IP Tech Knowledgy
ADA Compliance for Websites Offering Goods or Services (or Employment)
Thousands of lawsuits have been filed in recent years claiming that websites of businesses offering goods or services to the public must, but do not, comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These lawsuits persist even though there are no existing federal regulations (and none on the horizon) that provide standards for website ADA compliance. A lawsuit is almost always preceded by a written demand claiming the website is deficient and affording an opportunity to settle ADA claims if the website is updated to meet certain established accessibility standards and if the business pays legal fees (which can be significant). The best response to a demand is to immediately address website accessibility issues with vendors and legal counsel. Some fixes may be quick and easy while others take time and greater expense. A new trend appears to focus on websites that provide online employment applications. The claims are that the employment process is inaccessible to individuals with disabilities. In any event, all businesses that offer goods or services (and, perhaps, employment) to the public through their websites should take stock of the level of accessibility their websites offer to disabled individuals.