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  • Website Accessibility is Critical to Legal Risk Management

    As an attorney who has represented hundreds of businesses in cases filed under the Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (the “ADA”), I have repeatedly seen the legal consequence, expense, and aggravation, that business owners can experience when their website is not ADA compliant. As such, appropriate legal risk management requires an “all hands on deck” approach to website accessibility. 

    In the modern digital landscape, a website is often the primary storefront for a business. While you may have invested heavily in visual design and user experience, failing to consider accessibility for users with disabilities can expose your company to significant legal risk.

    The ADA prohibits discrimination based on disability in places of public accommodation. While the original law was written long before the internet was used in commerce, courts and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have increasingly interpreted “places of public accommodation” to include websites. This interpretation means that if your digital content is not accessible to individuals using screen readers or other assistive technologies, you may be violating the ADA.

    The consequences of non-compliance are not theoretical. They involve costly litigation, damage to brand reputation, and mandated remediation that is often more expensive than proactive compliance would have been.

    Understanding the Legal Landscape of ADA Website Lawsuits

    The surge in ADA website lawsuits has been dramatic and sustained. Plaintiffs and advocacy groups are actively identifying businesses with non-compliant websites and filing complaints in federal and state courts. Many law firms are also sending demand letters threatening litigation.

    The Cost of Litigation

    For small to medium sized businesses with limited resources, the financial impact of an ADA lawsuit can be significant. When you are sued, you generally face three distinct categories of financial exposure:

    1. Plaintiff’s Legal Fees: If the plaintiff prevails or if you settle (which is the most common outcome), you are typically required to pay the plaintiff’s attorney’s fees. Because the ADA is a fee-shifting statute designed to encourage enforcement by private citizens, these fees can quickly escalate into the thousands of dollars.
    2. Defense Costs: You must hire your own legal counsel to defend the claim, negotiate a settlement, or guide you through the remediation process. Specialized ADA defense counsel, like my law firm and others, are essential, but represent additional cost burden.
    3. Settlement or Damages: Depending on the specific state laws involved (such as the Unruh Civil Rights Act in California or New York State Human Rights Law), you may be liable for statutory damages per violation or per visit. Even without statutory damages, settlements are often paid to resolve the case quickly.

    Who Is at Risk?

    No industry is immune. My law firm has represented businesses in dozens of industries, from across the United States, and around the world. While early lawsuits tended to target larger corporations, the focus has shifted significantly toward small and medium-sized businesses. Retailers, restaurants, hotels, and professional service providers are frequent targets. If your business operates a website that is interfacing with the public, you are potentially at risk.

    Strategic Defenses and Remediation

    If you receive a demand letter or are served with a lawsuit, your immediate response is critical. Ignoring the issue will not make it go away; quite the opposite, ignoring the issue is likely to make it worse and more expensive.

    Immediate Steps to Take

    1. Consult an Expert Defense Attorney: Do not attempt to navigate ADA litigation alone. Contact a lawyer who specializes in ADA defense. A good ADA defense lawyer can evaluate the validity of the claim, determine if the plaintiff has “standing” (the legal right to sue based on actual injury), and advise as to the most cost-effective strategy.
    2. Conduct a Comprehensive Audit: You need to know exactly where your website fails. Automated scanning tools are a good start, but they only catch about 30% of errors. A thorough audit requires manual testing by website accessibility experts, like 216digital.
    3. Initiate Remediation Immediately: Courts often look favorably upon businesses that demonstrate a swift commitment to fixing the issues. Developing a remediation plan—a roadmap for how and when you will fix the accessibility barriers—can sometimes be used as a defense or leverage in settlement negotiations. Moreover, we have found that once a business is sued, it is likely to be sued again if it does not come into compliance with ADA requirements. This is where a company like 216digital can be critical.

    The Role of Accessibility Statements

    Posting an accessibility statement on your website is a best practice. This statement should declare your commitment to accessibility, outline the standards you are following (e.g., WCAG 2.1), and provide a contact method for users who encounter difficulties. While a statement alone does not prevent lawsuits, it demonstrates good faith and provides an alternative channel for resolving issues before they escalate to litigation.

    The Business Case Beyond Compliance

    While the immediate driver for many businesses is avoiding legal action, the benefits of website accessibility extend further.

    • Expanded Market Reach: There are over 60 million adults with disabilities in the United States. By making your site accessible, you open your business to a massive, often underserved market segment with significant spending power.
    • SEO Benefits: Many accessibility best practices, such as using proper heading structures and alt text, also improve Search Engine Optimization (SEO), helping your site rank higher in search results.

    Protect Your Business from Liability

    The legal risks associated with non-compliant websites are real and growing. For business owners, the “wait and see” approach is not a viable strategy. The cost of proactive compliance is a fraction of the cost of defending a lawsuit (after which, compliance will still be necessary).

    By understanding the legal landscape, adhering to WCAG standards, and working with experienced legal and technical experts, you can mitigate this entirely predictable legal risk, ensure ADA compliance, and become accessible to the maximum possible number of prospective customers.

    Kayla Laganiere

    February 13, 2026
    Legal Compliance
    Accessibility Remediation, ADA Lawsuit, Legal compliance, legal risk management, risk mitigation

  • Will ADA 30 Days to Comply Act Reduce Website Lawsuits?

    Many business owners feel caught in the middle of the rising wave of digital accessibility lawsuits. They may care about access and want to do the right thing, but they also face unclear expectations, inherited platforms, limited resources, and legal threats that arrive with little warning. One week you are focused on running the business. The next, you are triaging risk, trying to understand what went wrong, and figuring out what you can realistically fix and how fast.

    H.R. 7668, also known as the ADA 30 Days to Comply Act, is getting attention for that reason. It proposes a notice-and-cure process for certain ADA Title III claims, giving businesses a short window to address reported barriers before a lawsuit can proceed. If you have already faced multiple claims, or you are worried about being targeted next, that window can sound like overdue breathing room. More time to fix. Less pressure to settle.

    The catch is what happens during that waiting period, and who pays the cost of the delay. On the web, access often means completing something time-sensitive. A job application, a class registration, a patient portal, a government form, a purchase. This article breaks down what H.R. 7668 would change, why many businesses support it, why advocates see risks, and what actually helps reduce exposure to ADA website lawsuits while still moving accessibility forward.

    What H.R. 7668 Would Change

    At the center of H.R. 7668 is a notice requirement and a short remediation window before a civil action may be filed under Title III. The proposal is commonly referred to as the ADA 30 Days to Comply Act.

    In practical terms, it would require a person to notify a business of an alleged accessibility barrier and give the business 30 days to address it before filing a Title III lawsuit. This could change the timing of ADA Title III website lawsuits by adding a notice step before filing.

    Supporters often describe it as a common-sense fix. Many businesses feel they are hit with legal pressure before they even understand what the problem is. They want a chance to respond without being forced into a quick settlement that does not always lead to lasting improvements.

    At the same time, digital access is often time-sensitive. If someone cannot apply for a job, complete coursework, access healthcare information, or use a government service when it matters, waiting can mean the opportunity is gone. That tension shows up quickly once the conversation shifts from legal process to real usage.

    Why Web Accessibility Issues Repeat

    A notice-and-cure approach assumes a business needs a heads-up before it can act. Sometimes that is true. A missing label, a broken link, or an overlooked content update can happen.

    But many web accessibility issues repeat because the source is shared.

    • A page template has an incorrect heading structure, and that template drives most pages on the site.
    • Buttons are built as non-button elements, so keyboard users hit the same wall across menus, filters, and modals.
    • Form errors are shown only with color, and the same form pattern is reused in many places.
    • A third-party tool is added without testing, then becomes required for checkout, scheduling, or account access.
    • New content is published quickly, but the workflow does not include checks for alt text, table structure, or captions.

    When issues keep repeating, notice is not the missing piece. A working process is.

    This is also where timelines get tricky. If the barrier is tied to a design system or a CMS theme, remediation is not one edit. It can mean code changes, content revision, QA, and sometimes vendor coordination.

    Why Businesses Support 30 Days to Comply

    Supporters of the ADA 30 Days to Comply Act often frame the 30-day window as basic fairness and focus. Many organizations do not have in-house accessibility expertise. They are juggling older platforms, third-party tools, and competing priorities. When a lawsuit lands first, costs often go to legal defense and settlement pressure instead of to remediation. A notice-and-cure requirement, in that view, creates breathing room so dollars can go toward fixing barriers instead of quick payouts.

    That argument is also tied to what the lawsuit data shows about repeat targeting. Of the more than 5,000 digital accessibility lawsuits filed in 2025, 1,427 targeted companies that had already faced an ADA web accessibility claim. In federal court alone, 46 percent of cases involved repeat defendants. Plaintiff firms track litigation history and revisit companies targeted previously for easy wins. When businesses see that cycle, it is easy to understand why some view a portion of filings as driven by litigation incentives rather than by a push for durable accessibility.

    It is worth saying clearly that many lawsuits are brought by individuals with disabilities, raising legitimate access barriers. That is part of why this space is so serious. The concern from businesses is that repeat targeting can turn into a pattern where the money goes to settlements instead of fixes, and the underlying site stays vulnerable.

    That is the business-side hope behind H.R. 7668. Delay litigation long enough to put resources into remediation first. Bring the focus back to what matters. A site people can use.

    Why Advocates Oppose Notice-and-Cure

    The civil rights concern does not disappear because repeat filings exist. Notice-and-cure requirements still place the first step on the person who hit the barrier, and that person still experiences the impact in the moment.

    If someone cannot complete a time-sensitive task, a 30-day wait can function like a closed door. Even if the site is improved later, the missed opportunity does not come back. That is why disability advocates push back on any model that makes access contingent on a complaint-first process.

    This is the tension the ADA 30 Days to Comply Act puts in sharper focus. Businesses want a fair chance to direct resources toward remediation instead of settlements, especially when they fear repeat targeting. People with disabilities need usable access when they arrive, not weeks later.

    If policy changes move forward, the measure of success should be practical. Fewer barriers. Faster fixes that hold up over time. Less repeat litigation because the underlying issues were actually addressed.

    Pros of the ADA 30 Days to Comply Act

    There are situations where notice-and-cure could lead to better outcomes, especially for teams that are willing to act quickly and work on root causes.

    • Reduces the rush to settle, giving teams room to invest in fixes.
    • Creates a clearer internal trigger for action, especially in organizations where accessibility keeps getting postponed.
    • Encourages faster response when barriers are limited, and the team can move quickly.
    • Builds public trust when an organization responds with transparency and follow-through.

    A notice window can be useful when it leads to real remediation and better practices afterward. The risk is when it becomes a timing shield instead of a change in behavior.

    Cons of the ADA 30 Days to Comply Act

    Even teams acting in good faith can run into problems with a 30-day cure period, especially in digital systems with complexity and volume.

    First, it can increase the number of formal notices. If notice becomes the required entry point, more people will use it. That does not automatically mean bad intent. It can simply reflect the new process.

    Second, thirty days can be tight for web remediation. Many issues do not live in one place. Navigation, forms, checkout, account access, PDFs, video libraries, and third-party tools can all be part of the claim. Fixing those well takes planning and testing.

    Third, rushed fixes can backfire. A patch on one page does not help if the same component appears across the site. When teams fix symptoms instead of shared patterns, problems return on the next release.

    And finally, legal exposure does not disappear. A notice step changes the timeline. It does not remove the obligation. If barriers remain, or if the response is incomplete, litigation can still follow.

    This is why H.R. 7668 does not eliminate risk. It changes how the first phase may unfold.

    How to Reduce ADA Website Lawsuit Risk

    Policy debates tend to focus on process. Lawsuit prevention tends to come down to outcomes. The most reliable way to reduce web accessibility lawsuits is to reduce barriers.

    That does not require perfection. It requires repeatable habits that hold up through releases and content changes.

    A strong foundation usually includes:

    • Clear design and development standards aligned with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
    • Manual testing paired with automated checks
    • A review step that happens before release, not only after complaints
    • Content rules that help editors publish accessibly by default
    • Review of third-party tools before they become part of critical tasks
    • Ownership and documentation so that fixes do not drift between teams

    When those pieces exist, accessibility work stops feeling like an emergency cleanup. It becomes maintenance and quality control. That is also when budgets and timelines become more predictable, and repeat issues start to drop.

    This is also where web accessibility compliance becomes more predictable. When accessibility is built into design, development, and publishing, it stops being an emergency project and becomes part of quality control.

    Whether the ADA 30 Days to Comply Act passes or not, that approach protects users and lowers exposure.

    What to Do If You Get an ADA Notice

    If a notice-and-cure structure becomes the norm, response quality will matter. Panic leads to shortcuts, and shortcuts create repeat problems.

    A practical response plan often looks like this:

    1. Acknowledge quickly and document everything.
      Confirm receipt. Log dates. Keep communication in one place.
    2. Validate what is being alleged.
      Some claims are accurate. Some are incomplete. Testing helps separate the two. Manual checks matter here.
    3. Prioritize critical user journeys first.
      Focus on the paths people need to complete tasks. Navigation, forms, checkout, account access, and core conversions usually come first.
    4. Fix at the source when possible.
      If the issue is in a shared component, fix it there. If content is involved, adjust the workflow so the issue does not keep spreading.
    5. Track progress with evidence.
      Save tickets, notes, test results, and before-and-after examples. Good records support good faith and reduce confusion later.

    A 30-day window can help teams move quickly. It can also expose teams that lack a plan. Either way, being prepared tends to reduce cost, stress, and repeat risk.

    Notice-and-Cure and the Future of ADA Website Claims

    H.R. 7668 and the ADA 30 Days to Comply Act are often framed as a way to reduce bad-faith lawsuits and give businesses time to fix issues instead of paying settlements. That concern is worth taking seriously, especially when repeated targeting appears in the data.

    At the same time, digital access is time-sensitive. Delays can mean missed opportunities and exclusion, even when fixes come later. That is why this proposal draws strong opinions on both sides.

    The clearest path forward is still the same. Build accessibility into how websites are designed, developed, and maintained. Reduce barriers at the source. Make fixes that hold up across releases.

    That kind of progress is easier to sustain when WCAG 2.1 compliance work is tied directly to the development roadmap, with clear priorities and ownership. If support is needed to build that strategy, 216digital can help you do it on your terms. Schedule a complimentary ADA Strategy Briefing and let’s build a path that supports both business goals and user needs.

    Greg McNeil

    February 10, 2026
    Legal Compliance
    ADA 30 Days to Comply Act, ADA Compliance, ADA Lawsuits, Legal compliance, state accessibility laws, Web Accessibility, Website Accessibility

  • Who’s Legally Responsible for Web Accessibility—You or Your Client?

    Accessibility is now a standard part of online business. That is progress. It also brings a harder question: what happens when the work gets challenged? When a demand letter or lawsuit shows up, who is responsible for web accessibility in a legal sense—the agency managing the site, or the organization that owns it?

    In most U.S. disputes, the website owner is usually the first party named. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) generally places the duty on the covered entity providing the goods, services, or programs, even when access happens through a website or app. 

    But that does not mean agencies and contractors are not exposed. Vendors often enter these disputes through contract language, representations, and third-party claims after the client is sued. In some public-sector contexts, particularly in California, plaintiffs have shown a willingness to pull contractors closer to the center of the dispute.

    This article breaks down who gets held accountable, why vendors still face risk, and how courts tend to evaluate who is responsible for web accessibility once a claim is active.

    Who Is Responsible for Web Accessibility Under the ADA?

    When people ask, “Who is legally responsible?” they are often asking more than one question. One is procedural: who gets named first. The other is substantive: who the law places the duty on.

    In most disputes, the first answer is the website owner—the organization offering the public-facing service. The second answer typically points to the same place. The ADA generally ties the obligation to the covered entity providing the goods, services, or programs, including when access happens through a website or app. DOJ guidance is aimed at public-facing businesses and at state and local governments, reinforcing that expectation.

    For private-sector teams, this is the practical baseline. Title III risk typically follows the business offering the goods or services, not the agency building the site. The claim is about access to what the business provides online, so the owner is the party most likely to be named first.

    Public-sector requirements can be more prescriptive, but the structure stays similar. The obligation attaches to the entity delivering the program or service.

    The piece that often gets missed is the next question: who can still be exposed even if they are not named first. That is where vendor risk tends to show up—through contract language, representations, and downstream claims after the client is sued.

    That’s why the key question becomes not only who is named first, but how the record determines who is responsible for web accessibility once a claim is active.

    How Vendors Get Pulled In

    Even when the website owner is the primary legal target, vendors can still get pulled in. Most of the time, it happens through three documentation-driven channels.

    Contract Allocation

    The agreement can shape the dispute before it starts. Accessibility scope, testing language, warranties, exclusions, and post-launch responsibility influence whether the vendor is treated as having assumed obligations—or whether the client remains clearly responsible for web accessibility after launch.

    Third-Party Claims

    After an owner is sued, it may try to shift costs to a platform, developer, or agency through indemnity, contribution, breach of contract, or misrepresentation theories. At that point, the question is not “Is this a Title III claim?” It is “What did the vendor promise, and can the client point to it?” That record can influence how a court views who is responsible for web accessibility obligations in practice.

    Evidence and Expectations

    Proposals, SOWs, marketing pages, emails, and tickets become the record of what was represented, scoped, and delivered. In a dispute, that record can carry as much weight as the implementation itself—and it can shape arguments about who is responsible for web accessibility when expectations and outcomes don’t match.

    When an Access Claim Becomes a Contract Dispute

    A recent example shows how quickly an accessibility dispute can shift into contract territory.  In Herrera v. Grove Bay Hospitality Group, LLC, after an accessibility claim, a restaurant tried to bring its website platform into the case through a third-party complaint. The court dismissed it, relying heavily on the platform’s terms, including disclaimers of ADA compliance obligations and warranties that the services would satisfy legal requirements.

    Two takeaways for agencies and platforms:

    1. Adding a vendor is not automatic. A viable legal theory still has to survive the contract language.
    2. Courts focus on what the vendor actually assumed. If sales or scope language implies “we guarantee compliance,” you may be taking on obligations your delivery model cannot reliably support.

    That is why “ADA compliant” is a risky marketing phrase unless it is tied to a defined benchmark, a defined scope, and defensible evidence. Otherwise, it can muddy who is responsible for web accessibility when a claim tests the work.

    Responsibility Depends on the Legal Pathway

    A useful way to answer the responsibility question is to separate the underlying access claim from vendor exposure.

    The underlying ADA-style access claim typically targets the entity providing the service, the owner or operator. Vendor exposure usually flows from contracts and promises—and in some contexts, from specialized theories tied to government contracting and representations.

    That distinction matters because it changes what “responsible” means in practice. Vendors do not control whether the ADA applies to a client. You are deciding what you will commit to in writing, what you will represent, and what you can prove you delivered—especially if you later need to show how responsibility was assigned and who is responsible for web accessibility in each phase of the work.

