The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce and the Cape Cod Technology Council have collaborated to create this resource for organizations concerned about their website’s ADA compliance.
New guidelines on website accessibility are available from the Department of Justice.
Is Your Website Accessible?
- The Americans with Disabilities Act requires ADA compliant websites
- While there are regulations that govern federally funded web-sites, there are no Dept. of Justice regulations regarding ADA compliance rules for commercial websites.
Eugene Curry discusses ADA compliance for websites at the Cape Cod Tech Council’s May 3, 2019 First Friday breakfast.
Privately developed guides suggest:
- Four principles, twelve guidelines:
- Perceivable – information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive (e.g. text alternatives to non-text content.)
- Operable – user interface components and navigation must be operable (e.g. all functionality available from a keyboard and avoiding content that causes seizures.)
- Understandable – information and the operation of user interface must be understandable (e.g. make text appear and operate in predictable ways.)
- Robust – content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, using assistive technologies (e.g. mobile and future technologies.)
- Who needs to comply?
- Government-funded websites
- Commercial websites
- Mobile apps
How can you tell if your website is compliant?
- Call your website developer
- If you made your own website using an off-the shelf platform, check with that platform.
- Note that compliance requires staff training (if you update content on your website) as well as infrastructure efforts from your developer.
- Check each page of your website using the WAVE: Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool
Here’s how to get compliant
- This list of web developers can assist you
- 118Group – Dylan Steven – 508-591-0405
- Adaptable – Chris Herlihy – (781) 801-5803
- Basimos Digital Marketing – Jean Kourafas – 774-327-3994
- Community Web Development – Kieran Nunan – (508) 694-7126
- Dative – Chris O’Brien – 508-444-2848
- Ryder Web Development – Karen Ryder – 508-241-3664
- Topnotch Innovative Technologies – Ali Rahber – 508-240-1400
- UpThought – Patrick Mahoney – info@upthought.com
- Webfodder – Bruce Christopher – 508-778-9708
Why should you be compliant?
- In 2018, over 2200 law suits were filed – avoid litigation
- Expands your customer base – nearly 1 in 5 people claim some form of disability
First steps if you think you are “being sued?”
DO NOT DELAY!
- If you have been served with a complaint by a process server, you have 20 days to respond from date of service.
- We have heard of members receiving an email from a defense firm in Boston offering defense services and sending a copy of the complaint – however, the member claims no official copy of the complaint (from Deputy Sheriff or Constable) having been received at their place of business or usual residence.
- Demand Letters: in lieu of a lawsuit, the letter states someone has reviewed your website and it’s not compliant, demands you become compliant with WAG standards, and just pay attorney fees (rather than pay damages).
FIRST: Call your insurer – check for liability insurance coverage.
OR contact one of these local attorney(s):
- Eugene Curry – (508) 375-0070
- John Tocci – 617 542 6200 x 212
SECOND: Get your website ADA compliant ASAP.
Resources for organizations and web developers
-
- The ADA Checklist: Website Compliance Guidelines for 2019 in Plain English
- 5 Steps to Make Sure Your Website Is ADA-Compliant
- Your Overview to ADA Compliance for Websites in 2018
- ADA Website Accessibility Lawsuits: How to Protect Your Business
- Accessibility for All: Designing an ADA-Compliant Website
- Practical Strategies for Defending ADA Website Accessibility Claims
- Best Practices for ADA Website Compliance
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Overview
- Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce (NY) and the Center for Disability Rights (CDR) Raise Awareness of Website Accessibility and Lawsuits
- Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce (CA) blog post – Is Your Website ADA Compliant
- The ADA Book by Kris Rivenburgh
Members of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce and the Cape Cod Technology Council will continue to receive updates and invitations to in-person guidance sessions.
Attorney Eugene Curry included ADA Compliance in his First Friday Presentation on May 3, 2019. You may download his slides here [PDF].
This page was updated May 2019