The best thing
organizations can do
to eliminate risk is
become accessible.
Governments and organizations recognize this problem and have made
attempts to equalize access. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
became law in 1990, prohibiting discrimination against individuals
with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, and
transportation. It also requires businesses to make online accommodations,
ensuring web content is accessible to the blind, deaf, and those requiring
assistive devices (e.g. screen readers) to navigate a website. These
requirements have put businesses who don't comply in serious legal risk.
Lawsuits targeting websites over ADA violations are increasing rapidly.
In the U.S., over 11,000 ADA Title III lawsuits were filed in 2019, an
8.8% increase from 2018.
1
With predatory litigation showing no signs
of slowing, the best thing organizations can do to eliminate risk is
become accessible. This can be achieved by complying with the W3C's
latest Website Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1), which has
become the benchmark for determining web accessibility.
But for some, it might be too late. If your organization has received a
demand letter, engaging the right accessibility partner can make all the
difference in securing a positive outcome and eliminating future risk.
This guide offers a step-by-step look at the response process required
to limit liability and ensure compliance, today and tomorrow.
1 Source: Seyfarth Shaw
3 | essentialaccessibility.com
