GNYADA 2019 Membership Directory & Services Guide

hot topics / 2019 membership directory & services guide

ACCESSIBLE WEBSITES

Turning a Blind Eye to Website Accessibility Could Cost You 2018 saw 2,285 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) website accessibility lawsuits filed in federal courts in New York, Florida, California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Georgia. This is a threefold increase over the 814 suits filed in these states in 2017. Together, NY and FL make up 96% of these cases – a whopping 1,471 in NY! – and 25% of the companies sued in these lawsuits are NY based. In 2017, all pending regulations addressing ADA website accessibility requirements were withdrawn. Without clear legal standards, almost any company’s website could be targeted and, since there is no limit on attorney fees that can be collected, ADA website litigation is growing rapidly as lawyers look to cash in.

What is an accessible website? Accessible websites can be used by anyone, regardless of ability or impairment (visual, hearing, mobility).

What makes a website accessible? It can be controlled with a keyboard only and has clear, consistent design (e.g., uncrowded layout, sufficient contrast and size of text and images, minimal slideshows and automatic video/audio). Steps to take • Ask your web designer if your site is accessible, if it meets theWeb Content Accessibility Guidelines (these can be found at: www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/); • When choosing a new web developer, include in the agreement a provision that allows you to have the site tested for accessibility.

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