ADA Website Compliance Checklist

What is ADA Website Compliance?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title III requires businesses and "places of public accommodation" to be accessible to individuals with disabilities. Many courts have applied this to websites and apps, though federal courts are split on whether a website with no connection to a physical location is covered.

The ADA Website Checklist

To lower legal risk and make your site usable, aim for WCAG 2.2 AA conformance.

Provide Text Alternatives: Ensure all images, icons, and non-text content have descriptive alt text.
Ensure Keyboard Accessibility: Every interactive element (buttons, links, forms) must be usable with a keyboard alone.
Maintain High Color Contrast: Text must have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 against its background (3:1 for large text), and the visual parts needed to identify buttons, inputs and icons at least 3:1.
Use Proper Heading Structure: Use h1 to h6 sequentially to structure content. Don't skip levels.
Make Forms Accessible: Provide clear labels, helpful error messages, and ensure fields are programmatically associated with their labels.
Add Captions to Videos: All prerecorded and live audio-video content must have accurate captions.
Provide Skip Links: Allow keyboard users to bypass repetitive navigation links and jump straight to the main content.
Publish an Accessibility Statement: Clearly state your commitment to accessibility, the standards you aim for (e.g., WCAG 2.2 AA), and provide a contact method for users who encounter barriers.

Automated vs. Manual Testing

Automated tools like AccessiSight catch many common failures quickly (missing alt text, contrast errors, unlabelled fields), but no tool finds everything: in a 2017 test by the UK Government Digital Service, the best single automated tool found 41% of 143 planted barriers. Manual testing is still needed for reading order, complex widget interactions and overall usability.

常见问题

Does the ADA explicitly mention websites?

The ADA was written in 1990 before the modern internet. The Department of Justice takes the position that Title III applies to the websites of businesses open to the public, and many courts agree, though some require a connection to a physical location.

Can an accessibility widget make my site ADA compliant?

No. Overlay widgets cannot fix underlying code issues and often introduce new barriers. ADA compliance requires fixing the source code to meet WCAG standards.