CHAMBER CONNECTION
UNDERSTANDING WEBSITE ADA COMPLIANCE FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
In today’s digital age, ensuring your website is ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant is crucial, especially for small business owners. ADA compliance means making your website accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. Non-compliance can lead to litigation and fines, but more importantly, it excludes a significant portion of the population from accessing your services. This article will help you understand ADA compliance and how you can implement accessible solutions which will mitigate risks of ADA litigation.
Levels of Website ADA Compliance
ADA compliance is based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which are divided into the following three levels.
1. Level A - Minimum Accessibility: This is the most basic web accessibility level. It addresses issues that could prevent a disabled user from navigating a website, such as missing alt text for images or improper form labeling.
SANTA MARIA VALLEY CHAMBER MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
CONTINUED - WEBSITE ADA COMPLIANCE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Executive Committee
Chairman: Emily Kitts, Naughty Oak Brewing Company
Chairman-Elect: Sandra Dickerson, Your People Professionals
Vice Chairman: Shannon Seifert, Santa Maria Valley YMCA
Vice Chairman: Gina Gluyas, BHGRE Haven Properties
Past Chairman: Paul Cook, CoastHills Credit Union
Board Members
Sue Andersen, Marian Regional Medical Center
Dominick Barry, Quintron Systems, Inc.
Micaela Buchanan, Lark + Sparrow LLC
Jason Buchanan, HUB International Insurance Services
Jeff Buckingham, Astound Business Solutions Powered by Digital West
Nancy Crawford, Care Connection
Transport + Home Care - Santa Maria
Donna Denham, Santa Maria Country Club
Kelsi Fitzgerald, Veritas Innovative Pest & Termite Solutions
Karen Gjerdrum, Fothergill Andre, Morris & Buttery
Antonio Garcia, Santa Maria Joint High School District
Dave Merlo, Glenn Burdette, Inc.
Sylvia Palacios, Santa Maria Town Center
Terè Paredes, Maya Restaurant
Joshua Beau Flores Sahagun, Luttrell Staffing Group
Dr. Eric Sauers, A.T. Still University / College for Healthy Communities
Ryan Swack, Best Western Plus Big America
Dr. Kevin Walthers, Allan Hancock College
Interested in Chamber volunteer leadership opportunities? Contact Molly Schiff, Director of Advocacy & Initiatives, at molly@santamaria. com to learn more about open positions on our committees.
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2. Level AA - Mid-Range Accessibility: This is the standard level for most businesses and covers a broader range of accessibility issues, including color contrast and text resize functionality. Achieving Level AA compliance ensures your website is accessible to the majority of users with disabilities.
3. Level AAA - Highest Accessibility: This is the most stringent level and is often not required for most websites. It includes more complex issues, such as providing sign language interpretation for audio content.
10 Steps to Protect Your Business from Website ADA Compliance Litigation
1. Conduct an Accessibility Audit: Use a tool like Google PageSpeed Insights to identify current accessibility issues on your website.
2. Add Alt Text to Images: Ensure all images have descriptive alt text that conveys the image’s content to screen readers for users who have visual impairments.
3. Ensure Keyboard Accessibility: Make sure all functionalities can be accessed using a keyboard alone, without requiring a mouse, which requires order management.
4. Improve Color Contrast: Use highcontrast color schemes to make text easily readable for users with visual impairments.
5. Add Closed Captions and Transcripts: Provide closed captions for video content and transcripts for audio content to make them accessible to deaf or hard-of-hearing users.
6. Use Descriptive Link Text: Avoid vague terms like “click here” and use descriptive text that explains the link’s purpose.
7. Implement ARIA Landmarks: Use landmarks to help screen readers navigate your site more effectively.
8. Ensure Form Accessibility: Label all form fields clearly and use error messages that are easily identifiable and understandable.
9. Responsive Design: Make sure your website is mobile-friendly, as many users with disabilities rely on mobile devices for web access.
10. Regularly Update and Test Your Site: Accessibility is an ongoing process. Regularly update your website and retest it for new issues.
Website ADA compliance is not just a legal requirement but a moral obligation to ensure that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can access your services. By understanding the levels of compliance, utilizing available resources, and implementing key accessibility features, you can protect your business from litigation and create a more inclusive online environment. Remember, accessibility is an ongoing effort, and staying informed and proactive is the best way to maintain compliance and serve all users effectively.
LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: URBAN PLANNING CONCEPTS
Each month, the Santa Maria Valley Chamber partners with the Santa Maria Times to showcase a local business in the Santa Maria Valley through the “Local Business Spotlight Series.” Check out our most recent edition!
Scan to view this month’s local business spotlight:
QUARTERLY FEATURED BUSINESSES
Each quarter, the Chamber in partnership with the City of Santa Maria recognizes deserving businesses through the “Business of the Quarter” Program. We are excited to announce the recent recipients!
TONY CRAVELLO INSURANCE
JB’S JEWELERS
CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF THESE MEMBERS!
If you know a business in the City of Santa Maria who deserves recognition, email patricia@santamaria.com to nominate them for this program.
JULY 2024
Pictured above: Laurie Tamura, Principal Planner at Urban Planning Concepts Inc., shares how their developments impact the community and the bright future ahead for Santa Maria!
