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Why Is ADA Compliance Important For Law Firm Websites?
Posted on By Author content@adaforweb.com Categories Law Firms

Why Is ADA Compliance Important For Law Firm Websites?

In this era of technology, it would be hard to find law firms that don’t have websites. Knowing your rights and obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act is important if you happen to own a law firm. Making your website as inclusive as possible should be one of your top concerns since a wide range of people will visit it.

Since it makes your service user-friendly and accessible to everyone, ADA compliance is more important than you might think. It is also an essential element of your marketing strategy and how you present yourself to visitors and potential clients.

The website of your law firm should be designed in a way that makes navigation easy for those with disabilities. This article will dive deep into the reasons why ADA compliance is a must for law firm websites. So, stick around till the end!

Importance Of ADA Compliance For Law Firms

The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) is a landmark civil rights law. The goal of the ADA is to protect people with disabilities from discrimination in State, and local government services and employment. The reason why ADA for websites is so important is that it takes away the mystery.

Accessibility
ADA Compliance is important because the law firm has legal responsibilities to its clients. Among other things, a law firm must ensure that its clients can utilize all of the firm’s services and products as needed.

Ensuring proper access allows for full access to all of a client’s legal matters, whether in-person or on an electronic device. Without accessibility, many individuals with disabilities are unable to fully participate in processes such as depositions, pleadings, and motions.

Ensures Equality
ADA Compliance is also important because it ensures that all of the firm’s clients are treated equally. One of the fundamentals of the Americans with Disabilities Act is that individuals with disabilities should be afforded the same opportunities as others.

The laws and regulations that require people with disabilities to be able to access buildings and facilities should not be ignored. It is just as important for a law firm, as any other business entity, to serve its customers effectively and efficiently.

Investment
Finally, being ADA compliant is a monetary and reputational investment. In other words, just as a law firm would not solicit clients who do not have proper documentation for legal representation. It should not also solicit clients who have physical impairments if the firm doesn’t take steps to ensure access.

The law firm should make good-faith efforts to provide physical access to all of its offices as needed by individuals with mobility impairments. If a particular office is in an inaccessible space, it should be moved or modified so that it is accessible. The law firm might also consider moving all of its offices to a more accessible location.

How To Know If Your Law Website Is ADA Compliant?
The ADA helps you understand what’s required of you as a law firm, and then you can decide how to implement these features into your website. When people visit your website, they do so with you in mind.

They would like to feel welcomed and connect with you. And when they find that yours is not an ADA compliant website, this has a negative impact on how they view you and your law firm. Here are some general ADA compliance tips that’ll help you identify whether your website is ADA compliant.

Menu Options And Menu Location
Menu options should be listed in a logical order to reduce confusion. The menu should be visible on all parts of the site, including the homepage and inner pages. The menu location has to be high enough for all users to access easily.

Menus should have a character limit long enough to list all options on the same page. Menus should be labeled with general descriptions, not with technical jargon. These general descriptions need to be in a different color and font size/style than the main text on the site.

Text Size
The text should be at least 14 points in size when displayed at 100%. The 14 point minimum is an ideal recommendation, and it’s based on what most users can comfortably read.

Text Contrast
Contrast is the difference between two contrasting colors. They need to have a difference of at least 35%. This concept applies to both images and text. If you’re using a light color for the content, you can consider using a darker color for the background. If you’re using a dark color for the content, use a lighter color to make the reading easier on your users.

Text Color
The text should be 13 to 15 shades of gray. White text on a black or dark background would be fine for your main content, but for footnotes and the like, you should use a darker color that can stand out better against the white background and make it easier to read.

You don’t have to go crazy with the color scheme you choose. For example, if you’re using a blue background with yellow text, this may not be accessible by all users because blue is something they can’t see.
Style, Size, And Location of Links

Users should be able to navigate the website without confusion. When it comes to links, you should describe what is at the other end of the link. This will create non-visual clues that indicate where the link goes.

Having a strong link color coded with the background will help you differentiate between primary content and secondary links. As an example, you can have a light-colored background that is followed by an underline to indicate that it’s clickable.

Tools For Third Party Assessments

There are many ADA compliance software out there that can be useful in evaluating your website accessibility. One thing you have to keep in mind is that they’re not all equal and there are some tools out there that are better suited for certain purposes.

Conclusion
To provide and ensure service for the handicapped, ADA compliance for your website is a must. Now that you are aware of the significance of ADA compliance for law firm websites, don’t waste any time and focus on making your website ADA compliant right away!

Website Accessibility For All—Is Your Company ADA Compliant?
Posted on By Author content@adaforweb.com Categories Learn About Web Accessibility

Website Accessibility For All—Is Your Company ADA Compliant?

In this era of technology, ensuring that your websites are accessible to a diverse range of visitors should be a top priority if you happen to be a business owner. So, if you are wondering whether your company is ADA compliant or not, you’ve come to the right place!