    Define Responsibility in Contracts

    The most effective way to avoid conflict is to define responsibility early and document it in the agreement. Disputes rarely come from bad intent. They come from unclear scope and assumptions that never made it into writing.

    From a risk standpoint, agencies and vendors tend to get squeezed in two predictable ways. Both usually come back to how accessibility is described in the agreement and how the agreement answers who is responsible for web accessibility over time.

    Two Contract Traps

    A Promise Without a Standard

    If you say “ADA compliant” without defining the benchmark, you invite a fight over what you meant. If you promise accessibility outcomes, tie them to a named standard and a defined target.

    A Standard Without Coverage

    Even when WCAG is named, disputes flare up when the scope is unclear. The question becomes what WCAG applies to in this engagement. For example, does it include PDFs, third-party tools, user-generated content, post-launch edits, or new templates and features?

    In disputes, this often turns on whether the vendor assumed a duty, and whether the agreement supports the boundaries the vendor intended. That record often becomes the practical answer to who is responsible for web accessibility when the site evolves beyond the original scope.

    Websites change. Multiple parties touch the system. Your agreement should reflect that reality instead of treating accessibility as a one-time deliverable.

    What to Clarify in Contracts and SOWs

    Strong agreements spell out the standard, the testing approach, the boundaries, and the handoff so both sides can execute the work and defend what was done if questions come up later—especially when someone asks who is responsible for web accessibility after launch.

    Standard

    Identify what accessibility standard is being followed, for example, WCAG 2.1 AA, and clarify whether it applies to all templates, components, and flows, or only to defined pages.

    Testing and Evidence

    State what methods are included—automated, manual, and assistive tech review—and what proof is delivered, such as issue logs, remediation notes, sign-off steps, and before-and-after documentation.

    Boundaries

    Spell out what is out of scope, such as third-party tools, PDFs, legacy pages, and user-generated content. If content remediation is included, define which content types or volumes are covered, so it is not left to interpretation later.

    Post-Launch Ownership

    Clarify who owns accessibility after launch, what that means in practice, and how post-launch edits, new features, and template changes are handled. This is often where teams lose alignment on who is responsible for web accessibility.

    Ongoing Support

    Describe what ongoing support looks like, such as regression monitoring, periodic audits, or training, and how issues are triaged over time, including workflow, escalation, and response expectations.

    When contracts define the standard, the coverage, and the proof, they give both sides a shared operating model that still works months later, after the site has changed and the original project team has rotated.

    Sales Language Can Expand Risk

    Contracts are only part of the picture. When owners try to bring vendors into a dispute, the evidence they reach for is often straightforward: proposals, emails, marketing pages, and platform claims.

    If your materials suggest “we guarantee compliance,” “our platform ensures accessibility,” or “you won’t need to worry about WCAG,” you may be creating avoidable exposure. Those statements are easy to quote, easy to misunderstand, and hard to defend without clear deliverables and documentation.

    If your materials imply you are responsible for web accessibility end-to-end, that language can be used to argue you assumed duties beyond the SOW.

    The goal is not to hide behind vague language. It is to use wording that matches what you will actually do, what is in scope, and what you can show when someone asks.

    The Bottom Line: Responsible for Web Accessibility

    So, who’s responsible for web accessibility—you or your client?

    In practice, accessibility holds up when responsibility is documented, transparent, and treated as ongoing. That clarity protects people who rely on accessible digital experiences, strengthens partnerships, and keeps accessibility from becoming a source of conflict instead of progress.

    If you treat accessibility as a one-time deliverable, responsibility will always be contested. If you treat it as an ongoing practice, responsibility becomes manageable—and shared with purpose.

    At 216digital, we can help you build a practical strategy to integrate WCAG 2.1 into your development roadmap—on your terms. If you want a clear plan for aligning ADA expectations, scope, and documentation with real-world delivery, schedule an ADA Strategy Briefing.

    Greg McNeil

    January 26, 2026
    Legal Compliance
    Accessibility, ADA Lawsuit, ADA Lawsuits, agency accessibility solutions, Legal compliance, Web Accessibility, Website Accessibility

  • Can User-Generated Content Trigger an ADA Demand Letter?

    Reviews. Comments. Community posts. Q&A threads. Uploaded photos. Customer-submitted listings.

    If your website includes user-generated content (UGC), you already know one truth: your content changes faster than any single QA pass can keep up with. And that’s where a very real business concern kicks in:

    It’s the same question behind a lot of ADA demand letters and accessibility complaints: if someone else posts it, does it still fall on you?

    Short answer: It can.

    A longer (and more useful) answer: UGC usually isn’t the only reason a business gets an ADA demand letter, but it can absolutely strengthen a complaint—especially when it blocks participation, creates barriers on high-traffic pages, or shows up inside key buying or support experiences.

    Before we go further: this article is informational, not legal advice. If you receive a demand letter or legal threat, it’s smart to involve qualified counsel.

    Now let’s unpack the real issue behind the question: the risk depends on where UGC appears, how it’s created, and what control your platform gives you.

    What User-Generated Content Is and Where It Shows Up

    User-generated content is anything your users create instead of your internal team. That includes reviews, comments, forum posts, Q&A answers, uploaded photos, listings, profiles, and all the little pieces people add to your site as they interact with it.

    But here’s the part that catches most teams off guard:

    UGC isn’t one thing. And it definitely doesn’t behave the same everywhere it appears.

    Some UGC sits inside clean templates and barely shifts. Some shows up as long, free-form posts with images and embeds. And some becomes full pages that search engines crawl and customers rely on. Each of those patterns carries a different level of accessibility exposure.

    Light UGC Explained

    Light UGC is the easiest to keep stable. Think short reviews, star ratings, or a simple comment thread. These usually live inside structured components, so the content itself doesn’t wander too far.

    What does wander?

    The widgets around it.

    A star-rating tool that doesn’t work with a keyboard, a comment form missing labels, or a “load more” button with no name—all of that can cause more trouble than the content itself ever would.

    Rich UGC and Accessibility

    Rich UGC gives users more room to shape the experience. That includes long posts, formatted text, uploaded images, embedded videos, and external links.

    Freedom is great for expression. It’s less great for predictability.

    One user uploads an image with text baked in. Another pastes an embed that traps keyboard focus. Someone else writes a long post using bold text as fake headings. Suddenly, your page has structure on the surface but not in the markup where assistive tech looks for it.

    Structural UGC and Exposure

    Structural UGC is where things move from “content” to “actual pages.” These are profiles, listings, job posts, directory entries, marketplace items—anything that functions like a standalone page and attracts search traffic.

    This is the kind of UGC that matters most for accessibility risk because it doesn’t sit quietly in a small section. It becomes part of the paths people use to make choices, complete tasks, or decide whether your product fits their needs.

    When structural user-generated content is inconsistent or hard to navigate, the impact shows up fast.

    Where User-Generated Content Lives (and Why Placement Matters)

    The biggest shift in risk isn’t the content—it’s where the content lands.

    A slightly messy review on a low-traffic page may not change much. But that same review sitting inside a product page with heavy purchase intent? Different story. And the same is true across the site.

    UGC becomes more consequential when it appears in places like:

    • Product pages with reviews, photos, or Q&A
    • Service pages with before/after uploads
    • Location or listing pages that customers rely on to compare options
    • Support threads and community answers that function as your “real” FAQ
    • Profiles or listings that act like landing pages and show up in search results

    All of these are places where people come to decide something. If the UGC in those areas is inaccessible—or if the tools that publish it create predictable failures—that can turn into a barrier for someone trying to participate or complete a task.

    Here’s the part most businesses miss:

    The risk isn’t just the content users post. It’s the system your platform uses to collect it, shape it, and display it.

    The templates, editors, upload flows, moderation tools, and UI patterns are where most preventable accessibility issues start. When those pieces aren’t designed with accessibility in mind, even simple UGC can become part of a complaint.

    And once UGC becomes part of the user journey, it becomes part of the accessibility equation—especially when an ADA demand letter points to barriers on real pages people depend on.

    How User-Generated Content Factors Into Website Accessibility Complaints

    At a high level, here’s what matters:

    ADA Title III focuses on equal access and non-discrimination for goods and services offered by businesses open to the public.

    Even though the ADA doesn’t spell out one single required web standard for private businesses, accessibility claims often point to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) as the measuring stick in practice. WCAG evaluates pages as they are delivered to users—meaning all visible content, including UGC, can contribute to non-conformance.

    And this is where UGC gets tricky.

    Responsibility for UGC Accessibility Issues

    If the content is on your domain, inside your customer journey, and presented as part of your experience, then it functions like part of the service you’re offering.

    That doesn’t mean every single user mistake equals an automatic lawsuit. But it does mean the experience can become a valid complaint when barriers prevent people from completing tasks or participating fully.

    How WCAG Evaluates UGC on Pages

    WCAG conformance is evaluated based on what’s actually on the page. That includes:

    • Content
    • UI components
    • Third-party widgets
    • User-generated content

    WCAG also recognizes the concept of partial conformance when certain issues are truly outside the author’s control. But partial conformance is not a shield you hide behind—it’s a disclosure approach, and a sign you should reduce what’s out of your control wherever possible.

    A useful comparison: the DOJ’s Title II website accessibility factsheet for public entities highlights that third-party content can still be part of a covered service when it’s baked into the experience. Title II and Title III are different, but the principle is instructive:

    If people rely on it to access the service, it needs to be accessible.

