The ADA and websites, in plain English
Educational, not legal advice. Laws and guidance change. For your situation, talk to an attorney.
The short version
The Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) requires businesses open to the public to serve people with disabilities. It was written before the web, but the U.S. Department of Justice has said for years that it applies to businesses' websites too. In its 2022 guidance, the DOJ said businesses should make their websites accessible and pointed to WCAG as helpful guidance.
Government websites
In April 2024, the DOJ published a rule for state and local governments under Title II of the ADA. It adopts WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the technical standard, with compliance deadlines starting in 2026 depending on the size of the government. If you build websites for a city, county, school district or public agency, check the current DOJ guidance for your dates.
Private businesses
For private businesses (Title III), there isn't a single technical rule written into the regulations. In practice, WCAG 2.1 or 2.2 Level AA is what businesses, courts and settlement agreements most often refer to.
Practical, good-faith steps
- Find out where you stand. Run a scan and have someone tab through your main pages.
- Fix the high-impact items first: forms, contrast, image descriptions, keyboard access.
- Publish an accessibility statement with a way for visitors to report problems, and answer those reports promptly.
- Keep a dated record of scans and fixes.
- Re-check when the site changes. New pages, plugins and themes bring new issues.
None of this needs to be scary. It's the same thing as a ramp at the front door: a way of making sure every customer can get in.