Testing & Remediation Archives- Page 4 of 4/Category

How Much Does Web Remediation Cost
For many businesses, one of the biggest barriers to web accessibility is the fear of how much it might cost. However, most people are a bit cloudy about what it does cost to make a website accessible. Or even the steps involved.

In this post, we suggest a framework to help you determine how much it will cost to make your website accessible with 216digital, and discuss the role of compliance in web accessibility.

Why Does Web Accessibility Matter?

Before we get into the basics of web remediation, it’s worth clarifying why it matters.

There are some clear ethical reasons to make sure everyone can access your website, regardless of their abilities. In the United States alone, up to 1 in 4 adults have a disability. If your site is not accessible, you may be turning away a large portion of the population.

There’s also an element of compliance and risk mitigation.

Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits private businesses and other places of public accommodation from discrimination based on disability. Moreover, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has continuously reiterated that the ADA does apply to websites.

If your website is not accessible, you may be exposing your business to the threat of legal action. In fact, more than 4,000 lawsuits were filed in the United States in 2022.

How Can I Make Sure My Website is ADA Compliant?

The ADA requires that businesses ensure equal access to their goods and services, including websites. One of the best ways to mitigate risk is to follow the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). WCAG is the set of guidelines created by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities. By complying with these guidelines, you can ensure your website is accessible to all users.

For more information on WCAG, check out our post What are the Levels of WCAG Compliance.

Determining the Cost of Compliance for Your Website

Imagine asking a mechanic for a quote without specifying what’s wrong with the vehicle. You probably wouldn’t get the answers you’re looking for.

Web accessibility usually works the same way. However, the cost of web accessibility can vary depending on the size and complexity of your website, the level of compliance you need to achieve, and the resources you have available. Factors that influence cost include:
- The number of pages on your site
- The complexity of the site’s features, including forms, interactive elements, or plugins
- The number and complexity of accessibility barriers
- The approach to manual remediation
- The complexity of the website’s environment or platform
- If there is a pending lawsuit, the number of listed barriers in the complaint
Why Do You Want Your Website to Be Accessible?

If remediation has no one-size-fits-all price, how do you determine its cost? Start by figuring out why you want your website or online application to be accessible / ADA-compliant.

Do you want to prevent an ADA web accessibility lawsuit?

Have you received an ADA web accessibility lawsuit?

Do you want to be fully inclusive?

Are you looking for ongoing ADA monitoring?

While you might think the focus for each of these goals would all be WCAG 2.1 AA compliance, it’s not. Instead, over a five-year period, our team of ADA experts analyzed and dissected the process of how 48 law firms select and target websites for ADA lawsuits. The results were surprising as it has little to do with real-world accessibility. But, sadly, even achieving WCAG 2.1 compliance can’t guarantee you won’t get hit with an ADA lawsuit because of the way law firms target websites for ADA lawsuits.

That’s why at 216digital, we have developed different services based on your ADA business objectives to put you in a position of strength.

Do You Want to Prevent an ADA Web Accessibility Lawsuit?

Our ADA Quick Audit is a fast and simple way to measure your website’s visibility to ADA non-compliance lawsuits. Through our years of experience in the trenches analyzing and studying these cases, we were able to develop internal monitoring processes and tools to determine their targeting process in which many of the prolific ADA non-compliance lawsuit firms identify their targets. As a result, we realized that the vast majority of cases are based on the results of automated scanning tools, so we developed ADA Quick Audit as a way for business owners to get ahead of the game and dramatically reduce their risk.

Have You Received an ADA Web Accessibility Lawsuit?

Our Phase I ADA Remediation project plans are custom developed to chart the steps you can take to quickly put your company in a position of strength to settle your ADA lawsuit and add the safeguards to ensure you’ll never have to waste another minute of your time on a frivolous ADA lawsuit. Each Phase I ADA remediation project includes an ADA Phase I remediation plan, timeline, staff training, and ongoing monitoring services.

Do You Want to be Fully Inclusive?

For individuals with disabilities or impairments, navigating online is a personalized and delicate process, as should the auditing process. However, more than half the work contributes nothing to ADA risk mitigation. So, why let real-world compliance hijack your development backlog with all the competing website enhancements that could add value to your business?