    So yes—UGC can increase risk. But it doesn’t do it randomly. It does it in predictable ways tied to control and foreseeability.

    How User-Generated Content Can Create Accessibility Barriers

    Let’s break this into a simple framework you can actually use.

    Barriers From Inaccessible UGC Tools

    This is the category that gets businesses into trouble fastest—because it’s not “user behavior.” It’s your platform UI.

    Examples:

    • Review/comment forms are missing labels
    • Error messages that aren’t programmatically connected to fields
    • Star-rating widgets that can’t be used with a keyboard
    • Upload buttons with no accessible name (“button button”)
    • No status updates during upload (screen reader users stuck guessing)
    • Rich text editors that trap focus or don’t announce controls properly
    • Captcha or anti-spam tools that block assistive tech users

    If someone can’t post, submit, edit, or participate because the controls aren’t accessible, that’s a strong accessibility barrier. And it’s directly attributable to the business experience—not the user’s content.

    If your UGC system prevents participation, that can absolutely support an ADA demand letter.

    Foreseeable Accessibility Failures

    This is where many businesses accidentally create “accessibility debt” at scale.

    Examples of foreseeable failures from UGC:

    • Users upload images without providing any alt text.
    • Links labeled only as “click here,” offering no context.
    • Flyers or announcements as images with all the text baked in.
    • Users choose font colors or backgrounds that create contrast failures.
    • Visual formatting—like bold text—to imitate headings instead of using proper structure.
    • Using emojis as bullet points or even headings without adding a text equivalent.

    If a system consistently produces inaccessible pages, it’s hard to argue the issue is “random user behavior.”

    Platform defaults shape outcomes.

    And if the outcome repeatedly blocks access, that’s a foreseeable risk—exactly the kind of pattern that shows up in accessibility complaints.

    When User-Generated Content Stops Key Tasks

    Sometimes, the UGC isn’t “broken” in an obvious way. It’s just in the wrong place.

    When the content shows up in the same high-value areas—product pages, listings, community answers, support information—the stakes rise fast. These are the pages people rely on to make choices, compare options, understand requirements, and get support.

    Even if your official content is accessible, the user journey is what counts.

    If UGC becomes the deciding factor, someone needs to:

    • Choose a product
    • Confirm compatibility
    • Understand sizing or ingredients
    • Access instructions
    • Troubleshoot an issue
    • Get help without calling

    …and if that UGC is inaccessible, it can become part of the access barrier.

    How to Make User-Generated Content Accessible by Design

    This is where accessibility becomes realistic. Because the goal is not to make every user into an expert.

    The goal is to build a system where the easiest path is also the most accessible path.

    Build Accessible UGC Submission Tools

    Treat your UGC publishing experience like a product, not an afterthought.

    At minimum:

    • Every input has a clear label.
    • Keyboard-only users can complete the flow.
    • Focus order is logical
    • Errors are clear, specific, and programmatically tied to fields.
    • Buttons announce what they do.
    • Upload state changes are announced (progress, success, failure)

    If your creation tools fail, the experience fails—no matter how good your main site is.

    Prompt Users for Necessary Details

    For image uploads, use an alt text prompt that’s friendly and short. For example:

    • A required/optional alt text field depending on context
    • A helper line like: “Describe what matters in this photo.”
    • A checkbox: “This image is decorative” (when appropriate)

    This single prompt eliminates a huge portion of predictable failures.

    And yes—this is your responsibility. Because you control the workflow.

    Limit Risky Formatting Options

    This one surprises people, but it’s important:

    If users can style content however they want, your site can become non-conforming instantly.

    Practical guardrails:

    • Limit text colors and backgrounds to approved combinations.
    • Block low-contrast combinations automatically.
    • Provide headings/lists as structured tools, not “fake formatting.”
    • Prevent users from creating “headings” by just increasing font size.

    If a page can be made inaccessible through user styling, that’s a platform design decision—not a user obligation.

    Managing Rich Media Accessibility

    If users upload video or audio:

    • Prompt for captions and/or transcripts
    • Offer a “pending accessibility” state
    • Add a follow-up workflow to complete accessibility after posting.
    • Provide a clear way to edit and add accessibility later.

    Even a basic process here reduces risk dramatically.

    Maintaining Accessible User-Generated Content Over Time

    Even with solid guardrails, user-generated content keeps moving. New posts show up, trends change, and older content stays live in the places people rely on. So the goal isn’t “fix it once.” It’s keeping the system steady.

    Check the templates that carry the most weight

    Pick a small set of UGC-heavy templates—product pages, listings, support threads, community Q&A—and review them on a regular cadence. If a component update breaks keyboard flow, labels, or focus, you want to catch it before it spreads.

    Give your team a simple playbook.

    Moderators and content teams don’t need to learn WCAG. They just need a short list of patterns to flag, like missing alt text, image-based announcements, unclear link text, or embeds that don’t work with a keyboard.

    Make reporting and fixes easy.

    Add a straightforward way to report accessibility issues, and route those reports to someone who can act. When something needs remediation, start with the least disruptive fix—add text equivalents, correct formatting, or adjust the template so the issue doesn’t keep reappearing.

    At the end of the day, WCAG looks at what’s on the page as delivered. If UGC lives in the experience, it’s part of what users have to work with—so it needs ongoing care.

    Making User-Generated Content a Strength, Not a Liability

    User-generated content will always shift and surprise you a little, and that’s fine. What matters is knowing your site can handle those shifts without creating new barriers every time someone posts a review or uploads a photo. When the basics are solid—the tools, the guardrails, the way you spot issues—you don’t have to brace for impact. Things stay steady.

    If you want help looking at the parts of your site where UGC and accessibility meet, 216digital can walk through those areas with you and point out what will actually make a difference. When you’re ready, schedule an ADA briefing with 216digital and put a clear, manageable plan in place so accessibility stays reliable as your UGC grows.

    Greg McNeil

    January 21, 2026
    Legal Compliance
    Accessibility, Content Creators, Content Writing, Demand Letters, Legal compliance, User-Generated Content, WCAG, Website Accessibility

  • How New U.S. Laws Could Change Accessibility Lawsuits

    Accessibility lawsuits often start the same way. Someone flags barriers on your site, a letter arrives, and your team is asked to respond fast. That moment is rarely tidy. You are dealing with legal exposure, technical facts, and a customer experience problem at the same time.

    Lawmakers are now proposing changes that could affect how these complaints move forward. Some ideas focus on requiring notice and a short remediation window. Others aim to define clearer federal website standards. States are also experimenting with ways to discourage filings they view as abusive. These proposals can change timing and paperwork, but they do not change what users face on the site today.

    Below, we’ll take a closer look at the proposals taking shape and what they may suggest for future enforcement.

    Why Lawmakers Are Pushing for Accessibility Reform

    Across the country, lawmakers are responding to concerns that show up again and again when teams talk about demand letters and claims. Some are about cost and volume. Others are about uncertainty and inconsistent expectations.

    The Pressure From High-Volume Filings

    One of the strongest drivers is the rise in high-volume filings that reuse the same allegations with only minor changes. These accessibility lawsuits regularly target small and mid-sized organizations that already have limited time and budget to respond. Even when a team wants to do the right thing, the first step is often paperwork, outside counsel, and internal coordination.

    Recent data shows how often the same organizations get pulled back in. In 2025, more than 5,000 digital accessibility cases were filed, and over 1,400 involved businesses that had already faced an ADA web claim. In federal court, about 46 percent of filings named repeat defendants.

    Why States Point to Missing Title III Web Standards

    Another driver is the long-running frustration with the Department of Justice’s lack of clear Title III web standards. States point to that gap when explaining why they are stepping in. Without federal regulations, expectations vary by jurisdiction. That creates uneven enforcement and room for conflicting court outcomes, even when the underlying barrier is similar.

    Balancing Litigation Reform and Civil Rights

    It is also important to recognize what private enforcement has done for access. Many of the improvements users rely on today came from individuals asserting their rights and pushing systems to change. Reform proposals often say they are trying to reduce opportunistic litigation without weakening civil rights. At the same time, some disability advocates warn that certain approaches can delay access if timelines stretch too far or if progress requirements stay vague.

    Lawmakers are moving in different directions to tackle these concerns. That brings us to the next question.

    What kinds of changes are actually being proposed?

    Three Legal Changes Shaping Accessibility Lawsuits

    Across federal and state discussions, most proposals about accessibility lawsuits fall into three categories. Each one could influence how demand letters work and how teams respond.

    Federal Notice and Remediation Window Proposals

    Some members of Congress have suggested adding a requirement that a notice be given before a lawsuit can proceed. Under these proposals, organizations would receive a written description of the alleged barrier and a short remediation window to show progress. One example is the ADA 30 Days to Comply Act. It outlines a written notice, a 30-day period to describe improvements, and an additional period tied to demonstrated progress.

    A key nuance matters here. The bill focuses on architectural barriers at existing public accommodations. People often discuss these proposals alongside digital claims, but the text is narrower than many headlines suggest. Even so, the structure signals interest in early notice paired with proof of meaningful action.

    Federal Website Accessibility Standards Proposals

    Alongside notice concepts, Congress is also considering action focused on digital accessibility standards. The Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act of 2025 aims to set uniform expectations for websites and applications. It also directs federal agencies to define standards, update them over time, and clarify how digital access fits within existing civil rights protections.

    If a federal standard becomes established, organizations would have a clearer target to design and test against. That also means teams may have less room to argue that they were unsure what to follow. Day-to-day development, QA, and content workflows would matter more because compliance would depend on consistent results, not occasional one-time reviews.

