ADA Compliance in Web Design: What Small Businesses Need to Know

As a small business owner, you want your website to be a place where everyone feels welcome—and that includes people with disabilities. ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance in web design isn’t just about legal protection; it’s about building inclusive, user-friendly experiences for all visitors. In this post, we’ll break down what ADA compliance means, why it matters, and how to implement it on your site.

What Is ADA Compliance in Web Design?

ADA compliance ensures that your website is accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities, including visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments. While the ADA was originally designed to address physical spaces, courts have increasingly interpreted it to include digital environments.

Web accessibility is often guided by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which outline four main principles:

• Perceivable: Information and UI must be presented in ways all users can understand.

• Operable: Website functions must be usable via keyboard or other assistive technologies.

• Understandable: Content must be readable and predictable.

• Robust: Sites should work across various devices and assistive tools.

Why ADA Compliance Matters for Small Businesses

Making your website accessible is not just a moral decision—it’s also a smart business move:

• Avoid Legal Risk: Non-compliance can lead to lawsuits and fines.

• Expand Your Audience: Accessibility opens the door to millions of users with disabilities.

• Boost SEO: Accessible websites often align with SEO best practices.

• Enhance UX: Many accessibility improvements benefit all users, not just those with impairments.

Common Accessibility Issues on Websites

Many small business websites are unintentionally inaccessible. Common issues include:

• Missing alt text for images

• Poor color contrast

• Non-descriptive link text (e.g., “Click here”)

• Lack of keyboard navigation support

• Inaccessible forms and buttons

• Videos without captions or transcripts

How to Make Your Website ADA Compliant

Here are some actionable steps to improve your website’s accessibility:

• Use Alt Text: Describe all important images for screen readers.

• Choose Contrasting Colors: Make sure text is readable over background elements.

• Structure Content with Headings: Use proper heading levels (H1, H2, etc.) for readability.

• Enable Keyboard Navigation: All interactive elements should be accessible via keyboard.

• Label Form Fields Clearly: Ensure forms include accessible labels and error messages.

• Provide Transcripts & Captions: For all audio and video content.

Tools for Testing Accessibility

Several free and paid tools can help you evaluate and fix accessibility issues:

• WAVE Accessibility Tool

• Google Lighthouse

• axe DevTools

• NVDA Screen Reader

• Color Contrast Checker

Use these regularly during development and after major updates.

ADA and SEO: A Stronger Digital Strategy

Interestingly, many accessibility best practices also boost SEO. For example:

• Clear structure helps search engines index content better

• Alt text improves image search visibility

• Fast load times (key to accessibility) benefit ranking

• Descriptive links and headers improve readability and dwell time

By integrating ADA compliance with your digital marketing efforts, you create a stronger, more inclusive, and SEO-friendly website.

Final Thoughts

ADA compliance isn’t just a checkbox—it’s a reflection of your business values. An accessible website ensures you’re serving all potential customers, building trust, and standing out in an increasingly competitive digital world.

Need help making your website accessible? Looking Glass specializes in website design, development, and digital marketing strategies that align with ADA compliance and SEO best practices. Let’s make your site inclusive, functional, and future-ready.