In this article, we’ll discuss how you can check if your company is ADA compliant, along with some other ADA compliance consulting and helpful information you might need.

Why Is ADA Compliance Vital For Your Business?

In designed to safeguard your company from penalties and lawsuits, ADA compliance is essential. Additionally, it helps businesses expand their web presence and improve their reputation.

Businesses that violate the rule also run the risk of paying over $100,000 fines for each violation, as well as being subject to legal action and negative press. The disabled community also values ADA compliance since it enables them to use your products and services both in person and online.

Additionally, having an ADA compliance website increases visitors and profitability. Again, the Internal Revenue Service provides write-offs and tax credits for companies that are accessible to people with disabilities.

For example, a business can benefit from the $5,000 USD Disabled Access Credit, which covers costs incurred to increase accessibility for disabled people. It covers expenditures for both real-world and online locations.

Furthermore, companies can take advantage of the job opportunity credit by actively employing individuals with disabilities. Thus, you can claim a tax credit for a disabled employee’s pay in your first year of employment.

However, ADA compliance is not only legal but also ethically right. Companies must abide by the laws and guarantee that everyone has access to resources. Therefore, ADA compliance is beneficial for your company and brand reputation and also essential to ensure the human rights of your diverse range of clientele.

How To Check If Your Company Website Is ADA Compliant

Regarding ADA website accessibility, there are not any precise guidelines. However, most organizations, including governmental institutions, follow the WCAG standards. You can use automated testing, human testing, or a mix of the two to ensure your website conforms to the ADA standards. The following are a few ways to check if your company is ADA compliant or not:

● Try Using Free Tools
Numerous freely accessible ADA compliance checkers are available for businesses to utilize, which examine your site’s text size, image alt text, color contrast, and other factors. . For example, Lighthouse and WAVE. The drawback is that they only assess a single page at a single time rather than your entire website.
Moreover, anyone wishing to perform an ADA site test can access various other tools. These tools assist in determining whether or not the website complies with the WCAG guidelines. Besides,you may even install ADA compliance plugins if you have access to a WordPress website.

● Requesting A Professional Evaluation
A professional assessment is yet another method you might use to determine whether or not your website complies with the ADA. Some numerous qualified individuals and organizations may analyze your website or websites in-depth and offer advice accordingly.
According to your terms, the agency may make suggestions on your company’s behalf. However, your company will choose if you should spend money on an audit.

● Performing Manual Audits
You can also do a manual audit to check the ADA compliance of your website. To do this, examine the URLs on your company’s website. Using the WCAG, a physical audit entails assessing the usability of each page on the website. Although WCAG seems to be a sizable checklist, it serves as the foundation for ADA compatibility.
However, a manual audit is typically unrealistic for businesses, considering the consequences of not complying with ADA regulations. Using ADA compliance software or spending money on an expert audit ensures your company develops the most acceptable ADA compliance strategy.

● Request Testing From Family & Friends
It’s a less well-known but helpful method of determining whether or not a site complies with the ADA. So, try to select a variety of users, both able-bodied and impaired, and decide whether or not they can easily browse your app or website.

● Compare Your Website To The WCAG Guidelines
You can also use a WCAG test to determine whether your website complies with ADA standards. It will enable you to identify any website areas that don’t adhere to the ADA standards. There are four core principles of WCAG, which further create specific recommendations. These are: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.

How To Develop An ADA-compliant Website
Making sure a new website conforms with the ADA is among the most crucial considerations when launching it. So, now, let’s discuss how to develop an ADA-compliant site for your convenience:

1. Include Image Description
Images on websites are essential for conveying information. However, that will be challenging for those who are blind. Adding “alt text” to every picture is a simple fix.
Well, for someone to use a screening tool to comprehend the intended expression of the picture, alt text offers a detailed description.

2. Activate The Keyboard Navigation
Many disabled people using the internet depend on keyboards or other input devices instead of computer mouses for navigating. People often use the ‘Enter’ and ‘Esc’ keys as keyboard shortcuts for opening and closing drop-down menus, respectively.
They can move between different page items by pressing the “Tab” button.

3. Simplify The Website Visuals
One of the most significant issues people with disabilities face is ill-defined visual features. A business owner must make their material accessible to all clients, regardless of whether they have visual or cognitive disabilities.
Ensure that all your website visuals are simple and have improved color contrast.

4. Offer Video & Audio Content Substitutes
There are other types of media as well as images that need a flexible response solution. For instance, transcripts of audio-only material should provide the same information. Besides, videos ought to include captions.
Another valuable method for facilitating access to media for the deaf is sign language translation.

5. Hire A Professional
Hiring a professional company for the job is the most straightforward choice for most businesses. You may update your website quickly and confidently by working with a reputable expert website design company. Thus, you won’t have to worry about assembling an internal project team or managing enough time.
Although cost is a consideration that every business must recognize when considering employing an agency, you need to evaluate the return on that investment. You risk facing costly fines and legal action if your website isn’t ADA compliant. You may reduce this risk by working with an ADA-compliant website design company.

