ADA Compliance: Don’t Freak Out - The Essential Guide

If you have heard the term ADA compliance and immediately felt overwhelmed, take a deep breath. This does

not have to be complicated. ADA compliance is simply about making sure your website is easy for everyone to use, including people with disabilities. It is one of those things that sounds intimidating at first, but once you understand the basics, it becomes very manageable. Let’s break it down in the easiest way possible.

What Does ADA Compliance Mean?

ADA stands for the Americans with Disabilities Act. While it originally focused on physical spaces, it now applies to digital spaces too, including websites.

In simple terms, an ADA-compliant website can be used by people who may:

• Use screen readers

• Navigate with only a keyboard

• Have low vision or color blindness

• Need captions or text alternatives

The goal is accessibility. Everyone should be able to shop, read, and interact with your site without barriers.

The example to the right showcases just some of the options to make your website more ADA-friendly. This is done through a widget, which can also help you better meet ADA requirements and ensure compliance with The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). This is an international standard but what version and requirements you have to meet will depend on the nature of your website and business.

Why It Matters for Small Businesses

ADA compliance is not just a legal checkbox. It is also a smart and caring business decision. Having a compliant site helps you:

• Reach more customers

• Improve the experience for all visitors

• Show your brand values of inclusion

• Reduce the risk of accessibility related complaints or lawsuits

Accessibility is part of building a welcoming online space. There are also increasing legal concerns and lawsuits regarding accessibility. By getting ahead of requirements and implementing processes to ensure you remain compliant, you help lessen worries about possible legal action.

Increased Compliance for State and Local Governments

In April of 2024, the Federal Registrar updated its requirements for state and local governments regarding ADA compliance on websites and mobile apps. Compliance deadlines for adaptation of this ruling begin in April of 2026 for those with a population of 50k or more people or April 2027 for those communities with populations of less than 50k people.

The guidelines are very specific on what is needed to meet compliance. There are several different levels of compliance across 86 success criteria. State and local governments need to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Version 2.1, Level AA, by the above deadlines to meet compliance requirements.

Feeling Overwhelmed? Here’s the Solution

You do not need to fix everything overnight. Start with a few simple improvements that make a big difference. Below are our top recommendations to get you started on the path to compliance. Below, we also offer an alternative solution that will ensure compliance now and going forward without a drain on staffing and resources.

1. Add Alt Text to Images

Alt text describes images for people using screen readers. Example: Instead of “image1.jpg,” write “Handmade candle on wooden table.”

2. Use Clear Headings

Organizing your pages with proper headings helps visitors scan and helps assistive tools understand the layout. These will show up in your website has Heading 1 (H1), Heading 2 (H2) and so on.

3. Make Sure Your Site Works Without a Mouse

Some users navigate only with a keyboard. Buttons, menus, and links should still work smoothly.

4. Improve Color Contrast

Text should be easy to read against the background. Light gray on white may look pretty, but it can be hard for many visitors to see. Color blindness is also a disadvantage for some, so take that into account as well. 

5. Add Captions for Video Content

If your site includes video, captions help visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing.

How Can Small Towns and Rural Communities Meet ADA Compliance Requirements?

We urge you - DO NOT FREAK OUT - there are several different things you can do to meet these deadlines, including providing a "conforming alternate version" of your website.

The steps provided above will help in meeting ADA compliance; however, this is an ongoing process. You are never completely done because every link, photo, text addition, and change to your website can alter your compliance score. For many of our clients, this is something that is impossible to maintain with limited resources. That's why we provide the following alternative that goes above and beyond to meet compliance requirements and also provides a much more user-friendly experience for website visitors with disabilities.

We partnered with Accessibe to provide an easy-to-manage widget that can be added to any website, regardless of platform. Accessibe provides a number of benefits including:

• Full compliance with WCAG standards

• Live Accessibility Statement that is updated as requirements change

• Multiple adaptations including one specifically for ADHD website visitors

• Monthly audits of your site to uncover any compliance issues

• Legal support should you receive a letter about legal action against your site

Below is just a small example of customization options provided by Accessibe for website visitors.

Accessibe ADA Content Settings Panel

Accessibe ADA Settings Panel

Accessibe ADA Color Settings Panel

The Bottom Line

ADA compliance is not about perfection. It is about progress. Even small updates can make your website more accessible, more user-friendly, and more welcoming to everyone who visits.

Start simple. Take it step by step. You have got this. If you still feel overwhelmed, we can help with simple tools that take care of ADA compliance for you. We can also provide training on ADA accessibility and help establish internal processes for website and mobile app updates.

Our ADA-compliant widget is still our top recommendation because it makes sure your visitors have the best possible experience on your website. Going above and beyond what is required, it provides a customizable viewing option that can be adjusted based on the viewer's preferences.

You can add this widget to your website for as little as $50/month. If interested, reach out to us at connect@smalltownsoul.us.

We can help you create a completely ADA-compliant website, including an accessibility statement and an audit trail that shows how you meet ADA regulations.

You can see the ADA widget in action on our website at smalltownsoul.us.