ADA / Accessibility Compliance Services
When the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) passed in 1990, the world wide web was in its infancy. Since then, the web has become tightly integrated into day-to-day life. Now, most Americans rely on the web for shopping, communication, and basic information. While governments and courts (both state and federal) have interpreted accessibility laws as applicable to websites and mobile apps, many site owners are unaware of these legal obligations or of the potential exposure to lawsuits. The past five years have brought an increase in the number of surf-by lawsuits against companies of all sizes. Web accessibility audits are an important tool for reducing your risk in this area.
Audits Address Common Accessibility Issues
Ideally, the agency that builds your website or mobile app will take care during the development process to adhere to accessibility standards, but this is often not the case. However, even when a website’s code initially adheres to all of the applicable Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), it is very common for regressions to be introduced as a website ages and is progressively modified. Furthermore, site editors and content creators frequently introduce content accessibility issues in the process of updating the site. The audit process can help determine areas in need of remediation in order to bring a website (back) into compliance with the ADA.
Establish an Audit Schedule to Reduce Risk
ADA compliance audits are also an important tool for keeping a website or app up to date. Just as many companies regularly subject themselves to security or SEO audits to maintain and ensure high quality standards, scheduling accessibility audits on an annual basis can ensure that accessibility standards are not ignored until it is too late. A regular audit schedule (along with a published accessibility statement) also serves, in a legal context, to demonstrate that any violations of WCAG standards are not evidence of neglect but rather a temporary issue that your company will readily address.