ADA Website Compliance: Requirements, Lawsuits, and How to Stay Compliant

Reading time: 10 minutes

Introduction: Why ADA Website Compliance Matters

Every day, millions of people with disabilities encounter barriers when trying to use websites. Broken navigation, missing alt text, poor color contrast, and inaccessible forms shut out roughly 1 in 4 adults in the United States who live with some form of disability. Beyond the moral imperative, failing to meet ADA compliant website requirements carries real legal and financial consequences. In 2025 alone, over 4,600 ADA website compliance lawsuits were filed in federal court, a number that has risen steadily year over year.

Whether you run a small local business or manage a Fortune 500 web presence, understanding ADA compliance rules for websites is no longer optional. This guide walks you through what the law requires, who it applies to, how to avoid costly lawsuits, and provides a complete website ADA compliance checklist you can act on today.

What Is ADA Website Compliance?

So, what is ADA website compliance exactly? The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law in 1990, prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life. Title III of the ADA specifically covers "places of public accommodation," which courts have increasingly interpreted to include websites and digital platforms.

What does ADA compliant mean for websites in practice? It means your website must be designed and developed so that people with disabilities -- including those who are blind, deaf, have motor impairments, or cognitive disabilities -- can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with your content effectively. This includes being compatible with assistive technologies like screen readers, voice recognition software, and alternative input devices.

While the ADA itself does not spell out specific technical standards for websites, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has consistently pointed to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) as the benchmark. In its 2024 rulemaking for state and local governments (Title II), the DOJ formally adopted WCAG 2.1 Level AA, and Title III entities are widely expected to meet the same standard or higher. Most accessibility professionals now recommend targeting WCAG 2.2 Level AA as the current best practice.

Do Websites Have to Be ADA Compliant?

The short answer: yes, most websites do need to be ADA compliant. But the details matter.

ADA website compliance applies to businesses and organizations that fall under Title III of the ADA. This includes virtually any entity that qualifies as a "place of public accommodation," such as:

Retail stores and e-commerce sites -- whether you have a physical storefront or operate entirely online
Restaurants, hotels, and entertainment venues with websites
Banks, insurance companies, and financial services
Healthcare providers and hospitals
Educational institutions (also covered under Section 504 and Title II)
Nonprofits and membership organizations open to the public
Government agencies at the federal, state, and local levels (covered under Title II and Section 508)

Courts have broadly ruled that if your business serves the public and has a website, that website is an extension of your place of public accommodation. Several landmark court decisions -- including Robles v. Domino's Pizza (2019) -- confirmed that websites and mobile apps must be accessible under the ADA, even when the law does not list specific technical standards.

The bottom line: If you operate a business that is open to the public and you have a website, you should treat ADA website compliance requirements as mandatory.

ADA Website Compliance Requirements

The foundation of ADA compliance website requirements is the four POUR principles defined by WCAG. Here is a breakdown of the key requirements your website must meet:

Summary of Key ADA Website Compliance Requirements

WCAG Principle	What It Means	Key Requirements
Perceivable	Users must be able to perceive all content	Alt text for images, captions for videos, sufficient color contrast (4.5:1 minimum), resizable text
Operable	Users must be able to navigate and interact	Full keyboard accessibility, no keyboard traps, skip navigation links, enough time to read content
Understandable	Content must be clear and predictable	Readable language, consistent navigation, clear error messages, input labels on forms
Robust	Content must work with assistive technologies	Valid HTML, proper ARIA attributes, compatible with screen readers and other tools

Specific Website ADA Compliance Requirements

Under WCAG 2.2 Level AA, the ADA compliant website requirements include:

Text alternatives: Every non-decorative image, icon, and graphic must have descriptive alt text.
Video captions and audio descriptions: Pre-recorded video must have synchronized captions; audio-only content needs transcripts.
Color contrast: Text must have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 against its background (3:1 for large text).
Keyboard navigation: Every interactive element must be operable with a keyboard alone, with no keyboard traps.
Focus indicators: Visible focus outlines must appear when users tab through elements.
Form labels and error handling: All form fields need associated labels; errors must be clearly identified with suggestions for correction.
Consistent navigation: Menus and navigation elements must appear in the same relative order across pages.
Resizable text: Content must remain functional when text is resized up to 200%.
No auto-playing media: Audio and video should not play automatically, or users must be able to pause or stop them.
Page titles and heading structure: Each page needs a unique, descriptive title and a logical heading hierarchy.
Link purpose: The purpose of every link must be clear from its text or context.
Target size (new in WCAG 2.2): Interactive targets should be at least 24x24 CSS pixels for easier tapping and clicking.

ADA Website Compliance for Small Businesses

ADA website compliance for small business owners can feel overwhelming, especially when budgets and technical resources are limited. The good news is that achieving compliance does not have to be expensive or complicated.

