How to Test a Website for ADA Compliance

what is ADA compliance testing?

ADA compliance testing involves an evaluation of your website against Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) technical guidelines, designed with the overarching goal of making web content more accessible to people with disabilities.

WCAG includes three levels of conformance – A (lowest), AA, and AAA (highest). Generally, level AA is considered a desirable standard for web accessibility, and most businesses target this level. In fact, in 2024, the Department of Justice (DOJ) published a new rule citing WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the technical standard that state and local governments should follow to meet their ADA obligations.

Most ADA compliance testing check your web content against WCAG level AA to find and remediate any accessibility issues.

does your business need ADA compliance testing?

According to Title II and Title III of the ADA, the following organizations are obligated to comply with web accessibility standards. These include:

• State and local governments
• Businesses open to the public, considered ‘public accommodations.’ Examples include retail establishments and food establishments.

If your business falls into any of the categories above, you should conduct regular ADA compliance testing. People with disabilities can sue your business for ADA violations or file complaints with the DOJ. Civil penalties for ADA violations may run as high as $92,383 for a first violation or $184,767 for a subsequent violation.

In any case, it’s best practice to ensure you have an ADA-compliant website. This way, you can expand your market reach to a wide segment of the population that lives with disabilities and needs a more tailored way to engage with your products or services. An ADA-compliant website also shows visitors that your business embraces inclusive web design and is willing to accommodate different customer needs.