Businesses risk lawsuits if they do not corform to the guidelines, besides being the right thing to do.

Businesses that have an online presence should provide accessibility to disabled users. Not only are there ethical and commercial justifications for implementing the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, in some countries and jurisdictions, there are also legal reasons. In some cases if a business's website is not accessible, then the website owner could be sued for discrimination.

The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that “prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public” (ADA National Network). The law guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications. 

An ADA-compliant website is is a site that is accessible to people with disabilities (e.g., color blindness, vision disabilities, hearing disabilities) in a way that is comparable to the access available to others. There are typically three types of requirements for compliance:

• Technical Requirements: The coding of a website, software, operating system, etc needs to be compatible with assistive technologies.
• Function Requirements: The entire system should be usable by someone with a disability.
• Support Requirements: Support documents and alternative information should also be accessible by people with disabilities.

Is your web site accessible to those with disabilites? We can help you get there.