Practical Steps for Small Businesses

Start with an automated scan. Use a free tool like achecker.ca to identify the most critical issues on your site. Automated scans catch roughly 30-40% of accessibility problems and give you a clear starting point.
Fix the highest-impact issues first. Missing alt text, poor color contrast, and broken keyboard navigation account for the majority of accessibility barriers. Addressing these three areas alone makes a significant difference.
Choose accessible themes and plugins. If you use WordPress, Shopify, or another platform, select themes that are built with accessibility in mind. Many modern themes advertise WCAG compliance.
Train your content team. Anyone who adds content to your website should understand basic accessibility practices, such as writing alt text, using proper heading structure, and creating accessible links.
Document your efforts. Publish an accessibility statement on your website that outlines your commitment, the standards you follow, and how users can report issues.

The ADA Compliant Website Tax Credit

Many small business owners are not aware of the Disabled Access Credit (IRS Form 8826). Eligible small businesses -- those with $1 million or less in revenue or 30 or fewer full-time employees -- can claim an ADA compliant website tax credit of up to $5,000 per year. This credit covers 50% of eligible access expenditures between $250 and $10,250, which can include the cost of making your website accessible. Consult a tax professional to determine if your business qualifies.

ADA Website Compliance Lawsuits: What You Need to Know

ADA website compliance lawsuit filings have surged dramatically over the past decade. Understanding the landscape can help you prioritize remediation and avoid becoming a target.

The Numbers

2025: Over 4,600 ADA-related digital accessibility lawsuits filed in federal courts.
2023-2025: Lawsuit volume increased approximately 15-20% year over year.
E-commerce is the most targeted sector, accounting for roughly 75% of all ADA website lawsuits.
Small and mid-size businesses are frequently targeted, not just large corporations.

Notable ADA Compliant Website Lawsuit Cases

Robles v. Domino's Pizza (2019): The Supreme Court declined to hear Domino's appeal, letting stand a Ninth Circuit ruling that the ADA applies to websites and apps. This case set a powerful precedent.
Gil v. Winn-Dixie (2021): While the Eleventh Circuit ruled that Winn-Dixie's website was not a "place of public accommodation" because it was informational only, the case underscored how fact-specific these rulings can be.
Murphy v. Eyebobs (2023): An e-commerce-only retailer was sued for inaccessible product pages, reinforcing that online-only businesses are not exempt.

How to Reduce Your Lawsuit Risk

The single most effective way to reduce the risk of an ADA website compliance lawsuit is to proactively make your site accessible. Plaintiffs and their attorneys specifically look for common, easily detectable violations -- missing alt text, empty form labels, low contrast text, and inaccessible pop-ups. Running a scan with a tool like achecker.ca and fixing flagged issues puts you in a substantially stronger position.

Additionally, publishing a genuine accessibility statement with a mechanism for users to report issues demonstrates good faith, which courts often consider.

The Complete ADA Website Compliance Checklist

Use this website ADA compliance checklist to audit your site. It covers the most critical WCAG 2.2 Level AA requirements and is designed to be actionable for site owners, developers, and content creators alike.

Perceivable

All images have descriptive alt text (or empty alt for decorative images)
Videos have synchronized captions
Audio content has transcripts
Color contrast meets 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text
Information is not conveyed by color alone
Text can be resized to 200% without loss of content or functionality
Content reflows properly at 320px wide (no horizontal scrolling)

Operable

All interactive elements are keyboard accessible
There are no keyboard traps
Skip navigation links are present
Focus order is logical and sequential
Focus indicators are visible on all interactive elements
Users have enough time to read and interact with content
No content flashes more than three times per second
Pages have descriptive, unique titles
Interactive targets are at least 24x24 CSS pixels

Understandable

Page language is declared in the HTML lang attribute
Navigation is consistent across pages
Form fields have visible labels associated programmatically
Error messages clearly identify the problem and suggest a fix
Input purpose is identified for common fields (name, email, phone)

Robust

HTML validates without critical errors
ARIA attributes are used correctly (or not at all if unnecessary)
Content is compatible with major screen readers (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver)
Custom components communicate their role, state, and value
Status messages are announced to assistive technology without focus shift

Organizational

An accessibility statement is published on the website
A feedback mechanism is available for users to report barriers
Accessibility is included in the content publishing workflow
Third-party content and plugins have been reviewed for accessibility

This ada website compliance checklist is a starting point. For a thorough audit, combine automated scanning with manual testing and, ideally, testing by users with disabilities.

ADA Compliance Website Examples

Looking at ADA compliance website examples can clarify what separates a compliant site from a non-compliant one.

What a Compliant Site Looks Like

gov.uk: Often cited as a gold standard. Clear heading structure, excellent color contrast, fully keyboard navigable, plain language throughout.
Apple.com: Strong alt text on product images, accessible navigation menus, captions on video content, and a dedicated accessibility section.
Target.com: After settling an early ADA lawsuit in 2008, Target rebuilt its site with accessibility at the forefront -- proper form labels, ARIA landmarks, and logical focus order.