    State Laws Targeting Abusive Website Accessibility Litigation

    Several states are exploring their own approaches. Kansas has already created a mechanism for determining whether website accessibility litigation is abusive. Courts can consider whether the business attempted to remediate issues within a set period and whether improvements occurred within a ninety-day window. Missouri has introduced similar bills built around notice, remediation timelines, and potential fee shifting for bad-faith claims.

    These laws do not remove the obligation to maintain accessible websites. They focus on how courts should evaluate filings that appear designed for settlement volume rather than user access.

    What May Change in Accessibility Lawsuits and What Will Not

    These proposals could affect the process around accessibility lawsuits, but they do not change the core expectation that users need to complete tasks without barriers. It helps to separate what may shift from what stays the same.

    What May Change

    Organizations may receive more detailed notices that cite specific pages, steps, or interactions. Response timelines may tighten if new regulations define how quickly a team must respond or document progress. Settlement leverage could shift in places where remediation windows, presumptions, or fee-shifting concepts affect how cases are evaluated.

    What Will Not Change

    Users still run into barriers today. A delayed filing does not remove the barrier for someone trying to complete a checkout, submit a form, access account settings, or read essential content. If issues remain unresolved or progress is not measurable, legal action can still move forward. A remediation window is not extra time. It is a countdown.

    Multi-State Website Compliance and Accessibility Risk

    If your website serves users across the country, state-level differences create practical challenges. Exposure does not depend only on where a business is located. It also depends on where users live and which courts may have jurisdiction over a claim.

    How State Approaches Differ

    Florida uses a different model. Organizations can file a remediation plan in a public registry. Courts can consider this plan when evaluating good-faith actions and potential attorney fees in Title III cases filed within the state.

    California has explored a small-business-focused approach, such as a 120-day window to fix issues before statutory damages or fees are available. These experiments show that states are testing different tools to encourage remediation and reduce rushed filings.

    Teams need a repeatable way to keep their sites usable across many jurisdictions.

    Remediation Windows and a 30-Day Response Plan

    A remediation window helps only when teams can move with structure and focus. Without a workflow, the pressure to fix issues quickly can lead to patch-level changes that create new problems. A clear process prevents that and keeps everyone aligned.

    Days 0 to 3

    Capture the notice, save screenshots, and list the URLs and user steps cited. Assign a single internal owner who can coordinate legal, product, and development.

    Days 4 to 10

    Reproduce the issues on the named flows. Test with keyboard and at least one screen reader. Trace the problems back to specific components, templates, or vendor scripts so you can fix the causes, not just page-level symptoms.

    Days 11 to 25

    Run a focused remediation sprint. Prioritize barriers that block task completion. Involve design and quality assurance so that fixes fit your system and avoid new regressions.

    Days 26 to 30

    Retest the affected flows. Capture what changed, when it shipped, and how it was verified. Add any related systemic issues to your backlog with clear owners and target dates.

    This type of workflow reveals the deeper tension behind many of these proposals. Reform can influence pacing, but the work of removing barriers remains the same.

    Legislative Reform and Real Access

    It is understandable that organizations want protection from high-volume filings that feel more like templates than tailored complaints. Responding takes time, budget, and focus, and many teams do not have much of any of those to spare.

    At the same time, disability advocates warn that lengthy remediation windows can delay access. If the standard for demonstrating progress is vague, people with disabilities may wait longer for functional experiences. What matters most is that barriers get fixed and stay fixed.

    This tension is unlikely to disappear. It will continue because expectations around digital access are rising.

    How to Make Website Accessibility Sustainable

    The most reliable way to reduce risk is to keep accessibility work steady and consistent. That includes defining a clear accessibility standard, often WCAG 2.1 AA in practice. It also means keeping a backlog that mirrors actual user journeys and testing flows, rather than focusing only on individual pages.

    Build Around High-Value User Journeys

    A backlog is most useful when it maps to tasks that support the business and the customer. That means prioritizing flows like navigation, product discovery, forms, authentication, and checkout, plus the templates and components that power them.

    Prevent Regressions Between Releases

    Development and content teams benefit from adding monitoring and release checks. This avoids regressions that might otherwise go unnoticed. Documenting testing steps, changes, and verification helps demonstrate good-faith progress if a notice arrives. For many organizations, reviewing vendor risk and third-party scripts is another important control point.

    Track How Regulations Are Evolving

    These practices are becoming more important as regulations solidify. The Department of Justice has already finalized its Title II rule for state and local governments. Although Title III remains unsettled, expectations around digital access are becoming more defined.

    If you’re deciding where to start, focus on the tasks that matter most to users. Improving key tasks protects both customers and teams.

    How Teams Can Stay Ready as Regulations Take Shape

    As lawmakers continue shaping how digital access is defined, businesses deserve guidance that reduces confusion, not adds to it. Clear standards give teams room to plan, improve, and maintain their websites without fear of being caught off guard. They also help shift the conversation away from surprise claims and toward steady, predictable work that fits into normal development cycles.

    If your organization wants help building a reliable accessibility plan that supports long-term stability, 216digital is here for you. Schedule a complementary ADA Strategy Briefing and let’s build a path that fits your team and your goals.

    Greg McNeil

    January 16, 2026
    Legal Compliance
    Accessibility, accessibility laws, Legal compliance, state accessibility laws, Web Accessibility, web accessibility lawsuits, Website Accessibility
  • VPAT vs ACR: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters

    VPAT vs ACR: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters

    If you’ve ever been asked for a VPAT or an ACR and felt your stomach drop, you’re not alone. These acronyms often appear in RFPs, procurement conversations, and compliance checklists—and can leave even experienced teams scrambling to figure out what’s actually being requested. Understanding the difference between a VPAT and an ACR isn’t just technical trivia. It can mean the difference between winning a contract, avoiding legal risk, and showing that your organization takes accessibility seriously.

    This guide breaks it all down: what a VPAT is, what an ACR is, how they differ, and how to create them with confidence.

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    What Is a VPAT?

    A VPAT—short for Voluntary Product Accessibility Template—is a standardized document created by the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) to report how well a digital product meets accessibility standards like WCAG, Section 508, and EN 301 549.

    Think of the VPAT as a structured questionnaire. It asks you to evaluate your product feature by feature and indicate whether each requirement is supported, partially supported, or not supported, along with explanations. The most recent version is VPAT 2.5, which comes in multiple editions to meet different regulatory needs: WCAG, 508 (for U.S. federal agencies), EU (for European procurement), and INT (for global organizations).

    A Typical VPAT Includes

    • Product name, version, and date of evaluation
    • Standards referenced (WCAG 2.1, Section 508, EN 301 549)
    • Testing methods used
    • Tables showing conformance levels for each criterion
    • Brief remarks or explanations where needed

    It’s important to note that the VPAT itself is voluntary—there’s no federal law requiring you to complete one unless it’s part of a procurement process or client request. And because VPATs are self-reported, their quality depends on your honesty and expertise. A VPAT is an essential starting point but doesn’t guarantee real-world usability for people with disabilities. Usability testing and independent audits remain critical for a complete accessibility picture.

    What Is an ACR?

    An ACR, or Accessibility Conformance Report, is the completed version of a VPAT. If the VPAT is the blank template, the ACR is the filled-in, actionable report. It’s a snapshot of your product’s accessibility at a given point in time, often after thorough testing.

    Where the VPAT provides structure, the ACR provides substance. It includes:

    • Specific findings for each standard
    • Narrative explanations for partial or non-support
    • Workarounds or mitigation strategies
    • Planned remediation timelines

    How Testing Builds Trust

    The strongest ACRs are grounded in a variety of testing methods, not just automated scans. Manual code reviews can catch nuanced issues that tools miss. Testing with assistive technologies like screen readers, magnifiers, or voice input tools reveals how real users navigate your product. Including results from usability sessions with people who have disabilities can also add powerful credibility. Documenting these methods in your ACR shows buyers and procurement teams that your results are thorough, reliable, and rooted in real-world experience.

    Comparing VPAT vs. ACR: Core Differences

    Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, VPATs and ACRs play different roles:

    • Template vs. Report: The VPAT is the empty template; the ACR is the completed, shareable report.
    • Level of Detail: A VPAT lists conformance levels, but an ACR goes deeper with context, user impact notes, and remediation plans.
    • Who Creates Them: VPATs are often drafted internally by product or compliance teams. ACRs may be internally created or validated by third-party auditors to add credibility.
    • Audience: VPATs are useful for internal planning and tracking. ACRs are intended for procurement officers, enterprise buyers, and compliance teams who need assurance that accessibility has been tested and documented thoroughly.

    This distinction is crucial—submitting only a VPAT when an RFP requests an ACR could disqualify you from consideration.

    Best Practices for Creating VPATs and ACRs

    Getting these documents right takes more than filling out a form. Follow these practices to create credible and effective reports:

    • Use the Latest Template: Work from VPAT 2.5 or later to align with current standards like WCAG 2.1 or 2.2.
    • Be Transparent About Gaps: Overstating conformance can hurt credibility. Clearly indicate “Partially Supports” or “Does Not Support” when needed, and explain why.
    • Add Detailed Remarks: Go beyond a yes/no answer. Include context on who is impacted, how severe the issue is, and whether a fix is planned.
    • Document Testing Methods: Specify whether testing involved automated tools, manual reviews, assistive technology testing, or user testing. This adds weight to your ACR findings.
    • Update Regularly: Accessibility isn’t one-and-done. Refresh your VPAT and ACR with each major release or remediation cycle so they reflect the current state of your product.

