Nonprofit Websites Must Comply with ADA, Says New Court Decision
Corporate Partners | April 17, 2019
An Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) policy and compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 can help.
An Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) policy and compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 can help.
A recent lawsuit has heightened the need for nonprofits to ensure their websites are accessible to people who have disabilities. Website accessibility is also an important way for organizations serving older adults and people with disabilities to be inclusive of all residents, patients, families, supporters, and more.
Organization websites that are inaccessible to consumers with visual, auditory, or other disabilities may violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), according to a recent federal appeals court decision in Robles v. Domino’s Pizza. This decision includes nonprofits’ websites, according to "Ninth Circuit Ruling Bolsters ADA Website Accessibility Suits: Risks for Nonprofits," by DC-based law firm Venable.
While the ADA does not specifically mention "websites" or the "Internet" in its definition of public accommodation, the courts are split on whether a public accommodation must be a physical location, said a previous Venable article. Some courts, as in a case involving 1-800-Flowers.com, have found a website to be a public accommodation, even if it is not associated with a physical location.
The ADA also does not require websites to comply with the widely used Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0). However, in light of this litigation, doing so would be prudent. Venable suggested the following steps to reduce the risk of ADA lawsuits: