By 2026, attention on digital accessibility will increase significantly. In 2025, nearly 4,975 accessibility lawsuits are expected across the U.S., a 20% increase from 2024, showing that no organization is too small to face scrutiny.
The rise in lawsuits shows that simply assuming your website or digital tools are “fine” is no longer enough. Businesses that ignore accessibility risk costly legal actions, negative publicity, and losing customers who expect inclusive experiences.
This makes meeting accessibility standards [rephrased “ADA compliance”] more than a legal requirement, it’s a way to safeguard your brand, build trust, and reach a wider audience.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through how ADA compliance shields your business from lawsuits, the key areas to focus on, and practical steps to ensure your digital and physical presence meets accessibility standards.
But before diving deeper, let’s take a quick look at what ADA compliance is.
What is ADA Compliance?
ADA compliance is all about following the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a law that ensures people with disabilities can access digital services and content without any frustration.
Most people think of ADA in terms of physical spaces, like ramps, elevators, and accessible restrooms, but it’s just as important online, covering websites, apps, and other digital tools.
For businesses, ensuring inclusive digital experiences means making your products and services usable and welcoming for everyone, including people with visual, hearing, or motor impairments.
But how to make your digital presence accessible?
Some key ways include:
- Adding alt text to images so screen readers can describe them.
- Maintaining clear navigation and readable fonts for easy browsing.
- Providing captions or transcripts for videos so content reaches everyone.
- Making your site compatible with assistive technologies allows for easy interaction for all users.
Moreover, staying ADA compliant doesn’t just reduce the risk of legal claims or fines; it helps you create an inclusive experience for every visitor, which builds trust and strengthens your brand.
Accessibility Gaps That Can Cost Your Business
Despite growing awareness, many businesses still struggle with ADA compliance due to:
- Lack of knowledge: Many business owners aren’t fully aware of ADA requirements for digital accessibility.
- Outdated technology: Legacy websites, apps, or software may not meet current accessibility standards.
- Rapid digital updates: Frequent changes to websites or apps can introduce new accessibility gaps.
- Complex guidelines: ADA standards can be difficult to interpret, making it challenging to implement them correctly.
Why ADA Compliance Matters for My Business?
We get it. Thinking about ADA compliance can feel overwhelming. But here’s the truth: it’s not just a legal formality. Following accessibility standards is one of the smartest ways to protect your business from minimizing compliance risks and avoid unnecessary headaches.
Here’s how staying compliant can help you:
1. Boost Operational Efficiency
Making your website or app accessible often leads to cleaner design, better navigation, and streamlined workflows. These improvements benefit your team internally, making updates, maintenance, and user support easier and more efficient.
2. Avoids Fines and Settlements
Accessibility lawsuits can get expensive, we’re talking thousands, sometimes even millions of dollars. Staying compliant helps you avoid these costs while showing your customers that you genuinely care about their experience.
3. Build a Strong Reputation
Businesses that prioritize accessibility are perceived as inclusive, responsible, and trustworthy. That reputation can protect you from losing and make people more likely to engage with your brand.
4. Reach a Wider Audience
Accessibility is all about opening your business to a broader audience. Millions of potential customers may have disabilities, and making your digital spaces accessible ensures everyone can interact with your brand.
5. Improves Overall User Experience
Accessibility improvements benefit all users, not just those with disabilities. Clear navigation, readable content, and intuitive design make your website or app easier and more enjoyable for everyone.
Still wondering how small accessibility slip-ups can frustrate users? Check out our blog: How Minor Accessibility Oversights Create Major User Frustration.
Practical Ways to Stay Compliant from ADA Lawsuits
As a website owner, taking proactive steps to make your site accessible can protect your business and improve the experience for all users. Here’s a straightforward approach:
1. Understand Your ADA Requirements
Start by knowing which accessibility standards apply to your site. The WCAG guidelines are the foundation:
Ensure compatibility with screen readers.
- Add descriptive alt text for images.
- Enable keyboard navigation.
- Use high-contrast colors for readability.
2. Conduct Regular Accessibility Audits
Regular audits help catch issues early:
- Manually test your site to identify accessibility gaps.
- Use tools like ADARocket for quick checks.
3. Test With Real Users
Automated tools are helpful, but testing with Individuals with impairments uncovers issues machines miss. Observe users with vision, hearing, mobility, or cognitive impairments to:
- Identify barriers.
- Make meaningful improvements.
- Ensure WCAG compliance.
4. Fix Common Accessibility Issues
Many complaints focus on simple but critical elements. Make sure to:
- Add alt text for images.
- Define link labels clearly.
- Remove empty or redundant hyperlinks.
- Include proper page titles and headings.
5. Publish an Accessibility Statement
A clear statement signals commitment and helps users:
- Explain accessibility features in simple language.
- Note the standards followed (e.g., WCAG 2.2).
- Include contact info for support and known limitations.
- Make it easy to find, like in the footer.
6. Make Accessibility Ongoing
Accessibility isn’t a one-time task. Keep it part of your workflow by:
- Performing regular audits.
- Gathering user feedback.
- Training your team on best practices.
- Using updated tools.
- Monitoring and updating the website consistently.
By focusing on these steps, you can minimize legal risks and create a website that works for everyone, without repeating the process unnecessarily.
Conclusion
Ensuring a website is usable by everyone doesn’t have to be daunting. With the right website accessibility services we at Beanstalk can help you enhance the experience for all visitors while minimizing the risk of legal challenges.
With our expert-led audits and guidance, you can:
- Identify and fix accessibility gaps using WCAG 2.2 standards.
- Receive a prioritized action plan with clear, actionable steps.
- Get recommendations tailored to your website’s specific needs.
- Document compliance efforts to demonstrate commitment.
- Build long-term skills to maintain accessibility as your site evolves.
Still unsure how to begin? We at Beanstalk can guide you every step of the way, fix accessibility gaps, enhance your site for everyone, and lead the way in inclusive digital experiences.