Making your website accessible isn’t just a best practice — it’s a legal and business necessity. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), organizations must ensure their digital spaces are usable by individuals with disabilities. In this guide, you’ll learn why ADA website compliance matters, how to audit your site effectively, and simple steps to create a more inclusive online experience.
What is ADA Website Compliance?
ADA website compliance ensures that your website is accessible to people with disabilities, giving everyone the ability to navigate, interact with, and use your online services. To achieve ADA compliance, businesses typically follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which outline key standards for removing digital barriers.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), all businesses, nonprofits, and public organizations that offer goods or services to the public are required to maintain accessible websites. Whether you’re a small business in Nashville, a growing company expanding nationally, or a healthcare provider serving local and remote patients, ADA website compliance is essential to meet legal standards and serve all users equally.
Why ADA Compliance is Critical for Your Business
Reach a Wider Audience
ADA website compliance allows businesses to serve the millions of individuals in the United States living with disabilities. By making your website accessible, you open your digital doors to a broader customer base, including the 1 in 4 adults who experience some form of disability. Whether you’re a small business in Nashville or a nationwide brand, accessibility ensures that everyone can engage with your services.
Avoid Legal Risks
Failing to comply with ADA website requirements can expose your business to costly lawsuits, legal penalties, and reputational harm. In recent years, thousands of companies have faced legal action for inaccessible websites. Proactively addressing ADA compliance reduces your legal risks and demonstrates your commitment to providing equal access to all users.
Improve Website Usability for All Users
Website accessibility benefits everyone — not just individuals with disabilities. Features like clear navigation, alternative text for images, and properly labeled forms improve the experience for all users, including seniors, mobile users, and people with temporary impairments. A more accessible website leads to higher user satisfaction, better engagement, and stronger brand loyalty.
Common ADA Compliance Issues to Watch For
-
Missing Alternative Text for Images
Without alt text, screen readers cannot describe images to visually impaired users, creating barriers to understanding content. -
Poor Color Contrast
Text that blends into the background can be difficult for users with visual impairments to read, reducing overall accessibility. -
Inaccessible Forms
Forms without proper labels, instructions, or error messages can be impossible to complete for users relying on assistive technology. -
Lack of Keyboard Navigation
Websites that cannot be fully navigated by keyboard alone limit access for users who cannot operate a mouse. -
Non-Descriptive Link Text
Links labeled only as “click here” or “read more” provide no context for screen readers or users scanning with assistive devices. -
Missing Video Captions and Transcripts
Videos without captions or text alternatives exclude users who are deaf or hard of hearing from accessing the content. -
Unstructured Content and Headings
Pages without clear headings and logical structure make it difficult for screen readers and users with cognitive disabilities to follow the content flow.
How to Conduct an ADA Website Compliance Audit
An ADA website compliance audit evaluates how accessible your website is for users with disabilities and identifies barriers that need to be corrected. There are two main methods for conducting an audit: automated tools and manual evaluations.
Automated vs. Manual ADA Audits
| Method | Description | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automated Audit | Software scans your website to flag common accessibility issues. | Fast, cost-effective for basic issues. | May miss nuanced problems that require human judgment. |
| Manual Audit | Accessibility experts review your site against WCAG standards. | Thorough, identifies complex or hidden issues. | More time-intensive and higher initial cost. |
Best practice:
A combination of both automated and manual audits delivers the most complete and reliable results.
Steps to Conduct an ADA Website Compliance Audit
-
1. Select Audit Tools and/or Experts
Choose an automated scanning tool and/or hire accessibility experts experienced with WCAG and ADA standards. -
2. Scan the Website
Perform an automated scan to quickly identify obvious issues like missing alt text or low color contrast. -
3. Conduct a Manual Evaluation
Review page structures, navigation, forms, media content, and interactive features manually against WCAG 2.1 guidelines. -
4. Document Accessibility Barriers
Create a detailed report outlining all identified issues, ranked by severity and impact. -
5. Develop a Remediation Plan
Prioritize and plan updates to address accessibility barriers, starting with the most critical problems. -
6. Implement Changes
Update your website content, design, and code based on the audit findings and the remediation plan. -
7. Test Again After Changes
Re-audit the website after making improvements to verify that accessibility barriers have been successfully removed.
Why ADA Compliance Audits Should Be Conducted Regularly
Accessibility is not a one-time project — it’s an ongoing commitment. New content updates, design changes, and evolving web standards can reintroduce accessibility barriers over time. Conducting ADA website audits annually — or whenever major site changes occur — ensures your website remains inclusive, compliant, and user-friendly for all visitors.
5 Key Steps to Achieving Website ADA Compliance
-
Conduct an Accessibility Audit
Start by assessing your website’s current accessibility through both automated scans and manual reviews based on WCAG guidelines. -
Implement Accessible Design Principles
Apply best practices such as strong color contrast, alternative text for images, descriptive link labels, and ensuring full keyboard navigability across your site. -
Remediate Accessibility Issues
Prioritize fixing identified barriers, from redesigning non-compliant elements to updating content for better accessibility and user experience. -
Train Your Team
Educate developers, designers, and content creators about ADA compliance requirements to ensure accessibility is maintained in future updates. -
Monitor and Re-Audit Regularly
Accessibility is ongoing. Regular audits after major updates and annual reviews help keep your website compliant as standards evolve and new content is added.
ADA Compliance Audit FAQs
What is an ADA website compliance audit?
An ADA website compliance audit is a professional review that identifies barriers preventing people with disabilities from accessing your website. It measures how well your site meets recognized standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and provides a roadmap for making necessary improvements.
How often should ADA audits be conducted?
ADA audits should be conducted at least once a year or whenever major changes are made to your website. Regular audits help ensure ongoing compliance as web content, design, and accessibility standards evolve over time.
What tools are used for ADA audits?
ADA audits typically involve a combination of automated accessibility scanners and manual expert evaluations. Automated tools quickly detect surface-level issues, while manual reviews ensure deeper compliance with WCAG 2.1 standards, capturing problems software might miss.
What happens if my website isn’t ADA compliant?
Failure to maintain ADA compliance can result in lawsuits, financial penalties, and reputational damage. More importantly, it creates barriers for millions of users who may be unable to access your services online.
How much does an ADA audit cost?
The cost of an ADA audit varies depending on the size, complexity, and structure of your website. Most providers, including Atiba, offer customized quotes to ensure accessibility services are affordable and tailored to each business’s specific needs.
Why Choose Atiba for Your ADA Compliance Needs
Atiba has decades of experience helping businesses across a wide range of industries achieve ADA website compliance. From healthcare and education to e-commerce and technology, we understand the unique accessibility challenges that different sectors face — and how to solve them.
Our proven audit process combines powerful automated scanning tools with meticulous manual reviews based on the latest WCAG standards. We don’t just flag accessibility issues — we provide you with a detailed, prioritized roadmap for making your website fully inclusive.
Beyond the initial audit, Atiba offers ongoing support to help you implement changes and maintain compliance over time. Accessibility isn’t a one-time fix, and we partner with you to ensure your digital assets stay accessible as your business evolves.
We believe that achieving ADA compliance should be straightforward and affordable. That’s why Atiba offers customized service plans tailored to the size, complexity, and goals of your website — so you can improve accessibility without breaking your budget.
Take the Next Step: Schedule Your ADA Compliance Audit with Atiba
Ready to make your website accessible to everyone and protect your business from legal risks? Atiba’s team of accessibility experts is here to guide you through the ADA compliance process with professionalism, transparency, and proven results.
Contact Atiba today to schedule your ADA website compliance audit and start building a more inclusive digital presence.