Conclusion
By now, you’ve got to know the significance of ADA compliance for your business and ways to check it. So, if you are considering hiring a professional company to make your website ADA compliant or need ADA compliance consulting, don’t hesitate to contact ADA for Web. We’re looking forward to doing business with you.

Lawsuits Targeting Business Websites Over ADA Violations Are On the Rise
Posted on By Author content@adaforweb.com Categories Law Firms

Lawsuits Targeting Business Websites Over ADA Violations Are On the Rise

Technology is touching every facet of our lives nowadays. From kids to senior citizens, everyone has access to the internet. And when something is being used by so many people worldwide, the question of accessibility becomes an important conversation.

Failing to match accessibility guidelines can brew serious trouble. So, this guide will be all about the web accessibility lawsuit. We will discuss what you need to know about it and more importantly what you should do if you have a website.

ADA Violations Lawsuits: What You Need to Know

In 2022, having a business website is not an optional thing. Customers are more informed nowadays than ever. And they do their research online and visit company websites. And in some cases, they will directly purchase a product, or service or get information from the company website.

To compete, you need to have a compelling website. That is a basic thing in today’s day and age. However, American law takes things a bit farther than that.

Laws like the ADA Act ensure that people with disabilities in seeing and hearing can use websites properly. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, your website needs to be easy to use and friendly.

Failing to comply with the law can result in website accessibility lawsuits. This can cause harm to your brand both in monetary terms and also its image. Moreover, having an accessible website is the right thing to do.

It allows you to reach more people. Accessible websites make for an inclusive world wide web. Most of the lawsuits are ADA Title III. It allows for a website to be accessible for people with all kinds of disabilities. You can read this article to know more.

ADA Lawsuits Are on The Site: And There is Something You Can Do About It

The thing you need to know is that these lawsuits are on the rise. And chances are they might not stop that soon. Just in 2018, there were nearly 5,000 ADA. The shocking thing? This was just in the first 6 months. Now that is not something websites and business owners would want to hear.

Florida, California, and New York have seen 85% of the federal filings in 2020. And over 8,000 lawsuits have been filed or removed just between 2017 to 2020. If you think about that, that is a staggering number.

An argument that can come up is whether or not these allegations or lawsuits are frivolous. That means are all these lawsuits legitimate or are people abusing the law here. While there is no denying that some lawsuits are indeed frivolous, some are not.

There will be some plaintiffs that are serial litigants. That is not always the case when it is legitimate. And then you need to be ready for it.

In some lawsuits, the plaintiffs did win. For example, in 2017, Juan Carlos Gill’s case went to the federal court.
He sued a supermarket chain because he could not use their website since he has a visual impairment. He won the case.
Companies now need to be extra diligent about their online presence. And inclusivity is pretty important. At the end of the day, it does not matter whether the cases were frivolous or who won.

Accessibility should be a consideration regardless. Making the web more accessible will help everyone all around and the companies will also be able to create a better brand image as well. No matter how you look at it, whether from the point of view of the law or a business perspective, ADA compliance websites are good.

Reducing Your Risk of Accessibility Lawsuits

While the number of lawsuits is rising, there are some actionable steps you can take to reduce your risk of an ADA-compliant website lawsuit. Since ADA website accessibility has guidelines, a good web consulting firm like ADAforweb can help.

Information and expert guidance are the keys to making your website user-friendly and accessible.

ADAforweb helps identify the right strategy for partners just like you. The process is designed to benefit both you and your clients. So, it is a win-win situation for all. Other than that, there are some basic steps you can take.

1. A Responsive Site is a Compliant Site
The first order of business is to have a responsive website. Responsive does not only mean that it is fast and smooth to use. It also refers to the client site device. Your website should be usable (and have the same information) on different devices like desktops and mobile.

2. Easy to Use Buttons and Forms
Any serious company website will have forms and buttons. Ensure these are designed in a user-friendly way and easy to use for the most part. The labels and all input elements should be visible. Any documents or text should be readable as well and it goes the same for forms.

3. Keyboard Navigation
One of the most overlooked features is keyboard navigation. Many websites do not incorporate proper keyboard navigation. Seniors who want to use websites and computers might prefer using a keyboard. This is where it becomes pretty necessary.

4. Color Contrast for Visually Impaired
Honestly, you could put this at the very top of the list. The first thing anyone will see when they visit your website is the design, colors, images, and layout. The color contrast needs to be designed with complementary colors. Contrast for high visibility is always recommended.

5. Conforming with WCAG 2.1 AA
You can reduce the risk of a lawsuit quite a lot by conforming to WCAG 2.1 AA standards. If you don’t know what it includes then you can click here to learn about everything you need to know.