Real-World Accessibility on Your Terms means developing a strategy to integrate WCAG 2.1 compliance into your development roadmap as part of the development process. Our Web Accessibility Professionals will evaluate and examine the accessibility level of your website’s UI, source code, usability, and design. Then they will implement solutions focused on three key areas:
- Screen reader and assistive technology compatibility
- Keyboard-only navigation, operation, and orientation
- UI and design
Are You Looking for an ADA Monitoring Service

You’ve devoted countless hours and resources to making your website accessible. However, achieving WCAG 2.1 compliance can’t guarantee you won’t get hit with an ADA lawsuit.

We have found the majority of our clients had the same question – how can we make sure this doesn’t happen again, and who do we reach out to if we need further WCAG 2.1 AA expertise?

Whether you’ve already been served with an ADA non-compliance lawsuit or want to prevent being targeted, Accessibility Radar is a hands-off way to ensure you stay out of the crosshairs.

a11y.Radar ADA monitoring service reports on your ongoing accessibility efforts, whether conducted by your internal digital teams or an outside web agency. Access enhanced dashboards and receive updates to content, code, and user experience that could pose potential blocks to users or threaten your accessibility standards.

As a business owner, you have enough to worry about. So leave it 216digital to ensure you remain compliant.

Why Partner with 216digital?

Most web accessibility remediation agencies go straight for WCAG 2.1 AA compliance. Often, delivering automated audits identify accessibility barriers with little to no help in fixing them or maintaining your accessibility.

216digital intentionally focuses on identifying and remediating just the barriers that got you sued in the first place, putting you in a position of strength to settle your case sooner and prevent copycat lawsuits. To learn more about how the ADA experts at 216digital can help build an ADA WCAG 2.1 compliance strategy to achieve ongoing, real-world accessibility on your terms, schedule a complimentary 15-minute ADA Strategy Briefing with our experts.
Greg McNeil

April 10, 2023

Testing & Remediation

Accessibility, ADA Compliance, ADA Website Compliance, Website Accessibility
What is a Web Accessibility Audit and Why It Matters
Have you ever thought about how easy it is for you to navigate the internet and access information? For some people, it isn’t as simple. Web accessibility is all about making the internet more inclusive so everyone, including those with disabilities, can use it without any barriers. One way to ensure web accessibility is through a web accessibility audit. But what is it, and why does it matter? Let’s dive in and explore!

What is a Web Accessibility Audit?

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a set of intentionally shared standards. Those standards define how to make web content more accessible for all users — including people with disabilities.

A web accessibility audit is a series of tests using WCAG’s success criteria, which are written as pass-or-fail statements. These audits identify potential barriers on your website that need improvement, ensuring compliance with the WCAG and enhancing the overall user experience.

To make your website accessible for all users, you should regularly audit your online content using the latest version of WCAG (WCAG 2.1 as of August 2022, with WCAG 2.2 expected for release in April 2023).

Why Are Web Accessibility Audits Important?

The real question is: why commit to removing barriers from your website?

It’s not just good business to make your website accessible to all users. In the United States alone, up to 1 in 4 adults have a disability. If your site is not accessible, you may be turning away a large portion of the population.

There are also legal risks to having inaccessible content on your site. Many countries have laws requiring websites to be accessible, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Failing to comply could expose your business to the threat of legal action, including lawsuits and fines. For example, more than 4,000 ADA lawsuits were filed in the United States in 2022.

Many websites have accessibility issues that can make it difficult or impossible for people with disabilities to use them. That’s why web accessibility audits are so important. They provide a clear set of rules that you can use to evaluate your content.

What Is the Goal of a WCAG Audit?

For a successful audit, you’ll need to start with a clear goal. WCAG is organized into three levels of conformance:

WCAG Level A

WCAG Level A is the minimum level of conformance. Level A contains essential success criteria for removing serious accessibility barriers that affect a wide range of users. However, Level A issues do not impact the design or structure of the website. Failure to fulfill will result in an inaccessible website and will be impossible or exceedingly difficult for users with disabilities to use.

WCAG Level AA

WCAG Level AA conformance is a reasonable and achievable goal. It removes additional barriers and establishes a level of accessibility that works for most assistive technologies, such as screen readers. For this reason, the Department of Justice has referenced WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards in a number of settlements and court filings.

WCAG Level AAA

The most strict level of conformance, Level AAA contains additional success criteria to establish the highest possible level of accessibility. Unfortunately, it is also the most challenging level to achieve. While this level of compliance would be ideal, it is optional. W3 states they do not recommend or require Level AAA compliance for an entire website since it is impossible to achieve Level AAA for some content.

