As a business owner, it can be easy to overlook website accessibility; however, with one in four people in the United States having a disability, it is important to ensure everyone has the same access to all of your online resources.
When a website is not ADA-compliant, it excludes individuals with disabilities from the online experience.
It can also be quite costly. This type of negligence could not just lead to hefty fines and lawsuits but also lost opportunities for businesses from the disabled community, who could otherwise have turned into devoted customers.
ADA Compliance and Inclusivity
In this day and age, when businesses strive to be inclusive and accessible for all individuals regardless of ability or disability, failing to make sure your website is ADA-compliant can cause irreparable damage to your business’s reputation.
Therefore, investing energy into making sure your website is accessible to everyone should definitely be a priority for any business.
In this blog post, I will discuss why website accessibility matters and how you can make your website ADA-compliant. I will also provide some tips and resources to help you get started!
But First, What is the ADA?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law in 1990, is a milestone civil rights law that protects people with disabilities from discrimination in all areas of life, including the workplace, schools, and online.
As a result, disabled individuals have greater access to education, employment, and other important services that open pathways for increased social inclusion.
Celebrating 33 years of the Americans with disabilities act – an important milestone in the fight for equality and rights of people with disabilities
Those covered by the ADA also benefit from improved access to public places and transportation systems, as well as the right to equal access online.
In the 30+ years since its enactment, the ADA has significantly improved the lives of hundreds of millions of Americans living with disabilities; however, it’s important to remember its continual relevance since there is still work left to be done.
According to the National Council on Disability, despite significant progress, the progress has been uneven, and much remains to be done. With its ongoing enforcement and continued advocacy for disability rights and access, the ADA will help ensure a brighter future for millions of Americans with disabilities.