A business website serves as an important gateway for customers seeking information, comparing services, and completing transactions. However, when digital content is difficult to navigate or incompatible with assistive technologies, people with disabilities may encounter barriers that prevent equal access. An ADA non-compliant website can raise accessibility concerns and potentially expose a business to legal challenges, depending on the circumstances. Understanding common website accessibility problems, reviewing applicable requirements, and addressing barriers proactively can help organizations create more inclusive online experiences while reducing avoidable legal risks.
What Makes a Website Inaccessible?
Website accessibility involves designing and maintaining digital content so people with different abilities can perceive, navigate, understand, and interact with it. The Americans with Disabilities ADA non-compliant website disability discrimination in covered contexts, including certain services offered by businesses to the public.
Although the Department of Justice has issued specific technical web accessibility requirements for state and local governments under Title II, private businesses covered by Title III should not assume that the same regulation directly governs them. Nevertheless, accessibility remains an important legal consideration. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are widely used as a technical reference for identifying and addressing digital accessibility barriers.
Common Problems Found on ADA Non-Compliant Websites
Several design and development issues can prevent visitors from using a website effectively.
Missing Alternative Text for Images
People who are blind or have low vision may rely on screen readers to understand visual content. When meaningful images lack appropriate alternative text, users may miss essential information about products, services, instructions, or navigation. Businesses should provide concise, useful descriptions for informative images while leaving purely decorative images appropriately marked.
Inaccessible Keyboard Navigation
Some users cannot operate a mouse and instead navigate websites with a keyboard or assistive device. If menus, buttons, forms, or interactive elements cannot be accessed using keyboard controls, visitors may struggle to complete essential tasks. Clear focus indicators, logical navigation order, and properly functioning controls help make websites easier to operate.
Poor Color Contrast and Unclear Content
Text that blends into its background can be difficult for visitors with low vision or color-vision deficiencies to read. Small text, vague link labels, and complicated instructions can create additional obstacles. Reviewing color contrast, using descriptive headings, and writing straightforward instructions can improve usability for a wider audience.
Inaccessible Forms and Multimedia
Forms without properly associated labels can confuse screen-reader users, while unclear error messages may prevent visitors from correcting mistakes. ADA non-compliant website captions can exclude people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Accessible labels, understandable error notifications, captions, and transcripts help users access information and complete online activities more independently.
How Businesses Can Improve Website Accessibility
Improving accessibility begins with identifying barriers across important pages and user journeys. Automated testing tools can detect certain issues, including missing labels and insufficient color contrast, but they cannot reliably identify every accessibility problem.
Manual testing should complement automated scans. Navigate the website using only a keyboard, test forms and interactive components, and review pages with screen-reader software. Where possible, include people with disabilities in usability testing to uncover barriers that automated tools may overlook.
Businesses should prioritize issues that prevent essential tasks, such as purchasing products, requesting services, accessing account information, or submitting inquiries. Use WCAG as a technical reference, document improvements, and repeat accessibility reviews whenever significant design or content changes occur. An accessibility statement and a clear channel for reporting problems can also help visitors communicate their needs.
When Legal Guidance May Be Appropriate
Accessibility reviews can involve technical, operational, and legal considerations. Businesses receiving an accessibility complaint or demand letter should preserve relevant records, review the allegations carefully, and avoid assuming that installing an accessibility overlay alone resolves every issue.
An attorney familiar with website accessibility can help evaluate the circumstances, explain potential obligations, and discuss appropriate next steps. Legal services related to ADA website accessibility help businesses understand accessibility concerns and assess possible legal exposure. Legal guidance can be especially valuable when a business needs to respond to a claim or develop a structured approach to addressing identified barriers.
Conclusion
Addressing website accessibility helps businesses make online information and services more usable for people with disabilities. Zemel Law navigation, improving image descriptions, reviewing forms, and following recognized accessibility guidance, organizations can identify barriers and plan meaningful improvements. Because legal obligations depend on the business and circumstances, professional advice may help clarify specific concerns. Taking a proactive approach supports a more inclusive customer experience while helping businesses manage potential compliance risks.