Companies that offer online services must ensure that their websites comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). California businesses and others that don’t comply with ADA website guidelines could face financial penalties of up to $150,000. In addition to avoiding legal consequences, companies can improve their brand’s reputation by making sites that are easy to use.
Make content easy to see and interact with
It may be a good idea to ensure that text can be converted to braille or other formats that might be better suited for a disabled user. You may also want to consider allowing site visitors to zoom in to 200% without making a page hard to read. Finally, it is important that the foreground and the background are different colors so that visitors can follow along with text or videos.
Make sure everything is properly labeled
A website should have navigation menus, page titles and subheadings to ensure that a reader can easily find the information that he or she is looking for. It’s also important to ensure that your site is compatible with both desktops and mobile devices.
Let people know what you’ve done
Ideally, you will create a page outlining the improvements or changes made to your site. The page should explain how these changes make it easier to use the site and provide tutorials to help individuals use navigation or tools that are available to them.
Updating your website may reduce the possibility of defending against ADA website lawsuits. However, if your company is sued by a customer or anyone else who had trouble using your site, it may be a good idea to hire an attorney to help with the case. An attorney may be able to help negotiate a settlement or have a case dismissed.