ADA testing 101: How to create an accessible website

Optimizing a website for web accessibility is crucial for ensuring that people with disabilities can effectively use digital platforms, and ADA compliance testing plays a vital role in this process. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was amended in 2010 to include digital spaces, requires businesses, particularly those with 15 or more employees, state and local government agencies, and public service providers, to maintain accessibility standards, thereby avoiding potential lawsuits and fines. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide a framework for ADA compliance, focusing on making web content perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. These guidelines include requirements such as text alternatives for nontext elements, keyboard accessibility, readability at a lower secondary education level, and compatibility with assistive technologies. Adhering to these guidelines not only broadens access but also enhances search engine optimization and overall site aesthetics.