Wrapping Up
With web accessibility lawsuits on the rise, it is now more important than ever to be compliant with ADA standards. Not only is it required by law, but it makes the web more accessible for people.

That in general is the right thing to do. You can get the critical information and expert counseling you need at ADAforweb.

Website Accessibility & The Law: Why Your Website Must Be Compliant
Posted on By Author content@adaforweb.com Categories Learn About Web Accessibility

Website Accessibility & The Law: Why Your Website Must Be Compliant

In this era of technology, websites are an increasingly important source of information. Unfortunately, many websites are not designed or coded in a way that enables users of all abilities to access the site’s content. As a result, many sites can be difficult or impossible to use by people with disabilities.

Website accessibility law is an emerging legal domain where websites, computer programs, and digital service providers are required to comply with a minimum set of requirements. This will enable people with disabilities access to online services.

It allows people with disabilities to access the same information as everyone else. It brings your business into compliance with important regulations and standards. This article explores the federal law that affects website accessibility and discusses its implications for website owners and operators.

Why Website Accessibility Laws Are Important
Website accessibility laws help ensure that all websites in a country are accessible by following common accessibility guidelines. Website developers must adhere to these guidelines if their website is on public property and is used by federal employees or federally funded organisations.

One of the main benefits of website accessibility laws is that they help prevent discrimination against certain groups. People with disabilities might not be able to access certain information if a website is not accessible. No laws require individuals to attempt accessing a service that does not accommodate their disability.

This can cause problems for the people who can access the information. Those who are not disabled might be able to access the same information but are denied service based on stereotypes about disabilities.

Someone with a disability might have difficulty focusing or concentrating on important things when they cannot use a website because it is not accessible. This can cause problems for the person and might also hurt a business or organization that offers online services. Website accessibility laws help prevent people from experiencing these issues.

Website Accessibility Laws

Website accessibility law has become increasingly important as more people rely on the internet and mobile services in their daily lives. The principles of website accessibility are similar to but not identical with those of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). ADA compliance website is accessible to individuals who have disabilities or other barriers.

Where websites and other interactive digital services are accessible to people with disabilities, it can result in significant cost savings for businesses that serve the community. A few companies have begun to make accessibility a top business priority and have developed software tools to maximize the value of their websites and digital services.

ADA Compliance Website
The Americans with Disabilities Act is a law that prohibits, among other things, discrimination on the basis of disability in employment. But how do websites factor into this equation? The answer is straightforward: they need to be accessible to people with disabilities.

This means having features like alt texts and large fonts to accommodate people who use screen readers or have low vision. The ADA website compliance checklist makes compliance a lot easier.

The website, a one-stop shop for ADA information, includes all the necessary information businesses need to comply with applicable laws and regulations. It is divided into sections covering topics like employment, transportation and public accommodations.

These sections are further divided into 20 sub-sections that cover everything from service animals to barrier removal to undue burden in places of public accommodation.

A lot of companies have started to understand the compliance risks associated with accessibility and disability. The ADA Compliance software is a product that can be used by any company, no matter what industry, to help them become compliant.

This software not only helps with ADA website complaints but also helps large companies comply with other regulations such as OSHA and safety regulations. With this website, you are able to make sure that your company is making an effort toward becoming compliant and safe for everyone.

Advantages Of having accessible website

To help business owners understand the importance of accessibility and how to go about improving it on their website, the advantages of having an accessible websites discussed below:

More Effective For Marketing

Businesses that have an accessible website can market their products and services to a wider audience. This includes people who may not necessarily know what you do, but who are still able to find information about you and contact you through an online form or search engine. More visitors means a greater chance of success in the long run.

More Effective For The User

If you have an accessible website, your website’s users and customers will be able to access all the content they can, and it will be easier for them to find what they need. This means that your site will attract more customers as well as give you greater control over what content is being presented.

Good For SEO

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It is about your content and making it relevant for search engines so that people can find your site easily. If you have an accessible website, it shows that you have invested time and effort into the website. It is seen favorably by search engines and can help improve your own website’s SEO rankings.

Increased Traffic And Revenue

A website that is ADA compliant has all the features that are required by a standard website. It becomes user-friendly and accessible to everyone. Additionally, in order for your website or app to be considered fully ADA compliant, you need to test all possible scenarios.

With ADA compliance software, you will see increased traffic because of the increased accessibility for everyone.

Conclusion

Web accessibility is on the demand. With more and more companies understanding the benefits of providing their services in an accessible way, many sites still fail to comply. If you are thinking about launching a new website or even creating a new product that will be used by people with disabilities, consider making an ADA compliance website.

Web Content Accessibility: What It Is & Why Your Law Firm Should Care
Posted on By Author content@adaforweb.com Categories Law Firms

Web Content Accessibility: What It Is & Why Your Law Firm Should Care

When it comes to digital content, accessibility refers to the design and development that enables people with disabilities to access and use mobile applications, websites, and other digital technology. With as many as 25% of adults in the United States living with some form of disability, ensuring your law firm websites are accessible to everyone is vital.

