Not Having an ADA Compliant Website Could Be Costly

ada-compliant-image

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that protects people with disabilities from discrimination. While websites and other digital content online are still not explicitly mentioned in the ADA, regulations and court orders show that the ADA does apply to web content.

ADA compliance means you have made your website accessible for everyone, regardless of their ability. Not complying means individuals with a disability such as a visual impairment can’t access your website as it’s intended – and leaves you vulnerable to potential lawsuits.

With the right tools, the steps required to get compliant are easy, whereas the consequences of being inaccessible are harsh.

If you own a website in the United States, there are some crucial reasons why you should get compliant as soon as possible.

The most important reason is that it’s the right thing to do. Many people worldwide have a disability, visual or neuromotor, which may make them unable to use your website without the accommodation of a screen reader.

Modern life revolves around the internet. If you can’t access the internet, studying, applying for a job, opening a bank account, or visiting a doctor may be impossible for someone with a disability.

Here are the facts when it comes to disability:

  • 1 in 5 Americans has a disability.
  • 80 million Europeans have a disability.
  • Globally, more people are disabled than the number of people who live in China.

Digital accessibility is a potential lifeline for disabled people all around the globe. It’s not morally right, and it’s not good business to have an inaccessible website, especially when you consider that:

  • 71% of customers with digital accessibility issues will leave a website if it isn’t accessible.
  • 82% of customers will pay more money, even for the same item, on a competitor’s website if that website is more accessible.
  • In 2021, an estimated that e-commerce retailers lost $828m because they were not compliant with the ADA.
  • Having an accessible website also has the potential to improve your website’s Search Engine Optimization (SEO) ranking.

Being ADA-compliant means doing the right thing while improving your business through better clickthrough and more engagement on your site.

Not being ADA-compliant is also a financial risk in the legal sense. Under US law, you can sue inaccessible website owners. If you’re sued and lose the case, it could mean hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages and legal fees.

  • The volume of ADA prosecutions has risen massively since 2010. In 2018, 2,200 lawsuits were filed in federal courts. By 2020, there were almost ten website-related ADA lawsuits filed per day.
  • 77.6% of all accessibility lawsuits were online retailers in 2020.
  • 21% of lawsuits are against companies that previously received web accessibility lawsuits.

It’s not just small businesses that are at risk either. Giant corporations and household names like Domino’s Pizza, Edx, American Express, and Carnival Cruise have been sued and forced to pay hefty settlements. In 2020, US companies spent $6.625 billion on ADA settlements. Companies such as McDonald’s and Kmart have also settled cases outside of court.

Luckily, the steps you need to take to get compliant are easy. UserWay’s AI-Powered Accessibility Solution takes all the hard work out of getting ADA-compliant. UserWay is the #1 web accessibility solution for WCAG & ADA compliance, trusted by some of the biggest brands online.

Your website can be on the fast road to accessibility in just a few clicks. It’s time to showcase your commitment to inclusion and help everyone view your website as intended, regardless of their ability.

See more:

Related Posts

Looking to grow your business? Look no further.
Becoming a member of the HFA has more benefits than we can list here. Click the button to learn more.
Trending In

HFA Solution Partners

STORIS Logo

For 30 years, STORIS has been the leading provider of technology to the home furnishings

SEO Company Santa Monica_Logo

In today’s digital era, driving foot traffic to your physical store is invaluable. Our Google

Bright Data_HFA Solution Partner

Powered by advanced AI technology, Bright Data focuses on bringing simplicity to complex e-commerce insights.

Riskified_HFA Solution Partner

Riskified has built an eCommerce risk management platform that allows online merchants to create trusted

Renaissance-HFA Solution Partner

Renaissance is spearheading the furniture industry’s digital transformation via RenCommerce, our virtual business platform –

Sign up for more!
From HFA events to the latest member news, get updates straight to your inbox.
Stay Informed and Up To Date
Subscribe now to elevate your store's success with expert tips and the latest trends delivered straight to your inbox.

Not an HFA member?

Don't miss out on all of our association benefits!