Key Considerations When Choosing a Web Accessibility Audit Tool

While dozens of resources are available for automated WCAG audits, they vary in features and capabilities. Some factors to consider when choosing an audit tool:
- Scope: Every page on your website must conform with WCAG, not just your homepage.
- Timeframe: To maintain compliance, you must test your website whenever content changes.
- Remediation Capabilities: Most audit tools will identify WCAG conformance issues but won’t fix them.
At 216digital, we believe that the best way to achieve and maintain an accessible website is a combination of automated tools and human testing.

What Does an Accessibility Audit Process Involve?

An automated web accessibility audit and a manual audit are two different methods of evaluating a website’s compliance with accessibility standards. Each method has its strengths and weaknesses, and they are often used together to provide a comprehensive accessibility evaluation.

Automated Tools

Automated audits, such as Lighthouse, WAVE, and Firefox Inspector, are used to scan your website for accessibility barriers. These tools provide quick insights into potential problems, such as missing alt text, improper heading structures, and broken links. The results from these tools come in the form of a report, which can be used as a starting point to improve accessibility.

While automated testing is a great starting point, it cannot identify all accessibility issues. Manual testing is necessary to ensure your website is genuinely accessible. For example, an automated test might not detect if the alternative text for an image is appropriate, while a manual test by an experienced evaluator can.

Manual Audit

Manual audits are more thorough and time-consuming, but they provide a more accurate assessment of website accessibility. A manual review involves a human evaluator assessing your website for accessibility issues that automated tools may not identify. It consists of testing a website using various assistive technologies, such as keyboard-only navigation, screen reader testing, and evaluating color contrast.

Can I Complete a Web Accessibility Audit Myself?

It may be tempting to do your own accessibility audit—especially when you hear about automated tools. However, the difference is all in the experience. Web accessibility experts can find issues that automation and untrained staff can’t, fix the errors, and identify false positives.

Manual and functional testing is an indispensable component of a complete, professional accessibility audit. If your audit skips these steps, you will leave your business exposed to the threat of legal action.

When Should I Start Testing for ADA Web Compliance?

It’s best to start testing for WCAG compliance as early as possible, ideally during the design and development stages of your website. This way, you can address any issues before they become more challenging and costly to fix. However, it’s never too late to begin the process. Even if your website is already live, you can still conduct an audit and make improvements.

Regardless of where you are on your journey, we’re here to help. At 216digital, we can help develop a strategy to integrate WCAG 2.1 compliance into your development roadmap on your terms. To learn more about how the ADA experts at 216digital can help build an ADA WCAG 2.1 compliance strategy to achieve ongoing, real-world accessibility on your terms, schedule an ADA Strategy Briefing.
Greg McNeil

April 10, 2023

Testing & Remediation
Debunking Common Web Accessibility Myths

“Web accessibility is too expensive.“

“There’s no real business value to making my website accessible.“

These are just a few of the concerns we hear when talking to organizations about web accessibility for the first time. And while it’s easy enough to poke holes in each one, it’s worth mentioning these myths are one of the many reasons digital accessibility lags so far behind.

To better understand why online businesses are slow to build accessible experiences, let’s debunk some of these myths and explain why web accessibility is essential for your business.

Common Myths in Website Accessibility

Common misconceptions about web accessibility have impacted the way organizations approach any accessibility initiative — particularly when it comes to time, cost, and compliance. Here’s what we learned.

Myth: There Are No Benefits to an Accessible Website

Why is digital accessibility so important? We can all agree that delivering an equal browsing experience to every user is the right thing to do. However, there are other benefits, like improved search engine optimization (SEO).

Many of the same principles for good SEO overlap with web accessibility best practices. Companies spend tens of thousands of dollars every year to improve their searchability. Search engines rank websites based on the content and user experience.By working on one, we enhance the other. After all, a better user experience for your visitors also offers a better understanding to search crawlers.

Myth: Web Accessibility Only Affects Those Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision

Most believe visual impairments are the most prominent disability an inaccessible website can impact. However, web accessibility can benefit several impairments, including hearing, cognitive, and motor. In fact, mobility and cognitive impairments affect a higher percentage of the population than visual.

That means digital accessibility is essential for people who cannot move their limbs and require a switch device. Similarly, people with dyslexia need the option to change fonts or line spacing.

The bottom line is an accessible website benefits users of all abilities. And your website’s design doesn’t have to suffer in the process.