People living with disabilities tend to process data and information differently. Accessibility makes sure that users with disabilities have a similar experience to those who navigate the website using point-and-click and keyboard-based methods. All visitors should be able to access your entire website, from submitting a consultation request to making payment.

With 25% of the adults in the United States disabled, a fourth of your audience cannot use your law firm’s website effectively. Thus, it’s your responsibility to take all the necessary steps to ensure that the site is effectively accessible to all. Fortunately, web content accessibility is nothing complicated. In this article, we discuss how you can make your site accessible to everyone.

What Is Web Content Accessibility?

In a simple sense, we can define web content accessibility as all the strategies you use to develop a website’s design and make it easier for people with disabilities. The W3C or World Wide Web Consortium established a set of guidelines called the “Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0” or WCAG 2.0 back in 2008.

The WCAG 2.0 provides a clear standard for web developers to ensure that a website is accessible to those living with disabilities. It includes different compliance levels ranging from A (the lowest) to AAA (the highest). This guideline seeks to enhance a site’s accessibility in four areas –

1. Perceivable: Perceivable refers to providing information in such a way that all users can understand. For example, providing alternative texts that users can convert into speech, large print, symbols, speech, or simple language
2. Understandable: Web designers must ensure that all information and features on a website are understandable. They should assist users in avoiding and correcting errors and ensure that web pages are consistent in their operation and appearance.
3. Operable: All features of a website should be accessible via a keyboard. Furthermore, all the content must be designed so that the users have enough time to read them. The site’s navigation design should be simple as well.
4. Robust: Websites should be robust enough to be compatible with different user agents such as assistive technologies.

Why Web Content Accessibility Matters For Your Law Firm’s Website

Web content accessibility ensures that everyone can access the web content regardless of their abilities or limitations. Ensuring web content accessibility isn’t only a moral obligation and financially advantageous for your practice. When your law firm’s website is accessible to everyone, it demonstrates that you care about everyone in the community.

Thus, you create an inclusive environment that stands against any discrimination people with disabilities face. In addition, you won’t have to worry about users with hearing or visual impairments facing any hindrances when navigating through your website. This way, you increase your law firm’s ability to attract more clients.

Your website ADA compliance is also important to maintain social responsibility and improve accessibility. Even as a moral obligation, your website should ensure accessibility to all as it brings us closer to a user’s experience. One of the most vital reasons for prioritizing accessibility is to provide a friendly user experience to website visitors.

Every visitor should find the website appealing, and there shouldn’t be any differences in the content or user experience based on their level of vision or hearing. Improving accessibility also benefits older people who can’t see well and those with slow internet access.

Ways To Make Your Law Firm’s Website Accessible For The Disabled
Let’s take a look at all the easiest ways you can make your website accessible to the people with disabilities –

1. Ensure That All CTAs And Forms Are Easily Accessible
Online forms are the primary key to your website’s lead generation. So it’s important to have forms that are both functional and accessible to ensure that more users can input their information. You can make forms and CTAs easily accessible on your site through –
1. Adding short and clear instructions.
2. Labeling all the form fields appropriately.
3. Make all the button instructions clear, like – “Submit consultation request” rather than “Submit.”
4. Check that all the forms are entirely operable through a keyboard.

2. Text Explanations For Audio And Video Content
In recent years, infographics have become hugely popular for a proper reason. However, they can make information inaccessible to people with visual disabilities.
So it’s important to use visual aids in your websites like labeled tables, detailed alternative titles, tags, and numbered or bulleted lists. Adding Image alt text can benefit both SEO and web content accessibility.

3. Enable Keyboard Navigation For Your Website
Many disabled internet users may be unable to navigate using a mouse. Such people tend to rely on a keyboard or various other input devices. Unfortunately, keyboard navigation may be frequently overlooked.
You can improve ADA website accessibility by keeping the most common keyboard navigation tools on your website. For example, –the ‘Enter’ key to access dropdown menus, the ‘Esc’ key to close the menu, and the ‘Tab’ key to alternate between web pages.

4. Remove Or Modify Time-constrained Elements
Individuals who use pointers or keyboard navigation often take longer to navigate a website. Unfortunately, many websites have timed elements, especially during the checkout process.
If your customers don’t get enough time to navigate the website, they may be timed out and lose their data. You should take proper steps to ensure no data is lost, even when an automatic time-out should occur.

5. Pay Attention To Usability Across Platforms And Technologies
According to current guidelines, websites need to evolve with the times. You may want to keep your website strong, but you should also ensure its content is valuable and serves a purpose.
Developing a user-friendly website is probably the most critical aspect to consider when making changes to your site. Check your site’s performance across devices and platforms regularly to ensure it remains high.

