Why ADA Compliance Matters for Your Website

Making your site more accessible is good for people and good for business.

ADA compliance can feel like a complicated topic, especially when it comes to websites. But accessibility online isn’t just a legal box to check, it’s about making sure everyone can use and benefit from your content.

Here’s what you need to know, what to watch out for, and where to start.

What is ADA compliance, and why is it important?

ADA stands for the Americans with Disabilities Act. It covers a broad range of accessibility standards, from wheelchair ramps to elevator access, but it also extends to the digital space.

When we talk about ADA compliance for websites, we’re referring to things like screen reader compatibility, color contrast, keyboard navigation, and more. It’s about making sure people with disabilities can access and interact with your site.

There are different rule sets and guidelines such as Section 508 and WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) that help define what makes a site accessible. ADA compliance is an umbrella term that brings all of this together.

Do all businesses need to follow these guidelines?

It’s highly recommended, but not yet required by law in all cases. That said, government and public-facing websites are under increasing pressure to comply. For example, depending on population, state and municipal websites will need to meet accessibility standards as early as 2026.

We’ve consulted with a representative within the U.S. Justice Department to better understand who enforces these rules and how. There isn’t a dedicated task force scanning websites for violations, rather, it’s complaint-driven. If someone with a disability can’t access your content (for example, because a screen reader can’t read a PDF or image), they can report it.

The expectation is that businesses or organizations will have a chance to fix the issue first. But if they ignore the complaint or refuse to fix it, the complaint may be escalated.

What are the risks of not being compliant?

While some companies may try to scare businesses into buying their services with threats of lawsuits, the real risk comes when accessibility issues are reported and go unaddressed.

The larger and more visible your brand, the greater your risk. There are sure to be law firms actively pursuing class-action lawsuits against companies with non-compliant websites, especially those that appear to have deep pockets.

But most legal action requires a few steps: someone encounters an issue, contacts the business, and only if they’re ignored or dismissed would things escalate. That’s why being proactive (or even just responsive) goes a long way.

What are the most common issues on non-compliant websites?

Two of the biggest issues we see:

1. Poor contrast between text and background
   A light gray font on a white background might look clean to most users, but it can be unreadable for someone with impaired vision. Make sure there’s enough contrast to meet accessibility standards.
   
   
2. Missing alt text on important images
   If an image on your site conveys key information, like a diagram or an event flyer, and it doesn’t include alt text or a written explanation, someone using a screen reader will miss that entirely.
   
   

There are other less common issues too, like PDFs that aren’t readable. If a scanned document is uploaded as a flat image, screen readers can’t process the text, making the content completely inaccessible.

What’s one easy change businesses can make today?

Start with a scan. Online tools can check your website for basic accessibility issues, contrast problems, missing alt text, and more.

We use the WAVE scanner during development to flag issues before they ever go live, but it’s also helpful for reviewing existing sites. Often, it only takes a few hours to clean up the biggest accessibility concerns.

But honestly? The best thing you can do is just be mindful. Accessibility doesn’t need to be the first thing on your list every day, but it should be on the list. If you’re unsure or overwhelmed, reach out. We’ve helped clients review and remediate their websites, and we’re happy to do the same for you.

A helpful resource

Accessibility standards do evolve, which can make it tough to keep up. One of our go-to resources is the Rocky Mountain ADA Center, which serves Colorado, the Dakotas, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming. They provide free, practical advice for businesses, especially when it comes to things like accessible PDFs and compliance guidance.