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By Boral Agency Team

February 3, 2020

How to Make Your Website ADA Compliant

Did you know that millions of people may not be able to fully access or navigate your website? In today’s digital-first world, businesses must ensure their websites are accessible to everyone—including users with disabilities.

Web accessibility is not just a legal requirement but also a strategic advantage. With an ADA-compliant website, you can improve user experience, avoid legal risks, boost your SEO rankings, and expand your customer base.

As we move into 2025, ADA compliance is evolving with updated Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and emerging trends in web design. In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know to make your website accessible and compliant.

In this guide, you will learn:

Understanding ADA Compliance and Why It Matters
The Legal and Business Risks of Non-Compliance
Key WCAG Guidelines for 2025
Why WCAG Compliance is Critical for Your Website
How to Make Your Website WCAG-Compliant
Next Steps: Making Your Website Fully Accessible

Now, let’s dive into each section and explore how you can make your website ADA-compliant

Understanding ADA Compliance and Why It Matters

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed in 1990, was designed to ensure equal access to public spaces for individuals with disabilities. Today, the internet is an essential part of daily life, making website accessibility a crucial extension of this law.

Websites must comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to meet ADA requirements. These guidelines ensure that websites are perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for all users, including those who rely on assistive technologies.

For a detailed accessibility audit of your website, request a Free Website Report to identify key areas for improvement.

The Legal and Business Risks of Non-Compliance

Failing to meet ADA compliance can have serious consequences for your business:

Legal Risks: Many businesses have faced lawsuits for having inaccessible websites. For example, in 2017, Winn-Dixie had to invest $250,000 in website updates after being sued by a blind customer for lack of accessibility.

Lost Customers: More than 3.4 million Americans aged 40 and older are visually impaired. Without accessibility features, your website may exclude a large portion of potential customers.

SEO and Brand Reputation: Google prioritizes accessible websites, meaning an ADA-compliant website can improve your search rankings and credibility.

What is WCAG and Why It Matters

Understanding WCAG: The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the internationally recognized standards for making web content more accessible to people with disabilities. Developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), WCAG provides a structured framework for businesses and developers to ensure their websites are inclusive, user-friendly, and compliant with accessibility laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

WCAG is updated regularly to reflect technological advancements and evolving accessibility needs. The latest version, WCAG 2.2, introduces new success criteria and improvements to ensure better usability for all individuals, including those with cognitive and visual impairments.

The Core Principles of WCAG

WCAG guidelines are built on four fundamental principles, often referred to as POUR:

Perceivable – Users must be able to perceive website content in different ways, regardless of their abilities.
- Example: Adding alt-text to images so screen readers can describe them to visually impaired users.
- Example: Using closed captions for videos so deaf users can access the content.

2. Operable – Users must be able to interact with and navigate a website using different methods (keyboard, voice control, assistive devices).

Example: Ensuring websites are fully navigable via keyboard for users who cannot use a mouse.
Example: Avoiding flashing images that could trigger seizures.

3. Understandable – Content and navigation should be clear, logical, and easy to comprehend.

Example: Using simple, readable fonts and avoiding jargon.
Example: Providing error messages with explanations when users input incorrect data in forms.

4.Robust – Websites should be built to work well across different devices and assistive technologies (e.g., screen readers, voice assistants).

- Example: Using semantic HTML so assistive technologies can correctly interpret content.
- Example: Ensuring compatibility with different web browsers and mobile devices.

WCAG Levels of Compliance

WCAG compliance is divided into three levels, each representing different degrees of accessibility:

Level A (Basic Accessibility)

This is the minimum level of compliance.
Focuses on the most essential barriers that prevent users with disabilities from accessing content.
Example: Providing alt-text for images, ensuring keyboard navigation.

Level AA (Standard Accessibility)

Required by most accessibility laws, including ADA compliance.
Addresses usability improvements for a broader range of disabilities.
Example: Providing sufficient color contrast for readability, ensuring consistent navigation across pages.

Level AAA (Advanced Accessibility)

The highest level of accessibility, but not always required.
Designed for websites catering to a highly diverse audience with significant accessibility needs.
Example: Providing sign language interpretation for videos, offering multiple ways to find content.