Conclusion
Making your law firm’s website content more accessible and usable ensures lead generation, SEO, and all visitors to your site have a positive experience, including disabled people. This article explains what web content accessibility is, why it’s crucial for your law firm websites, and how you can make them ADA compliant.

To remind you, website accessibility lawsuits are very real and it could really affect the image of your law firm if it gets one when you yourself deal with the lwa. We hope it was helpful, and thanks for reading till now.

Law Firm Website Accessibility And ADA Compliance
Posted on By Author content@adaforweb.com Categories Law Firms

Law Firm Website Accessibility And ADA Compliance

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a law put into effect in 1990 with the aim of aiding millions of Americans living with a disability. It is an internet law that covers a wide range of websites and web portals. One of the most prominent of them is the law firm websites. Accessibility and ADA compliance go hand in hand when it comes to law firm websites.

ADA compliance is essential to ensure that people with disabilities are not being discriminated against and to maintain the ease of accessibility. Small businesses, firms, and organizations must follow this predefined set of criteria. It serves the purpose of standardizing cyber accessibility and ease of functionality for the masses.
Law firms, businesses, and corporations can ensure that the vast population of differently-abled people have the same access to services and facilities from their websites as the general public. For this reason, the websites must be accessible and maintain ADA compliance guidelines. It is a feature that is beneficial for both the users and the firm.

What Does It Mean To Be An ADA Compliant Website?
Law firm websites need to be ADA compliant― but how can a firm understand what it means to be ADA compliant? Simply said, your website, as well as all electronic information and technology, must be accessible to individuals with disabilities. It is a civil law that requires all users, regardless of their disability, to be included and treated equally.

Short for the Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design, ADA compliance is a predetermined set of regulations, guidelines, and checklists that the website must follow. In this way, the website can be easily accessible to the general people and become highly helpful to people who are disabled. ADA compliance websites can ensure to meet this aim.

Disability comes in a wide range of forms. When web designers work on formulating a website often, it is possible that the website and its services may not be accessed by people with cognitive impairments, auditory impairments, visual and mobility impairments, epilepsy, sensitivity to light flashes, etc.

These constraints deprive millions of people of the website accessibility and service it promises to provide. Especially for law firm websites, which is an imperative service-oriented establishment, they must be ADA compliant. Being ADA compliant not only ensures a better user experience but also boosts the performance of the firm’s website.
So, being ADA compliant is a government-mandated proactive effort that ensures inclusiveness and ease of accessibility to all people, irrespective of their limitations. Firms, corporations, and organizations can grow proactively. They must be aware of the ADA-compliant standards. Implementing these guidelines on their websites can ensure equality for all users.

Benefits Of Law Firm Website Accessibility With ADA Compliance

According to studies by Bloomberg Law, making your websites ADA compliant is an integral way of making the website business ready. For law firms, it is pivotal to follow and implement the guidelines as directed by the government. There are multiple benefits for the law firm and the clients of the firm when their website is ADA compliant. These benefits include-

Projecting A Disability-Friendly Brand Presence

The underlying aim of ADA compliance is to ensure inclusiveness and equality for all people. As many people can find it challenging to access different services and facilities of the website because of their constraints and limitations, it is high time for the business and firm owners to take a proactive step. ADA compliance makes the platform friendly for all users.

When the law firm’s website follows the ADA compliance guidelines, it is also projecting that the platform is disability-friendly. It ensures inclusivity for the people suffering from different physical or mental constraints. Therefore, ADA compliance is vital and highly beneficial for the law firm’s website accessibility and brand presence.

Enhancing Your Digital Customer Experience

ADA compliance ensures a high-quality user experience. Not only does a brand platform become disability friendly, but it also becomes reputable for its enhanced digital customer experience.
The customers can quickly access the service, facilities, and information they are looking for. This process can become complicated and complex to navigate without maintaining the guidelines of ADA compliance. So, maintaining ADA compliance is pivotal to ensuring an enhanced digital customer experience.

Qualifying For A Tax Credit Available

One of the critical advantages of following ADA compliance guidelines is that it will allow the law firm and the other firms following the checklist to qualify for a tax credit available. The tax credit enables the taxpayers or the tax-paying firm to directly subtract from their taxes the amount they owe.
ADA compliance makes the business eligible to access and qualify for a tax credit. The value of the tax credit naturally depends on various correlative factors of the business and its income. However, the bottom line is that ADA compliance plays a significant role in making your law firm qualify for a tax credit when the guidelines are followed.

Complying With The Civil Law

Ensuring that the websites and digital platforms are ADA compliant is a civil law mandated by the government to ensure equality in services for all. In the 2019 Supreme Court decision, a company, law firm, or corporation can face lawsuits against their websites if they do not follow the ADA compliance checklist.
So, ADA compliance is now more than just a tool for easy accessibility on websites. It is the protection of equality and inclusivity for millions of people who suffer from disabilities and constraints. Hence, it is pivotal that law firm websites follow ADA compliance. In this way, the firm can ensure compliance with the law and protect the civil rights of the masses.

