February 5, 2024
Wondering what is ADA compliance? Well, the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA for short, is a law that was signed by President George Bush in 1990. Its main goal is to ensure that people with disabilities have access to various places and services. It lays out guidelines that both public and private businesses should follow to make sure they're accessible to everyone.
In the United States, there are more than 40 million people with disabilities. The ADA is there to prevent discrimination against them and make sure they're included in all aspects of life.
Absolutely! The ADA applies to businesses and websites too. It's all about making sure that people with disabilities have the same rights as everyone else. Whether you're a small online shop owner or you run a basic website, you're expected to provide accessibility for people with disabilities. That means following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
When it comes to the ADA requirements for business, it involves the following:
Now, ADA rules also apply to websites. This means that even small business websites need to be accessible to people with disabilities. To be ADA-compliant, business owners usually need to follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These guidelines, developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), are a big deal when it comes to making the accessible website to everyone. There are different versions of WCAG, but the most commonly aimed for is Level AA. While these guidelines aren't directly law, U.S. courts often look to them as a standard. Use a website accessibility checker to ensure your website conforms to the latest version, WCAG 2.1, and avoid legal issues.
Under ADA Title I, businesses can't discriminate against employees with disabilities. You can't turn down an applicant just because they have a disability. During the hiring process, you also need to provide reasonable accommodations, such as providing digital materials that follow document and PDF standards and compliances and choosing accessible locations for interviews.
Your employees are the face of your business, and they should know how to interact with customers who have disabilities. Properly educating your team on accessibility best practices is crucial. It could be seen as a violation of ADA Title III if you don't. Keep in mind that disability training shouldn't be a one-time thing; stay updated on current requirements and best practices.
Your physical facilities need to be accessible too. That means having accessible parking spaces, ramps, and entrances for people with different disabilities.
ADA expects businesses to communicate effectively with people who have disabilities, including both employees and customers. You might need to provide auxiliary aids and services, like sign language interpreters or written materials in accessible formats.
Businesses are required to create policies and procedures that ensure people with disabilities aren't discriminated against and have equal access to goods, services, and facilities. This includes things like allowing service animals in your business.
Understanding and following these ADA guidelines is not just about legal compliance; it's about creating an inclusive and accessible world for everyone, regardless of their abilities.
Author Bio: Emilie Brown works with the Digital Marketing team at PREP, an AI-based remediation software that enables businesses to create WCAG and ADA-compliant PDFs in minutes. Her approach and methodology is simple, concise, and to the point and connect with readers seeking for solution-driven content on topics related to accessibility and remediation. Apart from her time at work, she loves to spend time with her dog, volunteer and play her guitar.
