What is ADA compliance for websites?  Is ADA compliance mandatory for websites? – Originally written in 2023, updated for 2024.

The short answer is Yes if your business is considered one of the following categories. (this is for US businesses only)

• Businesses that have 15 or more employees
• Businesses that are open to the public
  • For example:
  • Retail stores and other sales or retail establishments;
  • Banks;
  • Hotels, inns, and motels;
  • Hospitals and medical offices;
  • Food and drink establishments; and
  • Auditoriums, theaters, and sports arenas.
  • Example list provided by ADA.Gov

Long story short, the answer to Is ADA compliance mandatory for websites is YES, if you run a business that caters to the general public, you probably are required to be ADA compliant.

Check out our ADA Compliance Page

Long version & more details on What is ada compliance for websites?

What is ADA compliance for websites? & Is ADA compliance mandatory for websites?
Read more below

What is digital accessibility compliance?
In general, “compliance,” as it relates to digital accessibility, refers to compliance with regulations and laws. As it relates to legal demand letters relating to digital accessibility, “compliance” refers to the actions a company is taking to address or comply with the demands. While AudioEye always recommends seeking legal counsel in the event a demand letter is received regarding digital accessibility, in general, once you begin the process of addressing – or complying with – the demands outlined, and you detail these actions in your response through legal counsel, you are working toward compliance and therefore, generally eliminating your risk as it pertains to the legal demand letter. That is, of course, assuming you complete the process of making your website accessible.

Am I required to make my website accessible?

Yes, though the level of risk depends on your jurisdiction. For businesses in the U.S., the Department of Justice has publicly stated that the Americans with Disabilities Act ADA applies to websites. It applies equally to all businesses, regardless of their size or type, so businesses ranging from e-commerce websites, service websites, real estate, restaurants and more would fall within the scope of the ADA. While not all courts view the severity of non-compliance in the same way, accessibility lawsuits and demand letters are sharply on the rise. Courts often rule in favor of websites needing to be more accessible.

Is there a risk for Small Business for a lawsuit?

Compliance vector icon isolated on white background

Yes, though the level of risk depends on your jurisdiction. For businesses in the U.S., the Department of Justice has publicly stated that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to websites. It applies equally to all businesses, regardless of their size or type, so businesses ranging from e-commerce websites, service websites, real estate, restaurants and more would fall within the scope of the ADA. While not all courts view the severity of non-compliance in the same way, accessibility lawsuits and demand letters are sharply on the rise. Courts often rule in favor of websites needing to be more accessible. As a small business, you would be at risk of digital accessibility lawsuits if you have not yet taken action to make your site accessible.

Is this only for US businesses?

While the US has one of the strongest legal frameworks around digital accessibility, an increasing number of countries, including Canada, Australia, and the UK, also legislate to protect the rights of users who have a disability.  Currently, WebVillage Marketing only supports ADA Compliance Mandatory issues for websites for US businesses.