If you’re running a business, managing a government agency, or launching a new website, you’ve probably heard about the need to be “ADA compliant” or meet “WCAG standards.” But what does that really mean—and why does it matter?
Let’s break it down.
What is Accessibility Compliance?
At its core, accessibility compliance means making sure your digital content—your website, app, PDFs, etc.—can be used by everyone, including people with disabilities.
There are three main standards most organizations need to consider:
WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines): A technical standard developed by the W3C. Most laws reference WCAG 2.1 (and soon, 2.2) as the benchmark for accessibility.
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act): U.S. civil rights law that prohibits discrimination. Title III applies to businesses; Title II applies to public agencies.
Section 508: A U.S. federal law requiring government digital content to be accessible. Private businesses often need to follow this if they sell to the government.
If your site isn’t compliant, you’re not just risking user frustration—you may be at risk of litigation.
Why It Matters
In 2023 alone, over 4,600 digital accessibility lawsuits were filed in the U.S., and that number is rising. The average settlement? Around $6,000—not including legal fees or reputational damage.
But compliance isn’t just about risk. It’s about reaching more people. 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. lives with a disability. That’s a huge segment of your audience—and your customers.
The Truth About “Easy” Fixes
A lot of companies market overlays or widgets that claim to make your site accessible with one line of code. But these tools often:
Don’t address underlying code or UX issues
Can interfere with real assistive technology (like screen readers)
Leave businesses open to lawsuits anyway (yes, even with the widget installed)
The Department of Justice has made it clear: overlays alone do not equal compliance.
Real compliance requires real fixes—from alt text and semantic structure to color contrast and keyboard navigation.
Bottom Line: Compliance Isn’t Optional. But It Can Be Practical.
You don’t need to fix everything overnight. What you do need is a partner who understands the law, the tech, and the reality of running a business.
That’s where we come in.
