Technology has forever changed the way we do business and communicate, especially during the pandemic. For people with disabilities, this isn’t always the best thing. There are many websites out there that are inaccessible to those with disabilities. Making the switch to a fully digital world poses many unique challenges for these individuals. At ADA Site Compliance, it’s our goal to ensure people with disabilities have the right access to a digitally inclusive website. See firsthand how inaccessible websites can impact the day-to-day of those with disabilities.
Paying Bills Online
It seems as if there isn’t a bill you don’t pay online these days. More companies are switching to paperless billing, and the world of online bill paying continues to grow. This creates distinctive challenges for those with disabilities. When your online bill-paying software is not easily accessible, people with disabilities aren’t able to use it to look up their account information, ensure their bills are paid on time, and effectively communicate with your company. Think about what it would be like if you couldn’t get access to necessary information without help. That is why it is imperative to improve your website accessibility for customer satisfaction.
Checking Emails
Checking emails can be difficult for those living with disabilities. One of the fundamentals of using the internet is typing. Typing emails, for example, is an essential part of the online world. Ensuring that your message is getting across correctly is important for anyone, especially those with disabilities. These user experiences need to be optimized for individuals with disabilities.
Ordering Food Online
In the last year, ordering food online has become routine. It’s important to have an app that is accessible and easily allows those with disabilities to place an online food order. At ADA Site Compliance, we’re committed to not only optimizing your website for accessibility but also your apps to guarantee that everyone can seamlessly navigate your app.
At ADA Site Compliance, we specialize in ensuring that your websites, apps, PDFs, and videos are optimized for accessibility. It is required by law to make your online experience easily accessible for people with disabilities, so they have the same rights online. Are you unsure about the current status of your website and its digital inclusivity? Contact us today to get a full human expert audit to ensure you’re on the path to digital compliance.
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The ADA prohibits any private businesses that provide goods or services to the public, referred to as “public accommodations,” from discriminating against those with disabilities. Federal courts have ruled that the ADA includes websites in the definition of public accommodation. As such, websites must offer auxiliary aids and services to low-vision, hearing-impaired, and physically disabled persons, in the same way a business facility must offer wheelchair ramps, braille signage, and sign language interpreters, among other forms of assistance.
All websites must be properly coded for use by electronic screen readers that read aloud to sight-impaired users the visual elements of a webpage. Additionally, all live and pre-recorded audio content must have synchronous captioning for hearing-impaired users.
Websites must accommodate hundreds of keyboard combinations, such as Ctrl + P to print, that people with disabilities depend on to navigate the Internet.
Litigation continues to increase substantially. All business and governmental entities are potential targets for lawsuits and demand letters. Recent actions by the Department of Justice targeting businesses with inaccessible websites will likely create a dramatic increase of litigation risk.
Big box retailer Target Corp. was ordered to pay $6 million – plus $3.7 million more in legal costs – to settle a landmark class action suit brought by the National Federation of the Blind. Other recent defendants in these cases have included McDonald’s, Carnival Cruise Lines, Netflix, Harvard University, Foot Locker, and the National Basketball Association (NBA). Along with these large companies, thousands of small businesses have been subject to ADA website litigation.
Defendants in ADA lawsuits typically pay plaintiff's legal fees, their own legal fees for defending the litigation, and potential additional costs. In all, the average cost can range from tens of thousands of dollars, to above six figures. There are also high intangible costs, such as added stress, time and human capital, as well as reputational damage. Furthermore, if the remediation is incomplete, copycat suits and serial filers can follow, meaning double or triple the outlay. It's vital to implement a long-term strategy for ensuring your website is accessible and legally compliant.