Myth: Web Accessibility Means Redesigning My Entire Website

Most online business owners believe that providing an accessible online experience means starting from scratch — redesigning and developing the entire site. That, without exception, sounds both time-consuming and expensive. While we agree that it’s ideal to design an accessible website from the first line of code, it’s not feasible for the millions of existing sites.

However, it is often possible to make a website accessible by making minor adjustments, such as adding alternative text to images, adding focus outlines on interactive elements, and ensuring that videos have closed captions. These changes can significantly improve the website’s accessibility without requiring a complete redesign.

Myth: Using Automated Tools On My Site is All I Need to Make It Accessible

Automation is a powerful tool that is getting better all the time. But automation alone cannot identify and fix every accessibility error. In fact, automated scans can only detect 30% of barriers for users with disabilities. The limited scope of even the most advanced automation will leave many compliance issues unresolved and your company at risk.

That’s not to say automated tools are not a great starting point. However, it’s essential to think of them as a tool in a more extensive toolkit, including regular monitoring, manual testing, and reporting.

At 216digital, we believe in a hybrid approach. That combines the speed of automation with the precision of manual auditing to achieve and maintain an accessible website.

For more information about automated tools and ADA web compliance, check out the article, Are Web Accessibility Testing Tools Enough to Ensure Compliance.

Myth: Screen overlays can make my website compliant and protect me from an ADA lawsuit

Screen overlay products, also known as accessibility widgets or plugins, can help make a website more accessible to users with disabilities. Still, they do not guarantee that a website will fully comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other accessibility guidelines.

These products typically provide a range of accessibility features, such as increasing text size, changing the background color, and providing alternative text descriptions for images. However, they do not address all of the accessibility issues that a website may have. For example, they may not address issues related to the structure and organization of content, or the use of appropriate headings and labels.

Additionally, these products do not address the issue of accessibility for users who are using assistive technologies such as screen readers. These technologies rely on the underlying code of the website, and a screen overlay does not address these barriers.

While these products can be a helpful tool for improving accessibility, they should not be considered a substitute for a comprehensive accessibility audit and remediation process to mitigate ADA lawsuit risk. Approximately 600 companies with an accessibility widget installed on their websites were hit with ADA accessibility lawsuits in 2022.

Myth: Web Accessibility Litigation is Frivolous and Invalid

Shockingly, most online companies believe accessibility lawsuits have no merit. Yet huge brand-named companies, such as Domino’s, have also been targeted with frivolous ADA lawsuits.

But huge name brands aren’t the only ones. Thousands of small and mid-size businesses face legal action. If you think your business is small enough to fly under the radar and avoid litigation, you’re wrong. Many mom-and-pop restaurants and small stores have recently fought and lost website accessibility lawsuits.

Failure to provide an accessible website can result in legal action and potentially significant financial penalties. Therefore, it’s crucial to take web accessibility seriously and ensure your website is accessible to everyone.

Fact: Web Accessibility is Smart Business

You’re not alone if you’ve fallen victim to believing some of these common myths and misconceptions. In ethical terms, individuals of all abilities deserve the right to barrier-free web use. And as we’ve seen, there are strong legal incentives for ensuring that your website is as accessible as possible. But you can take action.

216digital has made it easier to achieve website accessibility compliance without breaking your budget, taking all of your time, or completely redesigning your website. We can help develop a strategy to integrate WCAG 2.1 compliance into your development roadmap on your terms.

To learn more about how the ADA experts at 216digital can help build an ADA WCAG 2.1 compliance strategy to achieve ongoing, real-world accessibility on your terms, schedule an ADA Strategy Briefing.

Greg McNeil

March 14, 2023

Legal Compliance, Testing & Remediation, WCAG Compliance

ADA Compliance, ADA Website Compliance, Website Accessibility
Web Accessibility & the Disabled Access Tax Credit: Who Qualifies, and Key Stipulations
“Tax season” and “good news” don’t naturally go together. However, there is good news for small businesses that have already invested in web accessibility: the Disabled Access Credit. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers a tax credit through form 8826 to help recoup some of the cost of making your website more accessible to individuals with disabilities. If you haven’t already made your website more accessible, these tax incentives might help put ADA compliance in your web development plans this year.

What is the Disabled Access Tax Credit?

The Disabled Access Tax Credit is a tax incentive providing small businesses with gross receipts of one million dollars and less or those that employ 30 or fewer full-time employees, that have made accessibility improvements to their website. This credit can help offset the costs of those modifications and provide financial relief to small businesses working to make their spaces accessible to everyone.

