With 2285 lawsuits in 2018, is your website ADA compliant?

The Rising Tide of Web Accessibility Lawsuits

In 2017, there were 814 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) web accessibility-related lawsuits filed. Fast forward to 2018, and this number surged to 2,285 lawsuits, marking an astonishing 181% year-over-year increase. While every state in the U.S. saw lawsuits filed, New York, California, and Florida bore the brunt, with the highest number of cases. Notably, industries that found themselves in the crosshairs included retail, food service, travel and hospitality, banking and financial services, and entertainment and leisure. It's evident that no industry is immune to these legal challenges.

In an increasingly digital world, it's essential for all companies and industries we interact with to have a robust digital presence. The ADA is resolute in ensuring that the digital realm is fully accessible to everyone, and that includes the websites we navigate daily. To this end, the ADA has put compliance rules in place for every corner of the World Wide Web. These rules require specific businesses to make accommodations on their websites for people with disabilities.

These accommodations span various aspects of your website, covering:

1. Website Presentation
2. Website Appearance
3. Content Alternatives
4. User Control
5. Website Usability

Now, you might be wondering, "How can I determine if my website is ADA compliant?" It's a valid question, but here's the catch: There are no concrete regulations defining website accessibility, and the ADA asserts that there's no real defense for failing to meet these standards, which can leave many feeling uncertain.

As a general guideline, adhering to Level AA compliance regulations is a good practice. However, this can be a complex and overwhelming list of regulations, and manually ensuring your site remains compliant as you add new content can be quite challenging. To navigate these complexities, 10 Pound Gorilla recommends employing third-party software solutions to identify and rectify compliance issues.

10 Pound Gorilla & Monsido

Monsido is a powerful ally in this endeavor. It diligently scans the vast expanse of your website for compliance issues and provides comprehensive reports on the necessary changes to make your website accessible to all potential customers. With weekly scans, the platform categorizes compliance standards by levels (A, AA, and AAA), allowing you to start with lower-level fixes and progressively work your way up. Monsido offers features designed to assist you in maintaining compliance, including:

• Page Assist: An accessibility toolbar that empowers both disabled and non-disabled visitors to tailor their website viewing experience. This toolbar serves as a badge of compliance and can potentially discourage legal actions.
• PageCorrect: A widget within the platform that helps you detect compliance issues and swiftly address them without altering your website. After making these quick fixes, the platform flags them so you can later incorporate them into your website code at your convenience.

Even with the support of Monsido in identifying ADA issues, compliance can still be a daunting task. That's where 10 Pound Gorilla steps in to assist with your ADA compliance needs. We're hosting a free webinar on Wednesday, July 24th, at 2 PM EDT. We've assembled a panel of industry experts to educate you on the risks and solutions related to ADA compliance. Register for the webinar today.

Source:

2018 ADA Web Accessibility Lawsuit Report

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