Your website must be accessible to those with disabilities. But this doesn’t mean your website needs a web accessibility policy; there is no legal requirement for this.
Even though the above is true, a web accessibility policy can be very useful. Going over why this is so and speaking with an ADA web accessibility lawyer will make it easier for you to protect your website.
Why Is A Web Accessibility Policy Useful?
A web accessibility policy is a written policy that clarifies the ways in which you will make your website accessible to those with disabilities.
Just as an example, if you intend to add alt text to every image and text alternative to every piece of content, then you can clarify this within your web accessibility policy.
Someone can read your web accessibility policy and, in doing so, understand your commitment to ADA web accessibility. This can make them more likely to use your site while also preventing ADA web accessibility claims.
What Standards Should A Web Accessibility Policy Rely On?
Every web accessibility policy must rely on widely used third-party standards.
A good example of the above is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines that were developed by the World Wide Web Consortium. These are widely used guidelines and are largely considered integral to any form of web accessibility.
You must mention the third-party standards your website relies on in your web accessibility policy. But that’s not all you must mention.
What Types Of Goals Should You Clarify Within Your Web Accessibility Policy?
You should clarify the accessibility goals you are working on within your web accessibility policy.
Returning to an earlier example, if one of your major goals is developing a text alternative for every piece of content on your website, then you should mention that goal.
Alternatively, you can state which level of ADA web accessibility you want your website to reach. This might be “Level AA” or “Level AAA,” depending on your overall goals.
Outside of clarifying your goals, you should also clarify a timeline for said goals. This timeline should be well-delineated and involve specific dates.
If you want to give all of your content a text alternative by January 1st of, 2025, then you should write that. And, then, you must do everything you can to satisfy this goal before the date you have written.
A similar idea pertains to the scope of these goals. For example, if you want all of the content on your website to have a text alternative, then you should clarify that. This is true if you only want the images to have a text alternative.
You can go even deeper and outline how you intend to bring your ADA web accessibility goals to fruition. Some users may appreciate this, as it further affirms your commitment to accessibility. But it isn’t necessary.
Speak With A New York ADA Web Accessibility Lawyer Today
A claim or lawsuit centered on your website’s lack of ADA web accessibility can be very damaging. Speak with a New York ADA web accessibility lawyer at The Samuel Law Firm today, and we will help you protect your website.
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