Are you a website owner who wants to reach a larger audience, including those with disabilities? This blog post is for you! In this article, we will be delving into the world of website accessibility and the legal implications that come with not complying with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

What is WCAG? 🤔

The WCAG are a set of guidelines created by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to ensure that web content is accessible to people with disabilities. These guidelines are not just suggestions but instead legal requirements for many businesses. There are three levels of compliance, A, AA, and AAA. While not all businesses are required to meet the highest level of compliance, they must meet at least level A.

Why is WCAG important? 🤷‍♂️

WCAG is important because it allows for equal access to all people regardless of their disabilities and ensures that everyone can access and use the content. Additionally, not complying with the WCAG can lead to legal action against businesses.

A WCAG symbol that consists of the letters WCAG inside a shield-like shape

Legal Implications of Not Complying with WCAG 🚔

Businesses that do not meet the WCAG guidelines are not only losing out on potential customers, but they are also exposing themselves to legal risks. When a business website is not accessible, it is considered discriminatory towards people with disabilities and can result in a lawsuit. Even businesses that do not directly offer goods and services online can still be sued.

Violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) can result in hefty fines or substantial settlements. One significant example is the Domino’s Pizza lawsuit, where the chain was sued for not providing an adequate website for individuals with visual impairments to order pizza. As a result, the court ruled that Domino’s must comply with WCAG.

A blurred image of a courtroom with a gavel and blurred figures

Benefits of WCAG Compliance 🎉

Ensuring website accessibility will open up the business to roughly 61 million people with disabilities in America alone, increasing the potential customer base. Further, WCAG compliance can improve a business’s reputation and positive public perception. By creating a good relationship with customers with disabilities, it can lead to increased loyalty and revenue.

Complying with WCAG is also the ethical thing to do. Providing accessible web content is a way to create equal opportunities and ensure equal treatment to people with disabilities and provide inclusivity.

A picture of a businessman with a thumbs-up, surrounded by dollar signs, and people from different backgrounds

How to Achieve WCAG Compliance 🛠️

There are a variety of steps that website owners can take to ensure compliance with the WCAG guidelines, including:

  • Alt text for all images: Provide alternative text for all images in case users cannot see them.
  • Keyboard navigation: Ensure that all functionality can be accessed through keyboard navigation.
  • Color contrast: Avoid using color as the only way to distinguish information.
  • Descriptive links: Use descriptive link texts that allow users to understand the context of the link.
  • Testing: Regularly test the website to ensure it meets the WCAG guidelines.

A computer screen displaying a list of accessibility steps

Conclusion 💡

In summary, compliance with WCAG guidelines facilitates access to a wider audience, avoids legal action, improves a company’s reputation, and creates equal opportunities for people with disabilities. While compliance may seem like an extra cost, it is a crucial part of any online presence, and non-compliance may lead to financial and reputational damages.

So, as a website owner, it is highly recommended to comply with WCAG guidelines and make your website more accessible to all people.

A group of individuals with different abilities gathered around a computer screen, all smiling