    Procurement-ready Checklist

    • Product name, version, and date are clearly listed
    • Standards cited (WCAG, 508, EN 301 549) match buyer requirements
    • Conformance ratings are accurate and supported with evidence
    • Testing methods and tools are documented in plain language
    • Known issues, workarounds, and fix timelines are included
    • Jargon is avoided—language is clear for non-technical readers
    • Document is reviewed and refreshed with each major product update

    Conclusion: Building Confidence Through Transparency

    The VPAT gives you the structure, but the ACR brings it to life. Together, they are essential for demonstrating conformance, preparing for procurement, and showing that you take inclusion seriously.

    At 216digital, we view accessibility documentation not as a burden, but as a pathway to trust and opportunity. A well-crafted ACR helps you thrive in competitive markets by proving your commitment to accessibility and inclusion.

    If you’d like guidance on creating either document—or aligning both with the latest standards—schedule an ADA briefing with 216digital. Our team will walk you through every step, from drafting a VPAT to publishing a credible ACR, helping you move from paperwork to real-world accessibility.

    Greg McNeil

    September 11, 2025
    Legal Compliance, Testing & Remediation
    Accessibility, ACR, ADA Compliance, Legal compliance, Section 508, VPAT, WCAG, Web Accessibility, Website Accessibility
  • Web Accessibility Checklist for CA Businesses

    Web Accessibility Checklist for CA Businesses

    California sets the tone for digital accessibility—and businesses can’t afford to ignore it. Between strict state laws, federal regulations, and an active litigation environment, accessibility isn’t just a best practice; it’s a requirement.

    This guide breaks down what compliance means in California and gives you a step-by-step web accessibility checklist you can actually use. Think of it as a roadmap that not only lowers legal risk but also creates a better experience for every visitor on your site.

    Why Accessibility Matters in California

    California is one of the most aggressive states when it comes to enforcing web accessibility. Both federal and state laws apply, creating more risk for businesses with an online presence.

    A few things you should know:

    • ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act): Courts in California have ruled that websites and apps connected to physical businesses must be accessible. Cases like Robles v. Domino’s made that crystal clear.
    • Unruh Civil Rights Act: Unique to California, this law ties into the ADA but adds monetary damages—starting at $4,000 per violation. Multiple issues can multiply costs quickly.
    • CPRA (California Privacy Rights Act): Privacy notices, opt-outs, and user controls must also be accessible to people with disabilities.
    • AB 434 (Public Agencies): Requires California government websites to meet WCAG 2.0 AA.
    • Section 508 (for federal contractors): Applies if you do business with federal or state-funded entities.
    • AB 1757 (Pending): Would make WCAG 2.1 AA mandatory for all California websites and allow individuals to sue directly.

    Your California Web Accessibility Checklist

    Think of this web accessibility checklist as an ongoing process—not a one-time project. Accessibility isn’t something you can “fix” and walk away from. Each new feature, design tweak, or plugin you add can introduce fresh challenges, so it’s best to weave accessibility into your regular site reviews and updates.

    1. Know Your Legal Landscape

    Before you start making changes, pause and figure out which laws apply to your organization. A private company, a public agency, and a government contractor each face different sets of rules—and knowing where you fall will shape your strategy.

    Begin by asking a few simple questions:

    • Is your business based in California, or do you simply serve California residents?
    • Which laws apply to you? That could mean the ADA, the Unruh Civil Rights Act, CCPA/CPRA, Section 508, AB 434 for public sector sites, and potentially AB 1757 once it takes effect.
    • Who in your organization should own accessibility? Whether it’s your legal lead, a developer, or someone on the marketing team, make sure accountability is clear—and involve design, development, content, and legal voices early.

    2. Identify Your Accessibility Gaps with a Web Accessibility Checklist

    Once you know your obligations, it’s time to take an honest look at your website. Where might someone hit a barrier?

    Start with an automated scan like Google Lighthouse, or WAVE. Tools like these are great for catching obvious issues—missing alt text, weak color contrast—but they only scratch the surface. The real insights come from manual testing. Try navigating your site using just a keyboard, or fire up a screen reader. Can you move through forms, menus, and checkout without a mouse? Does everything make sense when spoken aloud?

    Keep careful notes as you go. Screenshots, detailed observations, and a running log of issues will help guide your fixes. Just as importantly, they also show good-faith effort if your compliance is ever questioned. Using a web accessibility checklist here helps you capture both the technical and usability gaps

    3. Fix Barriers and Align with WCAG 2.2 Level AA

    Now comes the hands-on work: fixing the barriers you’ve found. The most reliable standard to aim for is WCAG 2.2 Level AA, since courts and regulators often look to it as the baseline. WCAG breaks accessibility into four guiding principles—Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR). Here’s what that means in practice:

    Perceivable

    • Add alt text to all meaningful images
    • Make sure text can be resized up to 200% without breaking layouts
    • Provide captions, transcripts, and audio descriptions for multimedia
    • Avoid relying solely on color to communicate information
    • Keep text-to-background contrast strong
    • Indicate language changes in your site’s code

    Operable

    • Make sure every function works via keyboard
    • Add a “Skip to Content” link so users don’t have to tab endlessly
    • Keep buttons, icons, and menus predictable
    • Prevent content from shifting unexpectedly when users interact with it
    • Let users pause or stop auto-play and extend time limits on forms
    • Support both portrait and landscape orientations

    Understandable

    • Use clear, descriptive headings and labels
    • Write page titles that actually reflect what’s on the page
    • Make sure error messages are easy to spot and explain how to fix them

    Robust

    • Test your site across different devices and screen sizes
    • Ensure functionality for users with limited mobility
    • Use semantic, well-structured HTML so assistive tech works correctly
    • Keep content usable even when text spacing is adjusted

    4. Don’t Forget Privacy and Legal Disclosures

    Accessibility doesn’t stop at your homepage or checkout process. In California, your privacy notices, cookie banners, and consent forms are just as important.

    That means every checkbox, toggle, and opt-out option should be easy to reach with a keyboard and clear to a screen reader. Focus states should stand out, and every label should be tied programmatically to its control. When it comes to policies, avoid dense blocks of text. Instead, break them into sections with clear headings and write in plain, straightforward language. And whenever you link to something, make the link text meaningful—skip the vague “click here.” Regulators will expect these areas to meet the same accessibility standards as the rest of your site. A web accessibility checklist can serve as a reminder to evaluate these areas, which often get overlooked.

    5. Plan for Ongoing Compliance

    The last step is about staying consistent. Accessibility isn’t a box you check off—it’s a practice you build into your regular workflow.

    Set up a review schedule: quarterly audits for the full site, plus monthly spot checks for high-traffic pages. Fold accessibility into your design reviews, pull requests, and release cycles so issues get caught early.

    Be especially careful with third-party tools. Chat widgets, plugins, and embedded media can easily create barriers if they aren’t coded properly. Vet them before adding them to your site.

    And finally, keep your team sharp. Train designers, developers, and content creators regularly so accessibility remains second nature. Maintain a log of issues you’ve found and fixed—this not only helps with continuity but also shows your ongoing commitment if anyone ever challenges your efforts. 

    Accessibility: Not a Project, a Practice

    California businesses operate in one of the most demanding accessibility environments in the country. By treating accessibility as part of your ongoing website maintenance, you protect yourself from lawsuits, reduce customer frustration, and build trust with every visitor.

    The important part isn’t achieving perfection immediately—it’s showing steady progress and a willingness to keep improving.

    Need Help Making Sense of It All?

    If you’re unsure where to begin—or how to scale this web accessibility checklist across your team—216digital can help. We specialize in accessibility audits, practical remediation planning, and ongoing support for businesses serving California consumers.

    Schedule a free ADA briefing today and gain clarity on what compliance means for your website in California. Together, we’ll prioritize the fixes that reduce your risk and deliver a better digital experience for everyone.

    Greg McNeil

    August 22, 2025
    Legal Compliance
    Accessibility, California Consumer Privacy Act, California Web Accessibility Laws, Legal compliance, WCAG, Web Accessibility, Website Accessibility

  • What IS 5568 Compliance Really Means

    If your website is available to users in Israel—and especially if you’re serving the general public—it needs to meet IS 5568. Whether you’re on a product team, working in UX, or leading development, this accessibility standard isn’t something to ignore.

    But let’s be honest: trying to decode legal standards in multiple languages, cross-matched with WCAG, isn’t the most straightforward part of your job. So, this guide is here to break IS 5568 down into practical terms: what it is, where it came from, who it applies to, and what you actually need to do to comply.

    Let’s start at the top.

    What IS IS 5568?

    IS 5568 is Israel’s national standard for digital accessibility. It’s based almost entirely on WCAG 2.0 Level AA—so if you’ve built for WCAG before, you’re already halfway there. The standard applies to websites, mobile apps, digital forms, and documents used by the public.

    IS 5568 officially came into force in October 2017, but its origin goes back much further.

    The Legal Backdrop: How IS 5568 Came to Be

    In 1998, Israel passed the Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities Law (ERPD). This landmark legislation aimed to promote equal participation in society, including for people with physical, sensory, cognitive, and mental impairments—whether permanent or temporary.

    The Commission for Equal Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CERPD) was established shortly after to enforce the law and help guide implementation. Over the years, digital access became a growing area of focus, especially after Israel adopted the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2012. That convention pushed member countries to make digital content—including websites and mobile apps—accessible to all.

