You may or may not be aware of the issue facing American business owners doing business online. Most business owners are aware of the need to comply with ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) regulations at their physical storefronts. However, they are unaware of their need to comply with ADA regulations with their digital storefronts, i.e. websites and mobile applications.
Do ADA regulations apply to my business?
Since 2017, lawsuits for noncompliance have been rising by 200% year over year, from frustrated, disabled consumers that are unable to access website content properly. This issue applies to ALL types of businesses, service-based, informational-based, or product-based. If you are a U.S. business, you need to abide by ADA regulation. It’s the law.
Are you at risk? The answer is, probably.
Website developers are just now catching up with ADA guidelines. To be honest, many website developers do not ensure their websites are fully compliant with ADA regulations, because there is no mandate that they do so. The sole responsibility for compliance is with the business owner.
Is this a joke? Not at all.
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3 WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY TIPS TO PROTECT BUSINESSES FROM COSTLY LAWSUITS
November 4, 2020/ By Michelle Calloway
You may or may not be aware of the issue facing American business owners doing business online. Most business owners are aware of the need to comply with ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) regulations at their physical storefronts. However, they are unaware of their need to comply with ADA regulations with their digital storefronts, i.e. websites and mobile applications.
Do ADA regulations apply to my business?
Since 2017, lawsuits for noncompliance have been rising by 200% year over year, from frustrated, disabled consumers that are unable to access website content properly. This issue applies to ALL types of businesses, service-based, informational-based, or product-based. If you are a U.S. business, you need to abide by ADA regulation. It’s the law.
Are you at risk? The answer is, probably.
Website developers are just now catching up with ADA guidelines. To be honest, many website developers do not ensure their websites are fully compliant with ADA regulations, because there is no mandate that they do so. The sole responsibility for compliance is with the business owner.
Is this a joke? Not at all.
Read this report from Channel 8 News. (https://www.wfla.com/8-on-your-side/better-call-behnken/businesses-sitting-ducks-for-lawsuits-because-websites-arent-ada-compliant/)
The reality is, we live in a digital world. People with disabilities have rights to be able to do business with you. If you exclude them from accessing your business content, you are discriminating against them.
What is the solution?
Luckily, artificial intelligence (AI) technology is able to address a large percentage of website compliance issues, rendering them far more accessible to people with disabilities, without the need to redesign the website or edit it’s contents.
HOWEVER, it is very important to note that the most powerful AI remediation engine can’t possibly address all of the noncompliance issues, especially for websites that offer downloadable content in the form of e-books, pdfs, slide decks, capability statements, media kits, etc.
The most preferred way to address your website’s compliance is to have your website manually remediated by an ADA website design expert. Once your website, and all of it’s contents meet 100% ADA compliance, your fear of being sued will dissipate, and you are set for exponential growth in the future by opening your virtual doors to an additional 20% of Americans.
The key to success in the accessibility arena is to show you are trying to be accessible. Most disabled consumers will appreciate that you are working on making your online business more accessible, and will not take legal action against you.
Where do I start?
Jerry Bowden is a legally blind, disabled U.S. Army veteran. He is also the President of REVEALiO Software and Media Solutions. He understands the pain that both disabled consumers, and business owners, are feeling regarding website accessibility.
The struggle is real for both sides. That is why REVEALiO and it’s partners, are offering ALL business owners an AI tool, (for free), called ADA Defender.
ADA Defender will begin to make your website more accessible by offering 12 tools for people with disabilities. This is the first step we recommend you take, because it doesn’t cost your business anything, AND it shows disabled consumers that you are trying.
The next step is to place an accessibility statement on your website that formally announces your intentions regarding your website’s accessibility. This can be done similar to a terms of service or privacy policy, and made available through a link on the footer of your website.
If you are interested in learning more about making your website ADA compliant to avoid a costly, and unnecessary lawsuit, schedule a call with our ADA specialist today. We care about your online business success and are here to both serve. and protect you.
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REVEALiO Software and Media Solutions is a minority-owned, service-disabled, veteran-owned company located in the San Francisco, Bay Area in California. We operate with integrity and transparency, and customer satisfaction is our top priority.
