what is ADA compliance? How To Comply with ADA Website Standards Americans with Disablities Act (ADA), is a civil rights law that mainly focuses on protection of people with disabilities similar to the people without disabilities, based on their gender, nation, age, religion, race, and color. ADA main purpose is to prohibit any discrimination of individuals with disabilities and ensure they get access similar to as general public without disabilities. With the arrival of information and electronic technology, certain judicial departments made some Accessible Design Standards that makes these technologies accessible for people with disabilities. However, being compliant to these standards are important, which makes people to think and question What is ADA compliance?
what is ADA compliance? Accessibility For People With Disabilities ADA allows people with disabilities to have all rights in applying a job, schools, transportation, private hotels, hospitals and every public and private place that is open for normal people. As a part of that, ADA have also brought in some standards for electronic and information technologu that includes: computer software, hardware and documentation. These ADA standards are applicable to all public and commerical accommodations and entities, which also includes internent. According to ADA accessibility standards, Accessibility can be defined as design of products, services, devices or enviroments for indiviudals with disabilities or special needs. The concept of enabling designing and practicing accessible development makes it certain for both direct and indirect access. However, accessibility can be viewed as ability to access and benefit from devices or products, but cannot be confused with usabillity of a device, service or a product. Assistive technology enables people with disabilities or special needs to access some system or entity. Now, What is ADA Compliance? Specific regulations have been developed that do not tolerate discrimination of using websites by disable people. In a certain situation, regulatory process started to create new regulations that addresses the accessibility of goods and services offered through internet which will be covering Title III ADA. This law affects all americans who are disabled, their families, friends and caregivers, agencies of state and local goverment, private employers with more than 15 employees, businesses that are operating for the benefitting public. ADA encourages self-regulation of accessibility standard. Companies must consider to comply with these ADA regulations.
Guidelines For Website Accessibility ADA have included non-physical locations such as, websites, extending public accommodations. This made clear that people with disabilities have similar levels of online accessibility, which is applied and quaranteed by the law. However, it is not certain what website content is accessible in the terms of ADA for public accommodation. Regulatories also stated that ADA compliance will be applied based on case-by-case manner. So, how do you ensure your website is ADA compliant. You can go through web content accessibility guidelines 2.0 (WCAG) to make your website accessible. WCAG is an official international standards for websites accessibility that conforms WCAG and ADA compliance . Under four principles, called as POUR, WCAG contains twelve guidelines. POUR can be termed as Perceivable, Operable, Understandable and Robust. Perceivable tells, web content must be made available to the senses, such as: hearing, sight, and touch. Operable conveys that navigation and interface forms and controls must be operable, without compromising to make website content and interface understandable. You must also ensure that your website works in all environments.