Conclusion

ADA compliance is highly significant for law firm websites to follow. It allows ease of accessibility and numerous other benefits that are crucial for the firm. This task can become effective and simultaneously efficient by using ADA compliance software.

Contact us to learn more about ADA compliance and ensure that your websites are following the necessary guidelines.

Four Principles Of Web Accessibility
Posted on By Author content@adaforweb.com Categories Law Firms

Four Principles Of Web Accessibility

When we need assistance gathering information, we frequently use the internet to access websites. You will have fewer visitors on your website if it is difficult to access. So, what is it that makes your website accessible? Well, to sum it up, there are four principles of web accessibility.

The four principles of web accessibility are robust, perceivable, understandable, and operable. They are referred to as POUR. These principles break down the four main aspects that are needed to access databases over the web.

WCAG is widely accepted as a set of standards for websites and is the optimum way to achieve accessibility. It is also referenced in web accessibility lawsuits. Let us continue reading to learn more about WCAG.

Four Principles Of Web Accessibility

Information on websites must be presented to users so that they can easily understand and access them. Users often have to scroll through to find specific information for which they have clicked on your website. It should not take them long for them to get irritated and try out other websites.

Let us read in detail about how the four principles of web accessibility help make it easy for users to gather information from your website. Here is an introduction to POUR.

● Perceivable
Information presented on a website must be able to be processed by the user. You should present information in a processable format, or else it will not be accessible. This also indicates you are to provide texts for those who have a disability of hearing or are deaf. It has to comply with ADA web accessibility.
Your website should also have alternative texts for contexts so that they can be changed by users according to needs such as symbols, speech, language, etc. You may also add different times for people accessing your website from different time zones. Your content must match the site’s information. Pictures and videos must be relatable to the data being presented.

You also need to keep in mind that many users may also be blind and would need audio assistance. You don’t have to create audios for every piece of content up on your website, but those which are crucial for assistive technologies and voiceovers. Your websites require sight or hearing, or else they will not pass the permeability test.

● Operable
You should design your website in a user-friendly manner so that it is easily operable by the users. If the website is easy to access, it will gather more traffic on your site than websites or businesses providing similar services.
Users, upon looking at your website, must know where to click to get information. There should be tabs and drop-downs that help users navigate information and help them determine where to find content.

Your website should give enough time for users to find what they are looking for. Use domains that have more uptime and will load images larger in size faster. You should not keep users waiting for your page to load. Remember, they already have more tabs open looking for similar information from other sites.
Users who have cognitive disabilities must also be considered when setting up websites. Use media and animations that can be controlled and accessed by them as well.

● Understandable
A website that is easily perceivable and easy to operate can still be hard to understand for users. Your website should use concise language and be clear with links and tabs. You should also make your websites appear predictable and operational.

Make sure it is easy to comprehend for your users. If your user is clicking on a piece of information, then the result should be obvious and not seem like clickbait.
Your web interface must follow a logical flow of data and have different sections dividing information instead of jumbling it altogether. Your ads must also be organized and not block users from accessing information.

● Robust
Users usually select their technological mix. You should construct a website that runs smoothly across other platforms and browsers. It should also be accessible by different devices and not make users zoom in and out constantly on your website to collect information.

The best way to achieve website robustness is by following standards of development and conventions. Use codes that are as clean as possible. This makes the website more consumable, accessible, and robust across all platforms. Try to combine different technologies on your website so users are drawn more to your site and find it interesting.

In general, to make a website robust, it should be reliable by providing a wide variety of supporting technologies to user agents. Try to add tools or widgets to your website. This will allow users on your site to interact more. You may add chat rooms or surveys that help them get real-time information or also have relatable content presented to them.

Importance Of Accessibility

POUR needs to be presented for website accessibility. It improves the quality of your page while also helping users access information on the website faster. This is the primary concern for both users with and without disabilities. It also determines if users will continue to use your site for gathering information in the future.

By adapting POUR for accessibility, you pass the permeability test. This will aid users with and without disabilities in obtaining information from your website. It also keeps your codes clean, making the website look more organized. Users seek out websites with appealing visuals in addition to the information they need.

With so many websites out there, there is a need for your website to be presentable and have information that will be helpful to users. POUR helps users from other platforms to reach your site. It also gives you reference to ADA compliance website lawsuits and ADA web accessibility.

Conclusion

The four principles of web accessibility are robust, perceivable, understandable, and operable. It improves the quality of your page while also helping users access information on the website faster. POUR helps determine whether your website is easy to understand and accessible for users on your website.

