Supreme Court Rules ADA Protections Apply to Websites

In light of the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' recent ruling that the ADA protects access not just to restaurants and stores but also to the websites and apps of those businesses, web accessibility is no longer optional. If your website isn’t already accessible — so people with disabilities of hearing, movement, sight, and cognitive ability can use it — making it accessible is essential in your business's digital strategy.

Applies to all businesses with 15 and more employees.

All other businesses currently fall under the Human Rights Act, which stipulates that every person deserves access to public venues, and all websites are public. So even if you're a sole proprietor in the service sector, you can easily get sued.

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Text Reader

The text reader is a tool in the suite that reads only text-based content on the page. The tool helps users who have difficulty reading various text-based content and users with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). By using the text reader, the user can control the reading flow using the mouse and/or keyboard. The user also has full control of the reading rate and sound pitch of the tool.

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Keyboard Navigation

Many website visitors with motor disabilities have difficulty using a mouse, and blind or visually impaired visitors routinely use keyboard navigation. The Keyboard Navigation tool meets the WCAG 2.0 standard requirements and provides full accessibility, enabling visitors to navigate through pages using the keyboard alone.

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Blinks Blocking

This tool is for users who are susceptible to seizures caused by strobing, flickering, or flashing effects, as well as users with learning disabilities. The Blinks Blocking tool eliminates any graphics, news tickers, marquees, galleries, auto-play, or other animations that may be distracting or cause a photo-epileptic seizure to occur.

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Monochrome, Dark High Contrast, Bright High Contrast

In accordance with the WCAG 2.0 guidelines, this tool provides three different contrast display options that enable changing the text and background color so that content can be easily read by a website visitor with a visual impairment.

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Accessibility Toolbar Additional Tools:

Increase Font Size, Decrease Font Size, Readable Font.

These tools allow website visitors with low vision the option to increase or decrease text size or select a basic, simple, easily-readable font without the loss of readability or functionality.sily-readable font without the loss of readability or functionality.

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Image Descriptions

Images and graphics make the surrounding content easier to understand. The WCAG 2.0 states that all non-text content should have a text alternative that provides an equivalent meaning as the image. The image description tool follows section 1.4.5 of the WCAG Success criteria to make sure that image information is displayed prominently and the intended concept or meaning of the image is made clear to the website visitors.

Other features to improve usability for low vision visitors include a large white cursor, a large black cursor, and highlighters for links and headers.

This suite of accessibility tools, all packaged in one easy-to-install widget, meets the WCAG 2.0 specified conformance level "Triple-A" guidelines.

According to a report from the U.S. Census Bureau, over 40 million people in the U.S. aged 15 and older have a disability:

 Approximately 19.9 million people have difficulty lifting or grasping, impacting their use of a mouse or keyboard; and

 approximately 8.1 million people have a visual disability; they might rely on a screen magnifier or a screen reader, or they might have some type of color blindness.

 The Census Bureau reports that 12 million people in the U.S. have hearing difficulties; they might rely on transcripts and/or captions for audio and video media.

By making digital content accessible, your business can reach more customers, increase customer satisfaction, and gain a competitive edge over those who don’t include accessibility features.