It’s in the best interest of each and every company and organization to make sure their websites meet ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) website compliance, and following ADA Web Best Practices to do that is absolutely essential. At Three29 we want to help your company implement strategies that make your site more accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.
While most people have heard of ADA plugins and ADA overlays such as UserWay, it’s surprising for many to learn that these tools can only automatically adjust certain elements of your website to improve accessibility; they are never a complete solution in and of themselves. While it’s true that overlays and plugins can provide a quick boost in accessibility they don’t cover the legal requirements you need to avoid a lawsuit. It is therefore critical to address deeper coding issues and take advantage of experts who know how to do manual remediation to truly guarantee that your website’s design and content are inherently accessible from the start. Take a look at our handy guide from the experts here at Three29 to learn more.
What is ADA Website Compliance?
ADA web compliance refers to making sure a website is accessible to people with disabilities, similar to how physical locations accommodate individuals with mobility issues. The ADA is a United States law enforced by an ADA agency that mandates accessible public spaces, and it now extends into the digital realm as well. For a website to be ADA-compliant, it needs to adhere to standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These guidelines cover a range of accessibility aspects, from providing text alternatives for non-text content to offering keyboard navigability.
The purpose of ADA compliance goes far beyond your company avoiding legal repercussions; it’s about creating an inclusive digital environment. By making a website accessible, you make it easier for everyone, regardless of ability, to access the information and services your business provides.
What Is a Web Accessibility Overlay?
A web accessibility overlay is an automated software solution that applies adjustments to a website’s front-end to make it more accessible. It acts, in essence, as a “layer” over the existing website, attempting to correct accessibility violations using AI-based tools. Common features include adding keyboard navigation options, providing screen reader adjustments, and offering color contrast enhancements for visually impaired users. These overlays have gained popularity because they’re quick to implement, often requiring minimal coding or changes to the original site, and while they are handy, they lack the depth and in fact the legal requirements needed to meet ADA compliance.
The Strengths and Weaknesses of Overlay Widgets
Strengths:
- Quick Implementation: Overlays can be added to a website within a short time, allowing for rapid adjustments without extensive coding work. This can be used as an enhancement to manual remediation only however.
- Basic Accessibility Enhancements: Some overlays can improve compliance with a handful of WCAG standards, such as font resizing, color contrast adjustments, and simple keyboard navigation.
Weaknesses:
- Limited Scope: Overlays generally address only superficial elements of accessibility. They do not address deeper code-related violations, leaving many accessibility issues unresolved.
- Automated Detection Errors: On average, AI-based overlays miss up to 70% of WCAG issues because they lack the nuance that only human assessment can provide. Automated tools can’t interpret context, so they often fail to detect complex accessibility problems.
- Legal Vulnerability: Since overlays only alter the visual layer and not the core code, any underlying accessibility issues remain. This leaves businesses legally exposed to ADA compliance lawsuits, and in fact, most lawsuits happen because only an overlay is being used and it’s not providing adequate accessibility to users with disabilities.
- User Experience Issues: Overlays can sometimes actually make websites harder to navigate, particularly for users with disabilities who rely on specific assistive technologies.
Overlay Solutions Fall Short of Full ADA Compliance
While overlays might improve compliance in a few areas of accessibility standards, they don’t guarantee full ADA compliance. The main issue is that companies often think overlays are enough to protect them, but core website violations are often left unaddressed, which then exposes these businesses to legal risks. The underlying code is not changed, only the visible user interface layer is adjusted, so the same fundamental errors persist, and the website remains openly vulnerable to lawsuits.
A Deeper Dive – The Data Behind Overlay Ineffectiveness
A staggering statistic reveals that AI overlays have a significant limitation… they only detect about 30% of WCAG issues, leaving 70% unaddressed without human intervention. Some providers claim to offer manual testing and remediation, but these actions only apply to the overlay layer, not the core website code. This creates a false sense of security for businesses, leaving them exposed to risk since the underlying accessibility issues are still present.
How Three29 Helps Clients Achieve True ADA Website Compliance
At Three29, our team believes that a holistic approach to web accessibility is the only way to achieve genuine ADA compliance. Check out the ways we make the web more accessible:
AI Accessibility Audits
Our AI site scan conducts an ADA compliance audit regularly, highlighting areas that require attention. This ensures that accessibility remains an ongoing priority, not just a one-time fix.
Comprehensive Manual Audits
Our team manually examines the core code and key page templates to guarantee full adherence to ADA Digital Accessibility standards. Manual audits capture complex issues that automated tools simply can’t detect.
Manual Remediation
We don’t rely on quick fixes. Our team manually remediates aggressive ADA violations that scanners overlook, to make sure your website is accessible at its foundation, rather than just on the surface.
ADA Compliance Vault
We take accessibility compliance documentation very seriously. Every scan, manual review, and remediation effort is stored in your personalized ADA Compliance Vault. In the event of a lawsuit, you’ll have a detailed record proving your ongoing compliance efforts, giving you a strong legal defense.
ADA Compliance Badge
Our ADA Compliance Badge immediately shows visitors that you are actively working to keep your website accessible, which signals to others your strong commitment to accessibility standards and helps to deter potential lawsuits.
Why Choose Three29 to Help You Achieve ADA Compliance?
As seen, it’s true that AI overlays for ADA website compliance can offer a quick solution to address some accessibility issues, but they fall short in delivering comprehensive and legally sound results which can lead to big trouble for your business. AI overlays miss a significant percentage of violations, which leaves the core code non-compliant and exposes businesses to risks.
True ADA compliance requires a dedicated, manual approach, one that assesses and corrects every layer of a website. At Three29, we prioritize thorough manual remediation, backed by AI-driven audits and detailed documentation to create a genuinely accessible digital environment for everyone. We handle the complexities of ADA compliance so you can focus on what you do best: running your company.
Invest in accessibility, protect your brand, and make the web a more inclusive place with Three29. Reach out to us to start your journey toward full ADA compliance or call us at (916) 512-3290 today!
