How to Make Your Website ADA Compliant and Why It Matters

What Is ADA Compliance for Websites?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires businesses to make their services accessible to people with disabilities. While originally focused on physical spaces, courts and regulators increasingly interpret the law to include digital accessibility, meaning your website should be usable by everyone—including people with visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive disabilities.

Why ADA Compliance Matters for Your Business

• Avoid Legal Risks: Lawsuits related to website accessibility are rising. Non-compliant sites risk costly legal action.

• Reach More Customers: About 1 in 4 adults has some form of disability. Making your website accessible expands your audience.

• Boost SEO and Usability: Accessibility improvements often overlap with better SEO and overall user experience.

• Enhance Brand Reputation: Showing you care about inclusivity builds trust and loyalty with customers.

Key Steps to Make Your Website ADA Compliant

1. Use Clear, Consistent Navigation

Make menus and buttons easy to find and use. Use descriptive labels instead of vague terms like “click here.”

2. Add Alt Text to All Images

Alt text helps screen readers describe images to visually impaired users. Keep it clear and concise.

3. Ensure Keyboard Accessibility

Users who can’t use a mouse should be able to navigate your site using only the keyboard. Test tab orders and focus indicators.

4. Provide Captions and Transcripts for Media

Videos and audio content should have captions and transcripts for users with hearing impairments.

5. Use Sufficient Color Contrast

Text and background colors need enough contrast to be readable by users with color blindness or low vision.

6. Avoid Auto-Playing Content

Auto-play audio or video can disorient or annoy users, especially those using assistive technologies.

7. Design Forms for Accessibility

Label all form fields clearly, provide error messages, and ensure forms can be completed with a keyboard.

How WA Fisher Can Help

At WA Fisher, we build websites that are not only visually appealing but fully accessible and ADA compliant. We help local businesses protect themselves legally while reaching a wider, more diverse audience.

📞 Ready to make your website accessible for all?
Contact WA Fisher today to discuss your website compliance and accessibility upgrade.