For most businesses, achieving WCAG 2.2 Level AA compliance is the recommended goal to meet legal requirements and provide an inclusive user experience.

New WCAG 2.2 Updates for 2025

The latest WCAG 2.2 update introduces new success criteria to address accessibility gaps. Some of the key updates include:

Focus Appearance (Enhanced) – Ensures that interactive elements (buttons, links, form fields) have a visible focus indicator for keyboard users.
Dragging Movements – Users must be able to perform tasks without needing to drag elements (helpful for individuals with motor impairments).
Consistent Help Features – Websites must provide easy-to-find help options (chat support, contact forms) that remain in the same location on all pages.
Target Size (Minimum): This ensures that interactive elements like buttons and links are large enough to be clicked on easily without accidental clicks.
Redundant Entry – Users should not have to re-enter the same information multiple times during a process (such as filling out forms).

These improvements enhance usability and make websites more accessible to users with cognitive disabilities, motor impairments, and low vision.

Why WCAG Compliance is Critical for Your Website

Legal Protection – Non-compliance with WCAG can lead to lawsuits, as businesses are required to meet accessibility standards under ADA and other global regulations.
SEO Benefits – Google favors accessible websites, meaning WCAG compliance can improve your search engine rankings.
Better User Experience – An accessible website benefits everyone, not just users with disabilities. Improved navigation, readability, and usability result in higher engagement and conversions.
Expanded Audience – More than 15 percent of the world’s population has some form of disability. WCAG compliance ensures you aren’t excluding potential customers.

To dive deeper into how these principles impact web design, check out our Web Accessibility Guide.

How to Make Your Website WCAG-Compliant

To ensure your website meets WCAG 2.2 compliance, follow these best practices:

Use Alt-Text for Images

Write descriptive alt-text for all images so that screen readers can describe them.
Example: Instead of “Image of a phone,” write “Black iPhone displaying a digital marketing dashboard.”

Improve Readability

Use sans-serif fonts like Open Sans or Roboto.
Maintain a high contrast ratio (at least 4.5:1).

Ensure Full Keyboard Accessibility

Users should be able to navigate without using a mouse.
Use the Tab key test to ensure all buttons and links are accessible.

Avoid Flashing Elements

Flashing animations should be limited to less than three times per second to prevent seizures.

Provide Captions for Videos

Add closed captions to videos for users who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Ensure Responsive Design

Your website should work across mobile devices, tablets, and desktops without accessibility barriers.

Test Your Website with Assistive Technologies

Use tools like Google Lighthouse, WAVE, or axe DevTools to identify accessibility issues.

Next Steps: Making Your Website Fully Accessible

Creating an accessible website is an ongoing effort. Here’s how to get started:

Conduct an Accessibility Audit – Use tools like WAVE or Google Lighthouse to identify compliance gaps.
Implement Quick Fixes – Add alt-text, improve color contrast, and ensure keyboard navigation.
Develop a Long-Term Accessibility Strategy – Train your web team on ADA compliance and integrate accessibility checks into your workflow.
Monitor and Update Regularly – As WCAG updates its guidelines, your website should evolve accordingly.

Final Thoughts

Ensuring your website is ADA-compliant is no longer an option—it’s a necessity. In today’s digital-first world, accessibility is key to providing an inclusive, user-friendly experience for all visitors. By following the latest WCAG 2.2 guidelines, businesses can improve usability, enhance SEO rankings, expand audience reach, and avoid costly legal issues.

Web accessibility is not just about compliance—it’s about building a better, more equitable internet where everyone, regardless of ability, can fully engage with your content. Whether you are updating an existing website or planning a redesign, making accessibility a priority will ensure your site meets the needs of all users while aligning with best practices in digital marketing, SEO, and user experience (UX).

Is your website truly accessible to everyone?

Boral Agency can help you achieve full WCAG compliance with a comprehensive website audit and strategic accessibility improvements. Ensuring your site is inclusive not only protects your business from legal risks but also enhances user experience, improves SEO, and expands your audience reach.