Website ADA Compliance: What You Need to Know

Sep 8

Website ADA compliance means making sure your site is accessible to people with disabilities. From screen reader compatibility to clear navigation and proper color contrast, ADA compliance ensures every visitor — regardless of ability — can find the information they need.

What is ADA Compliance for Websites?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was originally passed in 1990 to prevent discrimination against people with disabilities. While it was first focused on physical spaces (like ramps and elevators), it has increasingly been applied to digital spaces as well — meaning websites must provide equal access to online content and services.

When a website is ADA-compliant, it typically follows the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which cover aspects like text alternatives for images (alt text), keyboard-only navigation, video captions and transcripts, proper use of headings and structure, and color contrast that supports readability.

Who Needs to Be ADA-Compliant?

In the U.S., the rules apply broadly — but here’s where they matter most:

Public sector websites like government sites or public schools are required by law to be accessible.
Businesses that serve the public like retailers, restaurants, healthcare providers are increasingly expected to comply, especially if they fall under Title III of the ADA.
E-commerce and service providers may face lawsuits if their sites are not accessible.

In short, if your website represents a business or organization that interacts with the public, it’s strongly advised to follow ADA guidelines.

ADA Compliance by State

While the ADA is a federal law, states can add additional accessibility requirements.

California: Has one of the strictest accessibility laws (the Unruh Civil Rights Act), which explicitly extends to websites.
New York, Florida, and others: Have seen a rise in website accessibility lawsuits.
Other states: Even if they don’t have unique laws, businesses are still covered by the federal ADA.

Regardless of your state, website accessibility is not optional if you want to avoid legal risks and provide an inclusive user experience.

Global Perspective

Accessibility isn’t just a U.S. concern. Other countries have their own laws:

Canada: Accessible Canada Act (ACA) and provincial requirements (like AODA in Ontario).
European Union: EU Web Accessibility Directive, applying to public sector websites and apps.
United Kingdom: Equality Act 2010 covers website accessibility.
Australia: Disability Discrimination Act includes online environments.

If your site serves international audiences, it’s best to align with WCAG 2.1 standards, which are widely recognized.

Options for Achieving Website ADA Compliance

1. Built-In Features in Squarespace

Squarespace includes some accessibility-friendly features like Alt text fields for images, heading structure support (H1, H2, etc.), mobile-responsive design, accessible templates with proper semantic HTML. However, this will not provide full compliance.

2. Third-Party Tools & Plugins

To go further and have your site fully compliant, you can integrate accessibility solutions such as accessiBe, UserWay, or EqualWeb that allow users to adjust contrast, font size, and navigation.