industries; medical facilities; libraries; public park systems; and areas for general public use away from homes, schools, and places of employment. Website accessibility is not mentioned in the statute itself. However, there have been several high-profile disputes against online accessibility in recent years, and businesses have been uncertain about whether the legislation covers physical locations and websites. Domino's Pizza, a well-known eatery, even asked the Supreme Court to rule on whether it required to "satisfy discrete accessibility requirements concerning individuals with disabilities" after being sued by a blind man who couldn't purchase a pizza through the restaurant's website.

The American government has since released detailed ADA guidelines for website accessibility. According to the organization's website, any company that is open to the public (B2C) or a government entity (or those supported by the government) must adhere to the ADA's Title III requirements. According to the ADA, a website's inaccessible features may make it more difficult for persons with disabilities to use the products, services, and privileges offered through that website—for instance, a registration form for an event hosted by a veteran service organization. For these reasons, the Department has long maintained that all products, services, benefits, or activities provided by public accommodations, including those provided online, are subject to the ADA's obligations.

Why does ADA compliance matter?

Making sure a website is accessible to everyone in the modern world has to be standard procedure. There is no good excuse not to prioritize website accessibility, particularly for significant organizations with teams of engineers and SEOs working together. Here are some of the main justifications for ensuring your website is accessible.

Allowing individuals to have free lives

Many of us led daily lives online during COVID-19 when we were all cooped up in our houses for long periods. Whether it's attending Zoom classes, placing a grocery order, or making a payment. Many of us take it for granted that we can quickly get the goods we need in an emergency. However, having equal access to online public services may greatly influence someone's quality of life who has a handicap. You may be unable to lead a typical life if you cannot leave your house or utilize websites that let you make purchases, pay bills, or use government services like voting. 

Accessible websites are good for business. A more accessible website is advantageous for the company, among other things. After all, more website visitors who are prospective clients might lead to more leads and revenue. The majority of nations have laws requiring websites to be accessible. The only accessibility regulation governing the United States is the Americans with Disabilities Act. Several international rules beyond the United States govern accessibility. Making ensuring your website is accessible is required in 40 countries, from Taiwan's Web Accessibility Guidelines to Israel's Equal Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act. Even a proposed European Accessibility Act is currently being developed by the European Union. A person with a handicap may sue the proprietor of a website violating the ADA, which is happening more frequently than ever before. According to UsableNet, a provider of accessible technology, a little over 800 complaints about inaccessible websites were submitted to federal court in 2017. After the introduction of WCAG 2.1, that number considerably increased, reaching 2,200 in 2018. Even well-known individuals and well-known companies are not exempt from these legal implications. A class-action lawsuit was reportedly issued on Parkwood Entertainment, a company owned by Beyoncé Knowles, alleging that it violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act by refusing to provide services to clients who were blind or visually impaired. When people with visual impairments tried to purchase concert tickets on Beyonce's website, they discovered that drop-down menus were inaccessible, photos lacked alt language, and there was no keyboard access. High-profile ADA compliance cases have been filed against well-known companies, organizations, and institutions, including Nike, Burger King, Fox News, and Harvard. Every year, there is more litigation related to accessibility. 

What is the WCAG?

Regulations known as the Online Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide instructions on guaranteeing that all website functions and online applications are accessible. The WCAG 2.1 standards, published in June 2018, are now in use and are aimed at web content creators (page authors, site designers, etc.), web authoring tool developers, and web accessibility evaluation tool developers. Others, particularly those who use mobile devices, desire or require a norm for web accessibility. The final version of the WCAG 2.2 standards will be released in April 2023. WCAG 3.0 has already been drafted, even though it won't be made public for some time. But staying current with the WCAG guidelines and keeping track of any upcoming changes or additions will help you ensure your website continues to abide by accessibility standards. There are three degrees of conformity, according to the WCAG. Each level is based on how it affects how the pages are designed or presented to satisfy the demands of various people and circumstances.

Why does WCAG compliance matter?

The easiest method for digital marketers to make sure they are abiding by local accessibility rules and staying out of trouble with the law is to verify WCAG compliance. WCAG-compliant websites often have a clear objective, quick download times, straightforward navigation, and user-friendly language. These are all crucial components of UX design, which helps search engine users locate the information they're looking for. To provide customers with the best experience possible, you should enhance the UX of your website.