Unlike tax deductions that reduce taxable income or the tax owed, a tax credit gets subtracted from the tax owed. For example, the Disabled Access tax credit covers 50% of the eligible expenditures made during the previous tax year, with a maximum limit of $10,250.

Does the Disabled Access Tax Credit cover Web Accessibility?

Yes, the Disabled Access Tax Credit covers website accessibility as web accessibility is becoming increasingly important. The Department of Justice in 2018 stated that websites are considered a place of public accommodations, Therefore, the ADA covers websites and mandates accessibility in the digital space, allowing the Disabled Access tax credit to be applied to businesses that invest in owning and operating accessible sites.

Many accessibility practices or implementation types qualify as expenditures. Still, there are several accessibility elements when calculating your annual accessibility fee. These include web accessibility solutions or tools that optimize websites. Here are some key variables to consider in your annual accessibility fee:
- Website Modifications
- Page Format and Hierarchy
- Live Chat Services
- File and Media Fixes
- Consulting Service Fees
Eligibility for the Disabled Access Tax Credit

The Disabled Access Tax Credit is available to small businesses with a maximum of $1 million in annual revenue or fewer than 30 full-time employees. The development costs associated with the necessary changes to the website to make it more accessible with the standards outlined in the ADA such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) for websites to be eligible. This includes adding alternative text to images, providing video captions, and ensuring the website can be navigated using only a keyboard.

What are the Stipulations?

The good news is that the Disabled Access Tax Credit can be applied for and earned annually. However, you can’t carry expenditures over to claim a credit exceeding the prior year’s expenditure limit. But, if the credit amount exceeds the taxes you owe, you can roll the unused credit into the following year.

The Disabled Access Tax Credit covers the following accessibility and ADA-related expenditures:
- Web accessibility & optimization
- Language interpreters
- Adaptive equipment
- Printed materials
- Elimination of physical obstacles
- General consulting
Is It a One-Time Deal?

No, in fact you can get this credit any year ADA accessibility work is done on your website. This tax break is such a powerful incentive that many small businesses have adopted a policy of annual ADA accessibility website audit/ reviews.

How to Apply for the Disabled Access Tax Credit

There is no need to apply, simply complete the IRS Form 8826 and submit it with your yearly tax return. In addition, it must include information about the accessibility improvements made, the expenses incurred, and the credit calculation. You can find Form 8826 on the IRS government website, where you can further research the rules and stipulations regarding the Disabled Access Tax Credit. You can also read more on the IRS Tax Credits and Deductions page on the Americans with Disabilities Act website.

Don’t forget to consult with a tax professional before you send in your comprehensive return files. If your tax professional is unaware of the Disabled Access Tax Credit, tell them the form number (8826). They can quickly fill out the form and state the amount spent on accessibility efforts, speeding up the process and ensuring it’s correct!

Web Accessibility & the Disabled Access Tax Credit

The 8826 form can be a valuable tool for small businesses that engage ADA accessibility developers to work on their websites. The 8826 Disabled Access Tax credit has made it possible for many small businesses to make ADA remediation an ongoing process to ensure the website remains accessible to all users. By making sure your website is compliant and accessible, you can help ensure that your business is reaching the widest possible audience and staying in compliance with the law.

Suppose you are a small business owner looking to make your website more accessible and take advantage of the Disabled Access Tax Credit. In that case, we encourage you to reach out and schedule a 15-minute ADA Briefing with our web accessibility experts at 216digital.
Greg McNeil

February 14, 2023

Testing & Remediation, The Benefits of Web Accessibility

Accessibility, ADA Compliance, ADA Website Compliance, Website Accessibility
Are Web Accessibility Testing Tools Enough to Ensure Compliance
As the internet continues to grow and evolve, the importance of website accessibility becomes ever more crucial. A website’s accessibility is not just a matter of convenience but a matter of civil rights as well. This is why website accessibility checkers have become a popular tool for many web designers and developers. They help identify potential barriers that could make a site difficult for those with disabilities.

However, while website accessibility testing tools are a great starting point, they are not a comprehensive solution for ensuring website accessibility. Relying solely on website accessibility testing tools can be a dangerous mistake that could leave your website inaccessible to a significant portion of your target audience.

What Are Website Accessibility Testing Tools?