    With growing international and domestic pressure, Israel created a new committee that included accessibility experts, government officials, and advocacy groups. The result: IS 5568, a web accessibility standard aligned with WCAG 2.0 AA, tailored for Israeli audiences and legal frameworks.

    Who Needs to Comply with IS 5568?

    In short: any service that’s available to the public in Israel.

    That includes businesses, non-profits, and government organizations across a wide range of sectors:

    • Education
    • Health care
    • Financial services (including banking, insurance, pensions)
    • Transportation
    • Entertainment and leisure
    • Hospitality and tourism
    • Utilities and telecom
    • eCommerce and retail
    • Social services
    • Cultural institutions
    • Religious organizations
    • Public agencies

    If you operate a website or app that users in Israel can access—whether you’re based locally or internationally—you’re likely required to comply.

    Business Size Affects Compliance Timelines

    Business TypeAnnual RevenueCompliance Deadline
    Medium and Large Businesses≥ NIS 300,000Immediately for new sites (after Oct 2017); Oct 2020 for older sites
    Small Businesses< NIS 300,000October 2020
    Private Contractors (Very Small)< NIS 100,000Exempt

    Even if you’re technically exempt, meeting basic accessibility standards is still a smart move. A noncompliant site still limits your reach—and leaves room for reputational risk.

    What Compliance Actually Looks Like

    IS 5568 references WCAG 2.0 Level AA, so your technical benchmarks will sound familiar if you’ve worked in accessibility before. The standard is built around four core principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust—often shortened to POUR.

    Here’s what that means in practical terms:

    • Alt Text: All meaningful images—product photos, icons, infographics—need descriptive alternative text for screen reader users.
    • Color Contrast: Body text should have a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1. Larger text or bold headlines need at least 3:1. Avoid pastel-on-pastel or light gray-on-white combinations (which are more common than you’d think).
    • Clear Form Labels: Every input needs a label. Placeholder text isn’t enough, especially for users navigating with assistive tech.
    • Keyboard Navigation: All interactive elements—menus, buttons, forms—must be usable with a keyboard alone. No traps, no dead ends.
    • Captions for Multimedia: Video and audio content must include synchronized captions or transcripts. This is especially important for Hebrew-language content, where auto-captioning tools may fall short.
    • Accessible Documents: PDFs and other downloadable files need to meet accessibility standards too. That includes structured headings, readable text, and keyboard support.
    • Ongoing Testing: Accessibility isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it situation. Sites need regular audits—especially after major content or design updates.

    What Happens If You Don’t Comply?

    Here’s where things get real.

    IS 5568 is enforced under civil law. That means:

    • Individual lawsuits: Anyone with a disability can sue if your website is not accessible—even if they didn’t suffer financial or physical harm.
    • Class actions: Advocacy groups can file class-action lawsuits on behalf of affected users.
    • Statutory damages: Fines can reach up to NIS 50,000 per violation, even without proof of direct harm. That’s per violation—not per site.
    • Public exposure: Lawsuits and complaints often go public. Even if you resolve the issue later, the reputational damage can linger.

    Unlike other countries where legal action often results in a court order to fix the problem, IS 5568 includes built-in penalties. That’s a big reason why enforcement has teeth.

    Why It’s Worth Doing (Even Beyond the Law)

    Let’s be clear: compliance isn’t just about avoiding lawsuits. It’s also good business.

    Here’s why:

    • Reach a broader audience: Around 1 in 5 people live with a disability. When your site isn’t accessible, you’re unintentionally excluding a significant portion of potential visitors and customers.
    • Strengthen your SEO performance: Best practices like semantic HTML, alt text, and structured headings don’t just help screen readers—they also make your site more search-engine friendly.
    • Enhance the user experience for everyone: Intuitive navigation, clear labels, and legible typography benefit all users, not just those with disabilities. Accessibility often improves overall usability.
    • Stay ahead of future requirements: Meeting WCAG 2.0 AA now lays the groundwork for easier compliance with future versions like 2.2 and 3.0, which address mobile and cognitive accessibility in greater depth.
    • Demonstrate your values: Inclusive design communicates more than compliance—it signals empathy, forward thinking, and a genuine commitment to serving all users. That matters to customers, partners, and talent alike.

    How to Start: A Practical Path to Compliance

    Not sure where to begin? Start here:

    1. Audit your current site: Use both automated tools (like WAVE or Google Lighthouse) and manual testing. Don’t forget mobile and document formats.
    2. Prioritize fixes: Focus on the highest-impact areas: alt text, contrast, keyboard access, forms, and video captions. These issues affect usability—and risk—the most.
    3. Embed accessibility into your process: Accessibility shouldn’t be an afterthought. Build it into your dev and QA pipelines, design reviews, and content workflows.
    4. Test with real users: Include people with disabilities in your usability testing. Their feedback reveals gaps automated scans will miss.
    5. Publish an accessibility statement: Transparency counts. Share your current status, your roadmap, and a way for users to report issues.
    6. Keep checking in: Technology evolves. So should your accessibility. Set reminders for regular re-audits—especially before and after big launches.

    Accessibility Under IS 5568 Is Within Reach

    IS 5568 isn’t just a regulation—it’s a reflection of how digital services should work: for everyone. And while legal compliance is important, the real win is creating an experience that welcomes every user, regardless of how they navigate the web.

    You don’t have to do everything at once. Start with the basics. Fix the critical gaps. Build accessibility into your process—not just your backlog.

    And if you need help charting your path forward, 216digital offers briefings tailored to IS 5568 and WCAG requirements—designed to give your team a clear, practical roadmap, no legal jargon just free guidance that meets you where you are.

    Because accessibility doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right approach, it becomes part of what you already do well.

    Greg McNeil

    July 14, 2025
    Uncategorized
    Accessibility, International Accessibility Laws, IS 5568, Legal compliance, Web Accessibility, web accessibility lawsuits, Website Accessibility

  • How EAA Enforcement Works Across the EU

    If you’re hearing more about the European Accessibility Act (EAA) lately, you’re not alone—and you’re right to be paying attention. With the June 28, 2025 enforcement date around the corner, many U.S. businesses are starting to wonder: Does this apply to us? Are we at risk if we’re not in compliance?

    The short answer? Not necessarily—but that doesn’t mean you should ignore it.

    The EAA is a major development in digital accessibility law for the European Union, and while it’s not a global regulation, it can impact U.S.-based companies that offer products or services to EU customers. For others, it’s simply a signal of where global accessibility expectations are headed.

    This article breaks down what the EAA actually is, who needs to comply, how enforcement works, and how to determine whether it applies to your business. No panic, no guesswork—just the facts and a clear path forward.

    Setting the Stage: What Is the EAA?

    The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is an EU directive focused on improving digital and product accessibility for people with disabilities across member states. It’s designed to standardize accessibility expectations throughout the EU, ensuring equal access to services like banking, transportation, e-commerce, and more.

    The law goes into effect on June 28, 2025, and several EU countries are already working to align their national laws accordingly. For companies operating in the EU, this is a significant compliance milestone.

    But here’s the key point: The EAA only applies to businesses that actively do business in the European Union.

    Who the EAA Applies To—and Who It Doesn’t

    The EAA’s core goal is to eliminate digital accessibility barriers. Whether someone is shopping online, checking into a flight, reading an eBook, or using a mobile banking app, the EAA ensures people with disabilities in the EU can participate fully in everyday digital life.

    Does the EAA Apply to U.S. Businesses?

    In short: Only if you’re engaging directly with EU customers.

    The EAA is not a global requirement. It’s meant for companies that:

    • Operate physically or digitally within the EU,
    • Market or sell directly to consumers in EU countries, or
    • Offer digital services like online platforms or mobile apps in the EU marketplace.

    So, if your business has no EU offices, no EU-based clientele, and no intention to serve EU consumers, the EAA doesn’t apply to you.

    What About Small Businesses?

    Even within the EU, microenterprises—those with fewer than 10 employees and less than €2 million in annual revenue—are exempt. That’s important for U.S. startups and solopreneurs wondering if having a website puts them on the hook. It doesn’t.

    What the EAA Actually Requires

    If your organization does conduct business in the EU, here’s what compliance looks like:

    Covered Products and Services

    The EAA applies to a wide range of digital goods and services, such as:

    • Online marketplaces and e-commerce platforms
    • Mobile apps and websites
    • Digital banking interfaces and ATMs
    • Public transport booking systems
    • eBooks and reading devices
    • Ticketing machines and self-service kiosks

    Accessibility Standards

    Compliance requires aligning with EN 301 549, which references WCAG 2.1 Level AA—a familiar standard in the U.S.

    That means your content and digital tools should be:

    • Perceivable: Understandable with assistive technologies
    • Operable: Usable with various input methods like keyboards
    • Understandable: Clear, predictable layouts and instructions
    • Robust: Functional across devices and platforms

    Accessibility Statements

    EAA-compliant websites and apps must also include an accessibility statement that communicates the site’s current accessibility status, outlines any known limitations, and provides a channel for users to request support or report issues.

    How EAA Enforcement Actually Works

    EAA enforcement isn’t handled at the EU level. Instead, each member state enforces the EAA independently, with its own authority, procedures, and penalty structures. That means the experience—and consequences—can vary from country to country.

    Here are a few notable examples:

    • France: Handled by Défenseur des droits, with fines up to €250,000
    • Germany: Managed by BFIT-Bund and regional bodies; penalties from €10,000 to €500,000
    • Ireland: Overseen by the National Disability Authority; up to €60,000 in fines or imprisonment in serious cases
    • Italy: Governed by AgID; fines can reach €25,000
    • Spain: Managed by OADIS and regional authorities; penalties as high as €600,000

    A Word to Multinational Businesses

    If your business spans multiple EU countries, EAA enforcement can get complex. Each jurisdiction may interpret the directive differently, making early planning essential for smooth, consistent compliance.

