ADA Compliance for Websites: A Business Owner’s Guide

Your website is often the first—and sometimes only—point of contact with your customers. If it’s not accessible to everyone, your business could be unintentionally excluding millions of people living with disabilities—and putting itself at legal risk.

ADA website compliance is no longer a suggestion; it’s a business necessity. At Louisville Geek, we help organizations proactively meet these standards through a blend of technology, manual development, and ongoing support. Here’s what you need to know.

What Is ADA Website Compliance?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law in 1990 to protect individuals with disabilities from discrimination in public life—including employment, education, and access to public spaces.

In recent years, courts have interpreted websites as “places of public accommodation,” which means your business website must be accessible to people with disabilities under Title III of the ADA. Failure to comply can result in costly lawsuits, damaged reputations, and lost opportunities.

While the ADA itself doesn’t specify technical standards, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) have become the industry benchmark for compliance—and that’s what we follow.

Why ADA Compliance Matters for Business Owners

Compliance isn’t just about avoiding lawsuits—it’s about good business. Here’s why:

• Legal Protection: Thousands of businesses have been sued for noncompliant websites. Staying ahead protects your brand.
• Customer Reach: 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. has a disability. An accessible website opens your doors to a larger audience.
• Brand Loyalty: Consumers are more loyal to businesses that demonstrate social responsibility and inclusivity.
• Competitive Advantage: Accessibility can set you apart in saturated markets, especially in industries like banking, healthcare, education, and hospitality.

What Makes a Website ADA Compliant?

An ADA-compliant website ensures that all users—including those who rely on screen readers, keyboard navigation, or other assistive technologies—can access, understand, and interact with your content.

Here are a few examples of what compliance looks like:

• Text alternatives for images so screen readers can describe visuals
• Logical heading structures for better navigation
• Keyboard-accessible menus and forms
• Sufficient color contrast for readability
• Error identification and suggestions for form inputs

Compliance typically aligns with WCAG 2.1 AA standards, which is what we target in our remediation and monitoring services.

How Louisville Geek Supports Your ADA Compliance Journey

Our approach combines automated accessibility tools, hands-on technical expertise, and a long-term commitment to compliance. These efforts are backed by the same strategic foundation that drives our web development services, where we prioritize clean code, intuitive design, and inclusive user experiences from the start.

Installation of the accessiBe AI Widget

We integrate accessiBe’s industry-leading solution to provide real-time accessibility adjustments for users and begin automated scanning and remediation.

Manual Remediation by Our Development Team

Some issues require human intervention. We fix your code, apply ARIA labels, enhance keyboard navigation, and more—all aligned with WCAG 2.1 AA.

In-Depth Accessibility Audits

We assess your site using both automated tools and manual reviews to identify compliance gaps and usability barriers.

Ongoing Monitoring & Support

As your site evolves, our team ensures your accessibility evolves with it. We monitor changes, provide regular reports, and stay ahead of updates to ADA and WCAG guidance.

Your Website Should Work for Everyone

Accessibility is more than compliance—it’s a reflection of how much you value all of your customers. At Louisville Geek, we treat website ADA compliance not as a hurdle, but as an opportunity to make your digital presence more inclusive, future-ready, and aligned with your mission.

Whether you’re retrofitting an existing site or starting from scratch, Louisville Geek can help you deliver a digital experience that is inclusive, compliant, and built for the future. Accessibility is not just a legal requirement—it’s a reflection of your commitment to serving all users with respect and care. With our proven process and ongoing support, you can ensure your website remains a strong, accessible asset as your business grows. Ready to get started? Contact our team today or take advantage of a free trial with accessiBe to see how easy accessibility can be.