Resources

To answer the question above, “Yes, a small business can receive a lawsuit for an ADA web accessibility violation.”

Going over why the above is true and what it means while speaking with an ADA defense lawyer if you have received a lawsuit will allow you to make the necessary changes to your website and obtain the best possible legal outcome.

Every Small Business Must Abide By The ADA’s Web Accessibility Standards

No matter the business you run, and no matter how big or small this is, you must comply with the laws and provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Some of the provisions within the ADA clarify that every website must be accessible to those who are disabled. In order for your website to be ADA accessible, it must be:

-Perceivable
-Operable
-Understandable
-Robust

Just as an example, those who cannot see will be unable to understand the images on your website. But, if you include alternative text image descriptions – or “alt text,” for short – then this text can be converted to Braille or audio, which then allows those who cannot see to understand what is on your website.

Yet another example is that many people cannot operate a computer mouse. Given this fact, your website must be navigable with just a keyboard so that those who cannot use a mouse can still access and use your site.

If your website is not ADA accessible, then you can receive a lawsuit for an ADA web accessibility violation. You can receive this lawsuit, no matter how small or big your business happens to be.

Preventing An ADA Web Accessibility Lawsuit

To prevent an ADA web accessibility lawsuit, your website must, again, be:

-Perceivable
-Operable
-Understandable
-Robust

Every single one of these guidelines must be met so that your website is accessible to those with disabilities. If your website meets these guidelines, then two things can happen:

-You may receive an ADA web accessibility lawsuit, but it will be tossed out as your website meets the standards for ADA web accessibility.
-You significantly reduce the risk of receiving an ADA web accessibility lawsuit, to begin with, as there is no legitimate reason for anyone to file a lawsuit against you.

If your website does not meet the guidelines outlined earlier, then not only is it far more likely that you will receive an ADA web accessibility lawsuit, but in the event that you do, you will need to:

-Correct the violations on your site.
-Pay a settlement.
-Deal with a weakened business reputation.

Given these facts, the best thing you can do is make sure your website is ADA-accessible.
If your website is ADA accessible, then you likely won’t receive an ADA web accessibility lawsuit, and if you do, it is unlikely anything will come from it.

If your website is not ADA accessible, then you can receive an ADA web accessibility lawsuit, and the consequences will be significant.