Web Accessibility: A Legal, Ethical, and Business Necessity
Chances are, you or your employer has a website. And ensuring that your website is accessible to all users is no longer optional—it’s essential. Recent reports highlight a growing trend of lawsuits targeting businesses for not meeting accessibility standards, with companies often blindsided by complaints about their website’s inaccessibility to visually impaired users. For any business with an online presence, these lawsuits, though legal in nature, underscore a broader issue: the need to create inclusive, user-friendly digital experiences.
Making the internet smaller
At Adapt, we align closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities. This goal focuses on reducing inequality within and among countries, which includes ensuring that everyone—regardless of disability—has equal access to opportunities and services, including digital accessibility.
“Out of the 63,000+ websites analyzed in this study, 88% were not compliant with the latest web accessibility standards. Just under 4% of all websites were fully compliant, indicating that multiple sectors are still creating online barriers for people with disabilities.”The State of Web Accessibility in 2024 (Research Report)
Accessibility for business
Beyond avoiding legal pitfalls, accessible websites open the door to a wider customer base. With over one billion people globally living with some form of disability, ensuring your website adheres to accessibility guidelines is both a moral responsibility and a smart business decision. Moreover, accessibility improvements often have the added benefit of boosting SEO performance, enhancing user engagement, and fostering brand loyalty.
Businesses that proactively prioritize web accessibility don’t just protect themselves from lawsuits—they gain a competitive edge. Websites that are easy to navigate for all users, regardless of ability, offer better user experiences, reduce bounce rates, and increase conversions. On top of that, accessibility features like alternative text for images, proper heading structures, and keyboard-friendly navigation also help search engines better index content, improving organic search rankings.
Wrapping up
While legal risks like those mentioned in The Wall Street Journal’s recent piece on the surge of ADA-related lawsuits are real, businesses should view web accessibility as an opportunity for growth, not just compliance. By investing in accessible web design, you’re not only ensuring legal protection but also showing a commitment to inclusivity—something consumers increasingly value.
In today’s digital-first marketplace, web accessibility should be a core part of your business strategy. It’s about more than avoiding lawsuits; it’s about creating a website that works for everyone.
