No one expects it until it happens, a demand letter or federal lawsuit lands in your inbox.

The best defense is proactive compliance. Ensure your website aligns with WCAG standards and provides an accessible experience for people with disabilities. Identifying and fixing barriers early can significantly reduce legal risk while improving usability for all users.

Contact us to schedule your free ADA website accessibility audit and take the first step toward stronger compliance.

“Surf-by” lawsuits, where websites are scanned and challenged for accessibility barriers, continue to rise. If you are facing legal action, it is important to consult an attorney experienced in ADA and accessibility-related cases. We can provide recommendations for legal professionals familiar with this area.

At the same time, legal representation alone is not enough. Your website must be evaluated and remediated to address underlying accessibility issues and demonstrate meaningful progress toward compliance.

An ADA-compliant website is one that provides equal access to people with disabilities, ensuring users can perceive, navigate, and interact with your content without barriers. If you operate an e-commerce platform, service site, or informational website, accessibility should be a core requirement, not an afterthought.

In practice, compliance typically means aligning your website with WCAG 2.0 or higher standards, the technical framework most commonly referenced in ADA-related cases. While achieving conformance is absolutely attainable, it requires careful auditing, thoughtful remediation, and ongoing oversight.

Contact us to schedule your free ADA website accessibility audit and identify where your site stands today.

For official DOJ guidance on web accessibility, visit: www.ada.gov.

An ADA compliance plan is a structured approach to making your website accessible and aligned with recognized accessibility standards. It is not a one-time fix. True compliance requires ongoing diligence, internal training, and consistent workflow checks as your website evolves.

A well-executed plan helps reduce legal exposure, protect your brand reputation, and prevent costly litigation, fines, negative reviews, or public scrutiny. Accessibility becomes part of how your organization operates, not just a reaction to risk.

At RIV, our compliance plan follows a clear, step-by-step remediation framework:

1. Complete our free audit and consultation form

2. We conduct a comprehensive accessibility audit of your website

3. Code-level remediation and accessibility repair

4. Deploy updated theme and structural improvements

5. Provide website accessibility training for your team

6. Draft your accessibility statement and documentation

We review your website, assess your risk level, and provide a tailored compliance plan designed around your platform, goals, and operational needs.

If you operate a public-facing business or organization, you are ultimately responsible for ensuring your website and digital services are accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Violations often occur unintentionally, especially when accessibility is overlooked during design or development. However, lack of intent does not remove responsibility. Business owners and organizations are expected to take reasonable steps to prevent barriers and address issues when they arise.

Understanding your obligations and proactively evaluating your website can significantly reduce risk. Accessibility is not just a legal safeguard, it is a leadership decision that protects your organization while ensuring equal access for all users.

Many small business owners assume ADA website compliance only applies to large corporations. In reality, accessibility obligations are not limited by company size. If your business serves the public online, your website is expected to be accessible.

ADA-related lawsuits have been filed against organizations of all sizes, including small and mid-sized businesses. Legal action can be costly, disruptive, and damaging to your reputation.

Proactive accessibility is often far more affordable than reactive remediation. Ensuring your website is accessible protects your business while expanding your reach to more customers.

Websites that are not accessible may face legal exposure under the Americans with Disabilities Act. This can include demand letters, individual lawsuits, or class actions alleging digital discrimination. Even when violations are unintentional, businesses may still be required to remediate their sites and cover legal expenses.

Addressing accessibility proactively is often far less costly than responding to legal action after the fact. A structured audit and remediation plan can demonstrate good-faith efforts toward compliance and reduce overall risk.

There have also been legislative efforts, such as the proposed Online Accessibility Act introduced in Congress, aimed at clarifying digital accessibility standards. While laws continue to evolve, the expectation that public-facing websites provide accessible experiences remains consistent.

Here’s a refined, original version aligned with RIV’s tone and positioning:

What Is WCAG?

An estimated 15 percent of the global population lives with a disability that can impact how they access digital content, including browsing websites, completing forms, or shopping online. Ensuring accessibility is not optional for modern businesses, it is essential.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, known as WCAG, were developed by the World Wide Web Consortium as an international technical framework for making digital content accessible. These guidelines outline measurable standards for structure, usability, visual presentation, and assistive technology compatibility.

WCAG 2.2 builds on earlier versions and expands guidance to improve accessibility for a broader range of users, including those with cognitive, mobility, and low-vision needs.

When businesses pursue ADA website compliance, they typically align their websites with WCAG standards. While the ADA is the governing civil rights law in the United States, WCAG provides the technical benchmark courts and regulators commonly reference when evaluating digital accessibility.

Testing your website for accessibility requires more than a quick automated scan. A combination of tools, manual review, and real-world testing provides a clearer picture of compliance.

1. Automated Testing Tools
Browser extensions such as WAVE by WebAIM and built-in tools like Google Lighthouse can help identify common accessibility issues. These tools are useful starting points, but they do not catch everything.

2. Screen Reader Testing
Screen readers allow users who are blind or have low vision to navigate and consume digital content. Proper alt text, semantic structure, ARIA labeling, and meaningful headings are essential for compatibility.

3. Keyboard Navigation
Your website should be fully operable using only a keyboard. Logical focus order, visible focus indicators, and accessible menus ensure users with mobility impairments can navigate effectively.

4. Captions and Media Accessibility
Video and audio content should include accurate closed captions and transcripts to support users who are deaf or hard of hearing.

5. Text Resizing and Zoom
Users should be able to increase text size up to 200 percent without losing functionality or content clarity. Responsive design and flexible layouts are key.

6. Color Contrast
Text and interactive elements should meet a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text, as defined by WCAG. Designers can use contrast-checking tools to evaluate and correct issues.

Automated overlays and widgets may address limited surface-level issues, but sustainable ADA compliance requires structured auditing and code-level remediation.

If you would like a comprehensive evaluation beyond basic testing tools, contact us to schedule your free accessibility audit.

When people refer to ADA website standards, they are typically referencing the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These guidelines are built around four foundational principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust. Together, they define what makes a digital experience accessible.

Below is a high-level overview. For full technical guidance, refer to WCAG 2.2.

1. Perceivable

Users must be able to perceive the information presented on your website.

• Provide text alternatives for images and other non-text content

• Include captions and transcripts for multimedia

• Structure content so it can be presented in different ways without losing meaning

• Ensure sufficient color contrast and adaptable layouts so users can see and hear content clearly

2. Operable

Users must be able to navigate and interact with your website.

• Make all functionality accessible via keyboard

• Provide users enough time to read and complete tasks

• Avoid flashing or animated content that could trigger seizures

• Use clear navigation, headings, and landmarks to help users find information easily

3. Understandable

Users must be able to comprehend the content and interface.

• Use clear, readable language

• Maintain consistent and predictable navigation patterns

• Provide helpful error messages and instructions for forms

• Help users identify and correct mistakes

4. Robust

Your website must work reliably with current and future technologies.

• Ensure compatibility with screen readers and assistive technologies

• Use proper semantic markup and clean code

• Follow standards-based development practices

Accessibility is not just a checklist. It is a structured framework that improves usability, reduces legal risk, and creates a more inclusive digital experience.