Common Problems on Non-Compliant Sites

Image carousels with no alt text and no keyboard controls
Pop-up modals that trap keyboard focus or cannot be dismissed without a mouse
Forms with placeholder text used as the only label (disappears on input)
Videos without captions or transcripts
Navigation menus that only respond to mouse hover
PDF documents that are scanned images with no text layer

The difference between these ADA compliance website examples comes down to whether accessibility was considered during design and development, or treated as an afterthought.

How to Test Your Website for ADA Compliance

Testing is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. Here is a practical approach:

1. Automated Scanning

Start with an automated tool to identify machine-detectable issues. achecker.ca offers a free, fast way to scan your site against WCAG standards. Automated tools are excellent at catching missing alt text, contrast failures, missing form labels, and structural issues. Run scans regularly, especially after content updates or redesigns.

2. Manual Testing

Automated tools catch a significant portion of issues, but they cannot evaluate everything. Supplement with manual checks:

Keyboard testing: Navigate your entire site using only the Tab, Enter, Escape, and arrow keys. Can you reach and operate every element?
Screen reader testing: Use VoiceOver (Mac/iOS), NVDA (Windows, free), or TalkBack (Android) to experience your site as a blind user would.
Zoom testing: Zoom your browser to 200% and check that no content is cut off or overlapping.
Color testing: View your site in grayscale to verify that information is not conveyed by color alone.

3. User Testing

If possible, involve people with disabilities in your testing process. Real users uncover issues that tools and manual checks miss, especially around cognitive accessibility and complex workflows.

4. Professional Audit

For high-stakes websites (e-commerce, healthcare, government), consider a professional accessibility audit. Qualified auditors provide detailed reports mapped to WCAG success criteria and prioritize remediation steps.

ADA Website Compliance Certification and Training

A common question is whether there is an official ADA website compliance certification. There is no government-issued certification that declares a website "ADA compliant." Any vendor claiming to provide an official ADA compliance certificate is misleading you. Compliance is an ongoing process, not a one-time seal of approval.

That said, there are respected professional certifications and ADA website compliance training programs that can build your team's capability:

IAAP (International Association of Accessibility Professionals): Offers the CPWA (Certified Professional in Web Accessibility) and WAS (Web Accessibility Specialist) certifications.
W3C Web Accessibility Initiative: Provides free online courses through edX covering WCAG fundamentals.
Deque University: Offers comprehensive, self-paced accessibility training for developers, designers, and content authors.
Section508.gov: The U.S. government's resource hub with free training materials for federal agencies and vendors.

Investing in ADA website compliance training for your team is one of the most cost-effective ways to maintain long-term accessibility, because it prevents new barriers from being introduced with every content update or feature release.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do websites have to be ADA compliant?

Yes. Courts have consistently ruled that websites of businesses open to the public are covered under Title III of the ADA. While there is no single federal regulation listing exact technical standards for private businesses, the DOJ and courts reference WCAG 2.1/2.2 Level AA as the expected benchmark. If your business serves the public, your website should be accessible.

What does ADA compliant mean for websites?

It means your website is designed so that people with disabilities can access, navigate, and interact with all content and functionality. This includes providing text alternatives for images, ensuring keyboard operability, maintaining sufficient color contrast, and being compatible with assistive technologies like screen readers.

What are the penalties for non-compliance?

ADA lawsuits can result in legal fees, settlement costs (commonly $5,000 to $50,000 for small businesses, and significantly more for larger companies), and injunctive relief requiring you to make your site accessible. There are no statutory damages under Title III of the ADA, but state laws like California's Unruh Act allow for minimum damages of $4,000 per violation per visit.

Does ADA website compliance apply to mobile apps?

Yes. Courts and the DOJ have confirmed that mobile applications are subject to the same accessibility requirements as websites. The Robles v. Domino's Pizza ruling explicitly included the company's mobile app.

Is there a deadline to become ADA compliant?

For private businesses under Title III, there is no specific deadline -- the requirement is ongoing and has been since the ADA was enacted. However, the 2024 Title II rule gave state and local governments specific compliance deadlines (April 2026 for larger entities, April 2027 for smaller ones). Regardless, the longer you wait, the greater your legal exposure.

Can accessibility overlays make my site ADA compliant?

Accessibility overlay widgets (single-line JavaScript tools that add a toolbar to your site) are widely criticized by the accessibility community and disability advocacy organizations. They do not fix underlying code issues and have been the subject of multiple lawsuits themselves. Overlays are not a substitute for proper remediation. Focus on fixing your actual code and content instead.

Conclusion: Take Action on ADA Website Compliance Today

ADA website compliance is not a passing trend -- it is a legal requirement that is increasingly enforced through litigation and regulation. The good news is that making your website accessible benefits everyone: it improves usability, broadens your audience, boosts SEO performance, and protects your business from costly lawsuits.

Start by understanding where your site stands right now. Run a free scan at achecker.ca to get an instant assessment of your website's accessibility issues. From there, use the ADA website compliance checklist in this guide to prioritize fixes, train your team, and build accessibility into your ongoing workflow.

Accessibility is a journey, not a destination. But every step you take toward compliance is a step toward a more inclusive web -- and a more resilient business.