Pictured: Anne Cravello, owner of Tony Cravello Insurance
Pictured: Jose Barrientos, owner and father and Brian Barrientos, son and manager of JB’s Jewelers
NEXTGEN CEO BUSINESS LAUNCH DAY
NextGen CEO is a digital business education course that teaches kids the basics of starting their own business, courtesy of the Santa Maria Valley Chamber. The program is targeted to those at a sixth-grade learning level and covers six main categories, including business fundamentals, cost models, food safety and prep, marketing and customer service, money management and future planning. The most recent cohort of the program partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mid Central Coast. During the Business Launch Day, students launched their businesses and sold their product to the public.
CEO Kaleigh of Kaleigh’s Crystal Shop sold a table full of crystals, including jewelry such as earrings and bracelets. Ask her anything about crystal properties; she’s the expert.
CEO
An elote entrepeneur sold both corn on the cob and by the cup for a delicious snack, with a Hot Cheeto crunch!
Loom bracelets,
candles and earrings, oh my! This feminine shop sold all your favorite girly go-to items.
“With the support of the Santa Maria Valley Chamber, we are working together to identify solutions and strategies to support youth as they prepare for their careers. To meet the workforce challenges of tomorrow, young people need safe spaces, positive mentorship, and work experiences today. With the support of the Santa Maria Valley Chamber, the Boys and Girls Club enables kids and teens to explore their interests and passions, develop their employability skills, and gain real-world work experiences.”
-Roberto Rodriguez Chief Operations Officer, Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast
A kid’s table of tie-dye shirts made for a dye-namic launch day.
A slime
sold containers of slime with customizable glitter and colors.
scented
CEO Elijah of Sweet Heat served up sweet and spicy treats like chamoycovered Gushers and other gummies!
CHAMBER IN ACTION
Here’s a look at what our Chamber & our member businesses have been up to this past month. 2 5 1 3 4 6
1. Local education leaders engage in a Workforce Development Roundtable, exploring innovative partnerships with businesses to enhance student growth and workforce readiness.
2. New Chamber members recognized at our most recent mixer, hosted by KIA of Santa Maria and Altrusa of Golden Valley. Thank you to all; welcome to the Chamber!
3. The Christmas-in-July themed mixer had a special guest! How the Grinch Stole the Spotlight at the Mixer, coming soon to a theater near you!
4. We recently sat down with Pamela Dennis of Klondike
Pizza for a local business spotlight. Stay tuned for monthly highlights of your favorite local businesses!
5. New members came to the Quarterly New Member Orientation to learn how to maximize their Chamber benefits.
6. Our NextGen CEOs hard at work prepping for their business launch day!
OUR MEMBERSHIP IS GROWING! CHAMBER WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS
As champions for a stronger Santa Maria Valley, the Chamber is excited to welcome more businesses to our growing organization. Please join us in welcoming the following new Chamber members, who joined in June 2024.
Premium: A Mi Manera Mexican Cuisine & Mariscos (805) 347-7748
Corporate: Cassia Apartments (805) 925-2181 www.livecassia.com
Member: AmeriCorps (805) 922-0329 unitedwaylife.org
City of Santa Maria Transit Division (805) 925-0951 www.cityofsantamaria.org/services/ departments/department-ofpublic-works/santa-maria-regionaltransit-5008
Central Courier LLC (805) 406-5081 centralcourierllc.com
Theodore Harmand Appraisals (805) 307-3765 www.santa-barbara-appraiser.com
Walkthrough Productions (310) 663-7051 walkthroughproductions.com
Water Fixers Plumbing & Filtration, Inc. (805) 928-6444 waterfixers.com
CELEBRATING LOCAL BUSINESS: CHAMBER RIBBON CUTTINGS
These Chamber member businesses recently celebrated joining the Chamber or a major business milestone with a ribbon cutting. Join us in congratulating them!
Merrill Gardens
1220 N. Suey Rd., Santa Maria (805) 928-2662 www.merrillgardens.com/seniorliving/ca/santa-maria/merrill-gardensat-santa-maria/
Gold Star Event Center
1555 S. Broadway Santa Maria CA 93454 (805) 345-9854
Sweet Creations by Issa Santa Maria (805) 720-3283 www.instagram.com/sweetcreations_ byissa
Opening of the Santa Barbara County Fair & the Re-Dedication of the Clarence and Rosalie Minetti Arena 937 S. Thornburg St., Santa Maria www.santamariafairpark.com
LEARN WHY 850+ BUSINESSES HAVE ALREADY JOINED!
We’d love to have your business or organization as part of the Santa Maria Valley Chamber! Contact Membership Manager Cara Martinez at (805) 925-2403 x 852 or cara@santamaria.com to learn more.
NOT YET A MEMBER? JOIN THE CHAMBER TODAY!
“Joining the Santa Maria Valley Chamber has exceeded my expectations! We have operated in Santa Maria since 2007, but since COVID, had lost some connection with the community. Since joining, they have worked with us on numerous occasions. We have attended every mixer, were a part of the Strawberry Industry Appreciation Dinner, and most recently were a last minute add to the Business Expo and Job Fair. Every event has been high quality, the people incredibly helpful and welcoming, and we are extremely happy with the level of support and enthusiasm they bring to all members. Thank you for being such an outstanding and active Chamber and for making a positive difference in our community and business!”
-Linda Ozawa Olds Operator and Co-Founder, Jamba