Automated website accessibility testing, such as Lighthouse, WAVE, and Firefox Inspector, automate the process of checking a website for accessibility barriers. These tools can quickly scan a website and identify potential accessibility barriers, such as missing alt text, improper header structures, and broken links. The results from these tools come in the form of a report. This can be used as a starting point to improve accessibility.

Do Website Accessibility Testing Tools Provide False Sense of Security?

Website accessibility testing tools are valuable in identifying potential barriers to accessibility. However, it’s important to note that website accessibility testing tools are not perfect.

Limited Detection of Web Accessibility Barriers

Automated testing tools are limited by the algorithms and data sets they use to identify accessibility issues. As a result, they can only detect what they are programmed to and might miss some critical accessibility barriers. For example, website accessibility testing tools cannot test for keyboard accessibility, essential for individuals who use assistive technology to navigate the web. In addition, automated testing tools can only detect about 30% of accessibility issues. The remaining 70% of barriers can only be detected through manual testing by a person.

This is why passing website scans can provide a false sense of security if a manual audit is not included as part of the accessibility review process. By incorporating a manual accessibility audit into your review, the pitfall of your website passing one or more automated accessibility checks but still be non-compliant and inaccessible can be avoided.

Inaccurate Results and False Positives

There’s another potential issue to remember when using automated web accessibility testing tools, inaccurate results or false positives. This occurs when an accessibility test identifies a barrier that does not exist, leading you to fix issues that are not necessary.

What are False Positives?

Automated accessibility tools analyze patterns within your website’s code and markup. Most tools compare your website’s code to the international standard for digital accessibility, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Some WCAG guidelines have simple pass-or-fail resets. For example, WCAG requires alternative text for non-text content, such as images. If an image does not contain an alt tag, that is considered a “fail.” However, other issues that require a deeper understanding of context are limited to AI tools, which result in false positives. For example:
- Some images, such as logos and dividers, are purely decorative and do not require alt text. However, they must be implemented in a way assistive technologies can ignore. WCAG Success Criterion (SC) 1.1.1, “Non-text Content,”
- Purely decorative text or low-contrast logotypes do not violate WCAG’s color contrast requirements. However, automated tools can not determine what text qualifies for these exceptions. WCAG 2.1 SC 1.4.3, “Contrast (Minimum)”
- Content that contains the WAI-ARIA aria-hidden attributes. While WAI-ARIA aria-hidden attributes are not also necessary, there are legitimate reasons to use aria-hidden to hide content from AT.
While this is not a comprehensive list, many WCAG criteria have exceptions for certain types of content. Unfortunately, the WCAG guidelines are to complex for automated tools to provide accurate feedback on all accessibility barriers. However, the purpose of accessibility is to accommodate real users, not AI tools.

Don’t Rely On Web Accessibility Testing Tools Alone

While web accessibility testing tools are beneficial, they should not be relied on alone. Instead, automated tests need to be combined with a manual review from a web accessibility expert to remove all accessibility barriers.

Manual Audits

Manual audits are more thorough and time-consuming, but they provide a more accurate assessment of website accessibility. A manual review involves evaluating a website by using a combination of tools and human judgment. It consists of testing a website using various assistive technologies. This includes screen readers, keyboard navigation, and magnifiers, to simulate the experience of individuals with disabilities. Manual testing can help to identify the remaining 70% of barriers that automated testing tools cannot find, such as poor alt tags, confusing navigation, and inaccessible forms.

A manual review can also ensure that website accessibility guidelines are being met. For example, the WCAG guidelines state that websites must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. A manual review can ensure these guidelines are met by evaluating the website’s content, structure, and functionality.

In Conclusion

Website accessibility testing tools and manual review are crucial for ensuring web compliance. While website accessibility testing tools help identify potential accessibility issues, a comprehensive manual review is necessary for full accessibility. In addition, manual reviews can identify barriers that automated testing tools cannot and ensure that website accessibility guidelines are met.

In conclusion, ensuring a website is accessible to everyone is not only a matter of convenience but also a matter of civil rights. A combination of website accessibility testing tools and manual review can help to ensure that websites are accessible and compliant with WCAG guidelines.

