There are a few basic requirements that virtually all ecommerce websites and brands must be aware of, and ADA compliance is one of these. Short for the Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA is a civil rights statute that prohibits disability-based discrimination and ensures people with disabilities have access to the same rights and opportunities as everyone else - and websites are one key area to consider within ADA compliance.
At SiteSource, we're proud to offer numerous headless ecommerce services to various businesses, including ADA compliant website development and many related solutions to ensure you're always in full compliance here. In this two-part blog series, we'll go over some basics on what ADA compliance means for a website, plus some of the major risks you're taking - and will almost certainly be negatively impacted by - if your site is not in compliance.
For those who are just learning about ADA compliance, the main idea is that business and government websites should be accessible to anyone regardless of their physical capabilities. Not only does this mean providing accommodations for those with sensory impairments (visual or hearing disabilities), but disabled users should also be able to navigate a website quickly and easily.
This means creating properly labeled buttons, text boxes, links and images; ensuring accurate HTML structure; implementing keyboard shortcuts; and more. Effectively, any website must provide reasonable accessibility in the same way as if they were a physical storefront - but for digital visitors.
Sadly, web accessibility is often overlooked, and the fact of the matter is that non-ADA compliant websites are a risk. As awareness of ADA compliance grows, so too does the potential for civil action against companies or organizations who don't abide by its rules.
In fact, complaints related to website accessibility have risen dramatically over the past several years - a trend that's likely to continue as we move further into the digital age. While some of these complaints are simply sent to the target companies, it's important to remember that ADA legislation is still in full force - and any complaint can result in a costly lawsuit. Our next several sections, and on into part two of our series, will go over the key risks you're facing if you don't ensure compliance with ADA guidelines for your website.
One of the most significant risks you're taking by having a non-compliant website is civil action. Specifically, you could face charges and fines for alleged violations of ADA - and depending on the severity of the case, those costs can be hefty.
At the minimum, you'll likely face an injunction requiring your website to become compliant with ADA standards; however, some civil suits have resulted in millions of dollars in damages and fines. While this is an unlikely scenario, it's still a very real risk - and one that can easily be sidestepped by taking the necessary steps to ensure your website is ADA compliant.
In part two of our series, we'll go over other risks associated with non-ADA compliant websites - such as rising customer service costs, a damaged reputation, and even the potential for business closure. Stay tuned for more!
In the meantime, contact us at SiteSource to start learning about our headless ecommerce solutions today. We specialize in ADA compliant web development and website design, and can help you take your brand to the next level with a completely customized ecommerce platform.