The Most Common ADA Compliance Issues for Websites

Back to blog

The Most Common ADA Compliance Issues for Websites

Posted August 08, 2022

AudioEye

Posted August 08, 2022

Stylized web page that shows a number of error messages and the label ADA
Stylized web page that shows a number of error messages and the label ADA

Ready to see AudioEye in action?

Watch Demo

Many websites have barriers that affect users with disabilities. Here’s a look at several common potential ADA compliance issues and how to fix them.

Originally Published August 8, 2022

Your website is a powerful marketing tool. But if it isn’t accessible to people with disabilities, it isn’t doing its job — nor is it compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

The ADA requires businesses to provide people with disabilities with equal access to services in “places of public accommodation.” The Department of Justice (DOJ) has consistently taken the position that websites qualify as places of public accommodation, meaning they must be accessible to the disability community. 

Given the rising number of web accessibility lawsuits, organizations of every size must focus on creating more accessible digital content. Especially considering accessibility best practices not only help you meet ADA compliance requirements but provide a better experience for all users.


Below, we’ll look at the most common accessibility issues on websites and how accessibility platforms like AudioEye can help you meet compliance requirements and minimize legal risk.

Chart that show the three levels of conformance for the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

Using WCAG Conformance to Demonstrate ADA Compliance

The ADA is designed to prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities in public places, including online spaces. However, ADA Title III does not include technical specifications for accessible website content. Title II of the ADA does include technical standards, but they apply only to government entities. 

To ensure individuals with disabilities can fully participate in online spaces, the ADA enforces the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which are considered international standards for digital accessibility. 

More simply, the DOJ has identified WCAG conformance — meaning a business voluntarily follows the guidelines — as a way to provide accessible digital content and demonstrate website compliance. WCAG has three levels of conformance; to comply with the ADA, follow the standards included in WCAG 2.1 Level AA as this level removes most website accessibility barriers.


To see how businesses have followed WCAG conformance standards, check out these examples of web accessibility. You can also use an ADA compliance checker to determine how accessible your existing content is.

What Are the Most Common Website ADA Violations?

WCAG 2.1 includes more than 70 success criteria, all designed to increase accessibility for individuals with accessibility. However, there are a few common WCAG violations, including:

Low Contrast Text

Color contrast ratio refers to the difference in light between foreground elements (such as the text on your website) and the background. WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion (SC) 1.4.3 requires websites to maintain a color contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for larger text.

Without an appropriate color contrast ratio, some users may be unable to read your content. Depending on the colors you choose, people with certain vision disabilities (including color vision deficiency syndrome or color blindness) might see a blank page. Additionally, individuals with low vision or neurocognitive conditions may have trouble focusing on the text.


Unfortunately, most websites don’t meet the minimum color contrast threshold. Each year, WebAIM (Web Accessibility in Mind) performs basic audits on the homepages of the top 1 million websites on the internet. In WebAIM’s 2024 report, 81% of homepages had low-contrast text that fell short of WCAG’s requirements. A color contrast checker can help you choose color combinations that are accessible for individuals with disabilities.

Missing Image Alternative Text

WCAG 2.1 SC 1.1.1 requires you to make any information conveyed by non-text content — such as charts or images — accessible through the use of a text alternative. Alternative text (or alt text) is a brief, basic description of the image.

Providing alt text for non-text content enables screen readers and other assistive technologies (AT) to present the media to the user. For example, a person who cannot see a picture can have the alternative text read aloud using synthesized speech. 


The WebAIM 2024 report found that 54.5% of homepages had missing alternative text for images. This is a huge compliance risk — especially considering how often missing alt text is cited in major ADA digital accessibility cases.

Missing Language Tags

WCAG 2.1 SC 3.1.1 requires that the default human language of each web page can be programmatically determined or understood by software. For example, if a web page includes both German and English but most of the content is in German, the default human language should be identified as German by the lang attribute.

Screen readers use different pronunciation rules depending on the language of the content. If the default language isn’t set, the screen reader software must guess what the language is — which can lead to a frustrating experience for users.

Empty Hyperlinks and Poor Link Text

WCAG 2.1 SC 2.4.4 requires that hyperlinks contain descriptive text that helps users understand its purpose, so they can decide whether they want to follow it.

Assistive technology has the ability to provide users with a list of links on the page. Link text that is as meaningful as possible can help people choose which links to follow without having to employ complicated strategies to understand the page.

Precisely what constitutes meaningful link text depends on the link itself. On some pages, “contact us” might be descriptive enough. On others, you might need to provide more information. 


You should, however, avoid empty links. An empty linkis a hyperlink that does not contain link text or any other content to describe its purpose. This can create a confusing browsing experience for screen reader users as they may be unsure of where a link will take them or that a link is available.

Inaccessible Forms and Missing Form Labels

WCAG SC 3.3.2 requires labels or instructions to be provided for forms that require input. Doing so allows screen readers to present the information to the user, decreasing confusion around what’s needed to complete the form. For example, form fields that are either required or optional fields should be properly labeled as such. A date field with a label for the proper format is another example. 


The WebAIM 2024 report found that nearly half (48.6%) of homepages have missing input fields, making it difficult for individuals with disabilities to complete a form easily.

What Happens if My Website Doesn’t Comply with the ADA?

Failing to comply with the ADA poses a significant risk to your business — the biggest being an increased risk of legal consequences. 


The ADA mandates that all places of public accommodation — including the web — be accessible to individuals with disabilities. If your digital content is inaccessible, you may face legal action like costly lawsuits or court fees, not to mention the damage to your reputation. 

For example, one of the most well-known ADA lawsuits happened in 2019 when Domino’s Pizza faced a lawsuit. The case alleged the company’s website and mobile app were not accessible to individuals with visual impairments. Domino’s was ordered to pay a large settlement to the plaintiff as well as implement accessibility features to make the site more accessible. 

Complying with ADA standards not only enables you to avoid legal consequences but also helps you create a more inclusive digital environment. That inclusivity translates into benefits for both you and the disability community. From a business standpoint, a more accessible site extends the reach of your audience, growing your potential customer base and creating new revenue opportunities. Additionally, SEO engines tend to favor websites that are well-structured and user-friendly, which aligns with many accessibility best practices. Higher SEO rankings lead to increased traffic and greater visibility.


Most importantly, an ADA-compliant website tends to perform better for all users — particularly those with disabilities. Giving users access to an intuitive and user-friendly interface improves their experience and ensures they’re able to fully participate in online spaces.

Create ADA-Compliant Digital Content with AudioEye

ADA compliance isn’t just a legal obligation — it’s a strategic advantage for your business, helping you to thrive in a competitive digital landscape. Ensuring your website is accessible and follows ADA and WCAG accessibility standards mitigates potential legal risk, fosters inclusivity, broadens your audience, improves SEO rankings, and improves your overall performance. Prioritizing ADA compliance not only protects your business but also demonstrates your commitment to serving all your customers, regardless of their ability.

Don’t wait until a legal challenge forces you to act. AudioEye allows you to take proactive steps towards ADA compliance with our suite of accessibility tools. From our free Web Accessibility Scanner that identifies common accessibility issues to our Expert Services led by a team of human experts, AudioEye simplifies the process of ADA compliance.


Get started by entering the URL of your digital content into the scanner below. Or schedule a demo to see how easy it is to make your website ADA-compliant with AudioEye.

Ready to see AudioEye in action?

Watch Demo

Ready to test your website for accessibility?

Scan your website now.

Share post

Topics:

Keep Reading