For guidance with your accessibility initiative, schedule an ADA Strategy Briefing today to connect with a web accessibility expert at 216digital.
Greg McNeil

February 13, 2023

Testing & Remediation

Accessibility, ADA Compliance, ADA Website Compliance, Website Accessibility, Website Accessibility Tools
Why Your Business Needs an ADA Website Accessibility Strategy Now

As a business owner, you have a legal and, some would argue, moral obligation to provide equal access to all users, including those with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal law that requires all businesses to provide equal access to their goods and services to individuals with disabilities. This law applies not only to physical locations but also to websites and online services, making it essential for businesses to ensure their digital presence is accessible to all users. Failure to do so can result in significant liability.

However, despite the clear benefits of having an accessible website, many businesses have yet to implement a strategy for ADA website accessibility. This article will explore why companies must develop a plan for ADA website accessibility and how.

What is Web Accessibility?

One of the main components of ADA website accessibility is ensuring that websites are accessible to individuals with disabilities. This means that websites must be usable by individuals who are blind, deaf, or have limited mobility. This includes text alternatives for visual or audio content, easy-to-use navigation, and appropriately labeled and structured forms or input fields.

Why is ADA website accessibility important?

ADA website accessibility ensures that all individuals, regardless of their abilities, have equal access to information and services on your website. This includes individuals with visual, auditory, physical, and cognitive disabilities. A website that is not accessible can prevent these individuals from accessing information, making purchases, and interacting with your business.

Additionally, the number of ADA accessibility lawsuits filed against companies has increased dramatically in recent years. Unfortunately, the trend shows no signs of slowing down, and businesses of all sizes risk being sued. Even small companies with limited resources are vulnerable, as they are often seen as easy targets by plaintiffs looking to win settlements.

Why Should Businesses Develop a Strategy for ADA Website Accessibility?

There are several reasons why you need to develop a strategy for ADA website accessibility and liability now.

Legal Compliance

The ADA requires businesses to make their websites and online content accessible to individuals with visual, auditory, physical, and cognitive impairments. By ensuring your website is accessible, you could mitigate frivolous ADA lawsuits, fines, and negative publicity.

In recent years, there has been a sharp increase in lawsuits related to website accessibility. In 2022, there were 2,387 web accessibility lawsuits filed in Federal Court and California State Court under the Unruh Act. However, industry insiders say 97% of demand letters are settled and never evolve into a lawsuit. This means plaintiffs sent more than 1,500 demand letters per week in 2022.

User Experience

By making your website accessible, you provide a better user experience for all visitors. This not only shows that you care about your customers, but it also helps you to stand out from your competitors. This includes adding alternative text for images, providing video captions, and using simple, straightforward language for all content. In addition, it helps to improve the overall usability of your website. Making it easier to navigate, and providing a better overall experience for your customers.

Brand Reputation

Having an accessible website reflects your brand’s values and commitment to inclusiveness. Demonstrating your commitment to accessibility can help improve your brand reputation and credibility, leading to increased customer loyalty and sales.

Improved Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

When you make your website accessible to people with disabilities, you are also making it easier for search engines to crawl and index your site. In addition, search engines like Google prioritize websites that are accessible and user-friendly. This can help improve your search engine rankings, increasing traffic and higher visibility for your business.

Increased Reach and Potential Customers

Making your website accessible to individuals with disabilities can increase your website traffic. According to the World Health Organization, around 15% of the world’s population lives with some form of disability. By making your website accessible, you can tap into this large and growing market that the competition might overlook. As a result, you can reach a wider audience and expand your potential customer base.

How Can Businesses Develop a Strategy for ADA Website Accessibility?

Businesses must have a strategy for implementing web accessibility and managing potential ADA website liability. This includes having a plan for responding to any possible ADA-related complaints and lawsuits. It also means having a system in place for monitoring website accessibility and making any necessary changes.

Conduct a Website Audit

The first step in achieving ADA website accessibility is to perform an audit. This will help you to identify any areas of your website that need to be improved to meet ADA standards. You should consult a web accessibility expert to perform the audit.

While automated tools such as WAVE or Lighthouse can provide a great starting point, automated tools can only detect 30% of accessibility barriers. However, manual audits provide a more accurate assessment of website accessibility. A manual review involves evaluating a website using assistive technologies, such as screen readers, keyboard navigation, and magnifiers, to simulate the experience of individuals with disabilities.

Implement Necessary ADA Web Accessibility Updates

Once you have identified areas of your website that need to be improved, make the necessary updates. This can include adding alt tags to images, ensuring your website is navigable with a keyboard, and providing text alternatives for videos.

Train your Employees

Training your team is essential to ensure that your website remains accessible. Make sure your team understands the importance of ADA website accessibility and knows how to make updates to your website to maintain compliance. This will ensure everyone working on your website is committed to making it accessible and reducing future risks.