Digital Accessibility For Law Firms: Why Lawyers Need To Prioritize Accessibility
Posted on By Author content@adaforweb.com Categories Law Firms

Digital Accessibility For Law Firms: Why Lawyers Need To Prioritize Accessibility

Law firm websites are some of the most common service websites for the more significant population. When these websites are inaccessible to a large population, the firms are bound to face the consequences. If your law firm has an inaccessible website, you may face website accessibility or ADA-compliant website lawsuits.

Since law firm websites give help-seekers a chance to get information regarding the law – everyone would visit them. But having your website be inaccessible to disabled people can violate ADA regulations. Not only that – having an accessible website can help your firm in many ways other than avoiding lawsuits. So, let’s check out why accessibility should be a priority.

How Does Website Accessibility Help Law Firms?

An accessible website can improve the experience for any website visitor by a wide margin. Since law firm websites are public service sites, they should be accessible to everybody. Since making your website accessible can give you legal and financial benefits, law firms also have something to gain from website accessibility.
Improved User Experience For All Users
Whether your user base requires additional aid to use law firm sites, accessibility can ensure they have a better experience. Your website should be able to cater to most of the population, including people with disabilities. Only about one in five people in the USA have a disability.

Fortunately, adding accessibility tools such as alt text can also help abled users in times of need. Overall, ensuring your website is accessible can bring in more visitors crediting to its easy user experience.
Complying With ADA Regulations – Avoid Lawsuits
Website accessibility lawsuits are more common than you think. In 2017, the USA saw around 814 cases directed toward websites that the masses could not access. The suits result from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)’s Title III.

The ADA’s Title III protects people with disabilities from discrimination in a place of public accommodation. Since law firm websites are a place of help and information, one could easily consider them a place of public accommodation – even a court judge.

Therefore, per the ADA regulations, your website requires tools for accessibility. Not only does it ensure upholding civil rights, but it also helps your firm avoid any additional legal battles.
Boosting SEO Advantages
When you make your website more accessible, search engines pick up on it. Leading search engines like Google are more likely to put accessible websites to the forefront – boosting SEO for your firm.

The programs that decide which websites get more hits tend to pick up on better visual information and accessibility options. So, as you improve user experience – you can ultimately enjoy SEO benefits for the site.
Financial Returns
Accessible websites do not directly benefit financially from accessibility tools. It is more of a result of all the efforts. Since your website’s accessibility options bring in more visitors, you can earn better from the website over time.

Additionally, lawsuits are common for accessibility concerns on law firm websites. By providing users with an accessible experience, you can avoid the legal expenses of handling a case. Therefore, accessibility will also favor you financially.

What Is An ADA Compliant Website Accessibility Lawsuit – And How Can It Affect You?

The ADA-compliant website accessibility lawsuit holds websites accountable for not complying with ADA guidelines. Suppose your law firm’s website does not provide accessibility tools for every user. In that case, a disadvantaged user can issue a lawsuit against you. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)’s Title III protects the right to accessibility in spaces like public info websites.

Title III protects the right of people with disabilities to have proper access to any public domain as an able-bodied person. While the grounds are unclear whether it is okay to consider a public domain website, perspectives are changing. It is more than likely that a civil judge will consider a law firm’s website as public domain.

Therefore, if your website does not employ tools to help every user equally, it can risk a lawsuit. From then on, not only will your law firm website be liable for losing a part of your client demographic – you can potentially lose money as well.

Ways To Prioritize Website Accessibility For Your Law Firm

As a lawyer, there are methods to ensure your law firm’s website passes accessibility checks on all grounds. It must follow accessibility guidelines – and then you can make sure to check it using evaluation tools.

Comply With Accessibility Guidelines
The existing Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) can make your job more manageable.

1. The user interface must be designed so that every user can perceive the components of the website.
2. Every user should be able to navigate parts of the site, and every feature should be operable universally.
3. The information on the site should be presented in a way that every user can understand.
4. The website should be dynamic and well-built with accessibility tools. Assistive technology should complement the website’s structure so users can have the whole experience.

Within WCAG standards, there are levels to ensure how well your website can help the overall population. The classes are named A through AAA, where AAA is the highest standard of digital accessibility.
Evaluate Your Website
Currently, it is easy to check whether your website follows ADA-approved guidelines. Online tools are less reliable but easy to use in the evaluation process. And in case you want a more reliable evaluation, you can look up services built by experts to check your site.

Make Your Website More Disability Inclusive

At ADAforweb, we have created an informed solution to make digital accessibility more manageable than ever. We can evaluate your website to look for digital accessibility compliance, deliver accessibility statements, and provide remediation services.

Our goal is to create a more disability-friendly digital space. If your website needs some touch-up on accessibility – or you are simply worried about it being accessible enough, schedule a call with us.

Conclusion

If not for simply avoiding ADA-compliant website accessibility lawsuits, an accessible site can open the door of information for many of the population. So while you build a public service website, check all the boxes to ensure everyone can receive help from it.

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