
Legal Action Kicks Companies into Compliance
The 2017 lawsuit against Winn-Dixie was viewed as the “first of its kind”. While the ADA added Title IV back in 1990, the functionality and roles of websites have changed drastically since then. The ruling of Judge Robert Scola of the Southern District of Florida acknowledges the major role of many websites. In the 2017 case, he states the website’s heavy integration with local stores makes it subject to the ADA’s regulations. Winn-Dixie’s website enables shoppers to:- Transfer Prescriptions via Online Forms
- Use an Online Medicare Plan Finder
- Refill Prescriptions from an Online Account
- Locate Nearby Stores
- Purchase Groceries Online from Local Stores
- Have Online Purchases Delivered to Your Door
- Print and Redeem Coupons Online
- And More
The ADA Guidelines for Websites
Every good business wants to be available to all of its consumers. But what does an ADA compliant website look like? If you aren’t familiar with what the ADA guidelines for websites look like, you’ll want to start with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The WCAG consists of 12 guidelines:- Provide Text Alternatives for non-text content (Alt Text)
- Provide alternatives for time-based media
- Either design or provide or layout alternative friendly toward disabled users. Alternatives should not lose any original information or structure
- Make viewing and hearing content easier for disabled users, even if it separates the foreground from the background
- Ensure your website can be fully navigated using a keyboard
- Modify moving sections so users can pause or delay them
- Clearly label pages and sections
- Eliminate design elements that can trigger seizures
- Use navigational tools that enable disabled users to find, browse, and understand the content
- Ensure all content can be read by assistance programs
- Keep navigation consistent across the entire website
- Design so that its compatible with existing and future assistive technologies