Regularly Monitor and Update

Businesses should regularly monitor their website to ensure that it remains accessible. ADA website accessibility is an ongoing process. As you make changes to your website and web accessibility guidelines evolve, new accessibility issues may arise. It is crucial to address these promptly.

By developing a strategy for ADA website accessibility and liability now, businesses can protect themselves and their customers. Not only will this help companies to avoid potential legal issues, but it will also help ensure that all website visitors can access and use the website. In the long run, this will help businesses build trust and loyalty with their customers and improve their overall customer experience.

In Conclusion

ADA website accessibility is not just a legal requirement, but it is also an opportunity to reach a large and growing market. By developing a strategy for accessibility now, businesses can avoid costly lawsuits, protect their reputation, and increase their website traffic. Investing in accessibility is an investment in the future of your business.

At 216digital, we understand developing a strategy for ADA Website accessibility and liability can be a beast of a project. So, why let web accessibility hijack your development backlog with all the competing website enhancements that could add value to your business? 216digital can help develop a strategy to integrate WCAG 2.1 compliance into your development roadmap on your terms. To learn more about how the ADA experts at 216digital can help build an ADA WCAG 2.1 compliance strategy to achieve ongoing, real-world accessibility on your terms, schedule an ADA Strategy Briefing.

Kayla Laganiere

February 13, 2023

Legal Compliance, Testing & Remediation, The Benefits of Web Accessibility

Accessibility, ADA Compliance, ADA Website Compliance, Website Accessibility

How Much Does Web Remediation Cost

Why Does Web Accessibility Matter?

How Can I Make Sure My Website is ADA Compliant?

Determining the Cost of Compliance for Your Website

Why Do You Want Your Website to Be Accessible?

Do You Want to Prevent an ADA Web Accessibility Lawsuit?

Have You Received an ADA Web Accessibility Lawsuit?

Do You Want to be Fully Inclusive?

Are You Looking for an ADA Monitoring Service

Why Partner with 216digital?

What is a Web Accessibility Audit and Why It Matters

What is a Web Accessibility Audit?

Why Are Web Accessibility Audits Important?

What Is the Goal of a WCAG Audit?

WCAG Level A

WCAG Level AA

WCAG Level AAA

Key Considerations When Choosing a Web Accessibility Audit Tool

What Does an Accessibility Audit Process Involve?

Automated Tools

Manual Audit

Can I Complete a Web Accessibility Audit Myself?

When Should I Start Testing for ADA Web Compliance?

Debunking Common Web Accessibility Myths

Common Myths in Website Accessibility

Myth: There Are No Benefits to an Accessible Website

Myth: Web Accessibility Only Affects Those Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision

Myth: Web Accessibility Means Redesigning My Entire Website

Myth: Using Automated Tools On My Site is All I Need to Make It Accessible

Myth: Screen overlays can make my website compliant and protect me from an ADA lawsuit

Myth: Web Accessibility Litigation is Frivolous and Invalid

Fact: Web Accessibility is Smart Business

Web Accessibility & the Disabled Access Tax Credit: Who Qualifies, and Key Stipulations

What is the Disabled Access Tax Credit?

Does the Disabled Access Tax Credit cover Web Accessibility?

Eligibility for the Disabled Access Tax Credit

What are the Stipulations?

Is It a One-Time Deal?

How to Apply for the Disabled Access Tax Credit

Web Accessibility & the Disabled Access Tax Credit

Are Web Accessibility Testing Tools Enough to Ensure Compliance

What Are Website Accessibility Testing Tools?

Do Website Accessibility Testing Tools Provide False Sense of Security?

Limited Detection of Web Accessibility Barriers

Inaccurate Results and False Positives

What are False Positives?

Don’t Rely On Web Accessibility Testing Tools Alone

Manual Audits

In Conclusion

Why Your Business Needs an ADA Website Accessibility Strategy Now

What is Web Accessibility?

Why is ADA website accessibility important?

Why Should Businesses Develop a Strategy for ADA Website Accessibility?

Legal Compliance

User Experience

Brand Reputation

Improved Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Increased Reach and Potential Customers

How Can Businesses Develop a Strategy for ADA Website Accessibility?

Conduct a Website Audit

Implement Necessary ADA Web Accessibility Updates

Train your Employees

Regularly Monitor and Update

In Conclusion