Introduction

As a business owner, you know your website is your digital storefront. But what if some of your customers can't get in the door? Website accessibility lawsuits are on the rise, and businesses are facing increasing legal pressure to ensure their sites are usable by people with disabilities.

The short answer is: to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), your website should follow the technical standards known as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

This guide will break down what WCAG is, why it's crucial for your business, and a few simple first steps you can take to improve your site's accessibility.

What is WCAG and Why Does it Matter?

The WCAG is a set of technical guidelines for making web content accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities, including visual, auditory, and motor impairments. While the ADA itself doesn't explicitly mention websites, U.S. courts have consistently ruled that commercial websites are "places of public accommodation" and must be accessible.

Failing to comply not only excludes a significant portion of the population but also exposes your business to demand letters and costly lawsuits.

The 4 Principles of WCAG

WCAG is organized around four core principles, easily remembered by the acronym POUR:

1. Perceivable: Users must be able to perceive the information being presented. This means providing text alternatives for images (alt text) and captions for videos.

   
   

2. Operable: Users must be able to operate the interface. This means your website should be fully navigable with a keyboard alone, without requiring a mouse.