ADA Compliance for Websites — What Every Small Business Owner Needs to Know in 2025
- Mary Lawlor
- 14 hours ago
- 4 min read
Helping Businesses Understand the Legal and Practical Side of Website Accessibility
1. The Overlooked Risk Hiding on Your Website
Did you know that thousands of small businesses across the U.S. have been hit with lawsuits for having websites that aren’t accessible to people with disabilities? Most of these business owners never even realized they were breaking the law.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) doesn’t just apply to physical spaces like ramps and restrooms anymore — it now applies to digital spaces too. If your website isn’t designed so everyone can use it, your business could be at risk for legal action.
The good news is that accessibility isn’t just about avoiding lawsuits — it’s about creating a better, more inclusive experience for every visitor. Let’s walk through what it means, why it matters, and how to make your website ADA compliant without getting lost in tech jargon.
2. What Does ADA Compliance for Websites Actually Mean?
Website accessibility means designing and developing your site so that all users — including those with visual, hearing, cognitive, or motor impairments — can navigate and interact with it easily.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the global standard that defines accessibility best practices. These guidelines cover things like:
Text that’s easy to read and zoom in on.
Images that include alt text for screen readers.
Videos with captions or transcripts.
Clear navigation that works with a keyboard (not just a mouse).
In short, it’s about removing barriers so every visitor — regardless of ability — can access your products, services, and information.
3. Why It’s Legally Required
The ADA was passed in 1990, long before the internet became essential to daily life. But in the last decade, U.S. courts have ruled that websites are “places of public accommodation.”
That means your website — whether you’re a local restaurant, retail shop, or professional service — must be accessible to people with disabilities.
And this isn’t a “big business” problem. In fact, most lawsuits are aimed at small and mid-sized companies. Many business owners don’t even realize their sites are noncompliant until they receive a demand letter.
Potential risks include:
Costly legal settlements ($5,000–$25,000+).
Attorney fees and mandatory accessibility audits.
Loss of public trust and brand reputation.
Accessibility compliance protects your business — but it also shows your customers that you care about all of them.
4. Accessibility Is Good for Business
Beyond the legal side, ADA Compliance for Websites, "accessibility" offers real marketing and SEO benefits.
Improved Search Rankings: Google favors websites that are structured clearly, use alt text, and follow readability standards.
Better User Experience: Simplified layouts and clear text help everyone — not just people with disabilities.
More Customers: About 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. lives with a disability. By making your website inclusive, you expand your reach to millions more potential customers.
Accessibility isn’t just compliance — it’s conversion.
5. Five Simple Fixes You Can Make Today
The idea of “ADA compliance” can sound intimidating, but getting started is easier than you think. Here are five steps any small business owner can take today:
Add Alt Text to All Images: Every image on your site should have a descriptive text tag that explains what it shows. This helps screen readers describe visuals to visitors who can’t see them.
Check Your Color Contrast: Make sure your text stands out clearly against its background. People with visual impairments or color blindness often can’t read low-contrast designs. Try tools like WebAIM’s Contrast Checker to test it.
Make Navigation Keyboard-Friendly: Users with motor impairments often can’t use a mouse. Test your site by tabbing through — can you reach every link and button using only your keyboard?
Add Captions or Transcripts to Videos: Captions aren’t just for the hearing impaired — they help anyone watching without sound (like people scrolling on mobile).
Simplify Your Text and Layout: Short sentences, clear headings, and easy-to-read fonts make your content accessible to everyone.
6. Real Example: Halo Creatives’ Accessibility Features in Action
Halo Creatives doesn’t just talk about accessibility — we practice it.Our website includes a built-in Accessibility Widget, powered by accessiBe, that gives visitors easy control over how they view and interact with our site.
Visitors can enable features such as:
Seizure Safe Mode (reduces flashing and bright colors)
Vision Impaired Profile (enhances contrast and visuals)
Keyboard Navigation (Motor) support
Readable Fonts for cognitive and ADHD-friendly viewing
👉 Visit HaloCreatives.com and click the blue round Accessibility widget on the bottom left corner to see the functionality live on our website.
7. How to Check If Your Site Is Compliant
Want to know where your website stands? Try these tools:
WAVE (wave.webaim.org) — free browser-based scanner.
Google Lighthouse — runs accessibility audits in Chrome.
AccessScan.ai — simple online compliance report.
Remember: automated tests catch about 40% of issues. For full confidence, have your site reviewed by a professional accessibility consultant — like Halo Creatives.
8. The Cost of Ignoring Accessibility
A non-compliant site doesn’t just risk lawsuits — it can silently drive customers away. Imagine a potential client visiting your website but being unable to read the menu or complete a contact form. That’s a lost sale you’ll never even know happened.
The ADA isn’t just a law; it’s a reflection of digital inclusivity — and as more consumers demand ethical brands, compliance becomes part of your reputation.
9. Compliance Is Care
Accessibility may sound like a technical topic, but at its core, it’s about human connection. When your website welcomes everyone, it shows that your brand values empathy, integrity, and good design.
At Halo Creatives, we help business owners:
Understand their ADA obligations.
Audit and fix accessibility issues.
Future-proof their sites with compliant, beautiful design.
📞 Schedule Your ADA Website Audit
Your website should be a place where everyone feels welcome — and protected.Let’s make sure it’s both. Schedule Your ADA Website Audit with Halo Creatives today, and we’ll help you stay compliant, confident, and connected.