    What U.S. Businesses Should Actually Do

    Now that you have a clearer picture, here’s how to assess your next steps.

    1. Evaluate Your Exposure

    Ask yourself:

    • Do you sell to or serve customers in the EU?
    • Do you offer a localized site or support EU languages?
    • Are your apps available in EU-based app stores?

    If the answer is yes, EAA compliance is likely necessary. If not, you’re likely outside its scope—but staying informed is still a wise move.

    2. Take Practical (Not Panicked) Steps

    If you do engage with the EU market, now is the time to:

    • Audit digital products for WCAG 2.1 Level AA alignment
    • Fix known accessibility issues (navigation, color contrast, labeling, etc.)
    • Publish an accessibility statement
    • Document your efforts for accountability

    And if you’re unsure where to start, bring in accessibility experts. The right support can help you avoid missteps, reduce liability, and stay aligned with country-specific EAA enforcement requirements.

    3. Remember: Accessibility Is a Business Advantage

    Even if the EAA doesn’t apply to you now, accessibility is still a smart investment. It can:

    • Broaden your customer reach
    • Improve usability and search engine performance
    • Build long-term brand trust and loyalty
    • Help you stay ahead of evolving legal and market expectations

    And in the U.S., digital accessibility remains a legal risk under the ADA. Proactive improvements made today could save you from future challenges—at home and abroad.

    Looking Ahead: Stay Aware, Not Alarmed

    The European Accessibility Act represents a shift in global digital accessibility expectations—but that doesn’t mean every U.S. business needs to overhaul its operations overnight. If your company doesn’t operate in the EU or serve EU-based customers, this law likely doesn’t apply to you.

    Still, moments like this are valuable reminders. They give forward-thinking businesses a chance to pause, evaluate, and strengthen their digital experiences—not just for compliance but for the real people who rely on accessible technology every day.

    Whether you need to take immediate steps or want to stay ahead of future regulations, the smartest move is to stay informed and be proactive. Accessibility isn’t about reacting to legal threats—it’s about building resilient, inclusive digital experiences that serve everyone, everywhere.

    Need clarity on where you stand or how to move forward? Let 216digital help you navigate accessibility with confidence and purpose.

    Greg McNeil

    June 25, 2025
    Legal Compliance
    2025, Accessibility, EAA, European Accessibility Act, Legal compliance, Website Accessibility

  • Website Legal Compliance: What You’re Missing

    When you launch a new site, it’s easy to obsess over visuals, page speed, and fancy features. Yet the part that can hurt most—financially and reputationally—is website legal compliance. From privacy regulations to accessibility standards and copyright concerns, missing the mark can lead to fines, lawsuits, and serious damage to your reputation.

    In this article, we’ll break down the core legal areas every website owner needs to understand—and offer clear steps to help you stay protected and accountable.

    The Importance of Website Legal Compliance

    Website legal compliance refers to the set of laws and regulations that govern how websites must operate. This includes how personal data is collected, stored, and shared, how accessible your site is to users with disabilities, and how you handle intellectual property.

    Staying aligned with today’s legal standards shows that your site is built with care and intention. It reflects a clear understanding of your users’ needs, the expectations of regulatory bodies, and the broader responsibility that comes with running an online business. In practice, legal compliance supports everything from user trust to operational stability.

    The Rules Are Constantly Evolving

    Unfortunately, keeping up with these responsibilities isn’t always straightforward. Legal standards on the web are constantly shifting—what’s acceptable today might fall short tomorrow. New laws roll out, existing ones evolve, and enforcement becomes more active.

    Global data privacy regulations like the GDPR, state-level laws such as California’s CCPA and CPRA, and evolving accessibility standards like WCAG 2.2 introduce new layers of responsibility. These shifts—each with their own nuances and timelines—make it clear that staying compliant isn’t something you do once and forget.

    It takes ongoing attention, flexibility, and collaboration across your digital team to keep everything aligned. Approaching compliance with intention—rather than waiting until something goes wrong—helps keep your site stable and your risk low.

    Key Areas of Website Legal Compliance

    As legal requirements continue to evolve, it helps to understand where your responsibilities fall. Legal compliance spans a wide range of areas—from how you handle user data to the specific regulations that apply to your industry. Breaking it down into manageable parts can make the process feel more focused and achievable.

    Data Privacy & Protection

    Data privacy is all about respecting and protecting the personal information people share when they visit your website—things like names, email addresses, IP addresses, and browsing activity. It gives individuals the right to understand how their data is used, and the ability to make informed choices about it. This includes having the power to access their information, correct it, or even ask for it to be deleted.

    To support these rights, many countries have passed specific laws that set clear rules for how businesses must collect, handle, and share personal data. These laws apply even if your business is located in a different region, as long as you serve users in those areas. Key examples include:

    • General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): Governs data protection in the European Union. It applies to any business—no matter where it’s located—that collects or processes data from EU residents.
    • California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA): Grants California residents the right to know what personal data is collected, request deletion, and opt out of data sales.
    • California Online Privacy Protection Act (CalOPPA): Requires commercial websites and online services that collect personal data from California residents to post a clear privacy policy.
    • Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA): Canada’s primary privacy law for private-sector organizations, outlining rules for obtaining meaningful consent and handling personal information responsibly.

    These laws are designed to protect users’ privacy, and they often apply based on where your users are—not where your business is. If your website serves visitors in these regions, you’re likely required to comply.

    Where to Start

    If you’re aiming to meet data privacy requirements, begin with a few foundational steps:

    • Post a privacy policy that’s easy to understand and up to date.
    • Use a cookie banner that explains what’s being collected and why.
    • Allow users to access, correct, or delete their personal information.
    • Confirm your third-party vendors handle data responsibly.

    You may also need to address specific regulations, such as the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) if your site collects data from children, or the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC) if your business operates in the U.S.

    Accessibility

    Your website should work for everyone—not just some visitors. Web accessibility means designing your site so that people with disabilities can use it without barriers. This includes individuals with vision, hearing, mobility, and cognitive differences. Making your website accessible isn’t just considerate—it’s often required by law.

    Here are some of the key legal frameworks that shape web accessibility standards:

    • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): A U.S. civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. While the ADA doesn’t specifically name websites, courts have increasingly ruled that business websites—especially those tied to physical storefronts—must be accessible.
    • Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act: Requires federal agencies and organizations receiving federal funding in the U.S. to ensure their websites and digital services are accessible to people with disabilities.
    • Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA): A Canadian law that sets mandatory accessibility standards for public and private sector websites in Ontario.
    • California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act: A state law that guarantees equal access to all business services, and has been used to support lawsuits demanding website accessibility.

    All of these laws reinforce the same idea: digital spaces should be usable by everyone. And they’re pushing more businesses to treat accessibility as essential—not optional.

    Meeting Technical Standards

    Legal requirements are one side of the equation—making them work on your site is the other. Once you’ve wrapped your head around the laws, the next step is applying them in a way that actually works for your users and your team.

    The most widely recognized framework for building accessible websites is provided by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Aiming for WCAG 2.1 Level AA conformance is a strong, practical target. That includes steps like:

    • Making your site usable with a keyboard
    • Adding alt text to meaningful images
    • Providing captions for video content
    • Using clear structure and strong color contrast

    Implementation: Turning Website Legal Compliance Into Culture

    Run an Audit

    Start by evaluating where you stand:

    • Map how personal data flows through your site
    • Check for accessibility barriers
    • Review cookies, plugins, and integrations
    • Document areas for improvement and assign owners

    Audits give you clarity and a foundation for action.

    Update Your Policies

    Maintain clear, accessible documentation:

    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Accessibility Statement

    Avoid legal jargon. Update your policies annually or when regulations change. Place them in visible locations, like your website footer.

    Train Your Team

    Website legal compliance isn’t a solo task. Everyone on your team plays a role:

    • Developers ensure systems protect data
    • Designers build with accessibility in mind
    • Marketers follow consent rules and maintain transparency

    Create a shared checklist and offer periodic training to keep everyone aligned.

    Maintain Ongoing Vigilance

    • Schedule quarterly audits
    • Monitor legal updates from reliable sources
    • Log and address user complaints promptly
    • Track progress on accessibility improvements

    This approach transforms compliance from a one-time task into an ongoing priority.

    Feature an Accessibility Statement

    A good accessibility statement provides:

    • Your current conformance level (e.g., WCAG 2.1 AA)
    • A summary of known issues and planned improvements
    • Contact information for feedback

    Publishing a statement makes your efforts visible and invites accountability.

    Future-Proof Your Website

    Website legal compliance doesn’t happen all at once. It’s woven into how you build, update, and maintain your site over time. From protecting data to improving accessibility, every improvement you make is part of a broader commitment—to your users, to your business, and to doing things right.

    There’s no shortcut, and that’s okay. The point isn’t perfection—it’s consistency. Staying informed, making thoughtful updates, and involving your team means you’re building a foundation that can grow with your business, not against it.


    If you’re unsure where to start or need help making sense of it all, 216digital is here. Let’s talk through your next steps in a quick ADA briefing—no pressure, just practical guidance to help you move forward with clarity.

    Greg McNeil

    May 22, 2025
    Legal Compliance
    Accessibility, ADA Website Compliance, data privacy, GDPR, Legal compliance, Web Accessibility
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