What is ADA Compliance?
ADA compliance means your website and business meet the Americans with Disabilities Act's accessibility standards. For websites, courts evaluate compliance against the WCAG 2.1 AA standard. Non-compliance can lead to lawsuits with settlements of $10,000–$75,000.
ADA Compliance Checklist
Use this WCAG 2.1 AA checklist to audit your website for ADA compliance. It covers all 50 success criteria organized by WCAG's four principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust.
How much does ADA compliance cost?
ADA website compliance costs range from $29/month (accessibility widget) to $2,000–$15,000 (full remediation of a typical small business site), plus $500–$3,000 for a proper WCAG audit. Ongoing monitoring runs $50–$500/month depending on site complexity.
Is ADA compliance mandatory for websites?
Yes — ADA compliance is effectively mandatory for most US commercial websites. While no federal statute explicitly says "websites must be ADA compliant," courts, the Department of Justice, and public accommodation law have made non-compliance a significant legal liability.
How to become ADA compliant
Becoming ADA compliant takes 30-90 days for a typical small business site: get a WCAG 2.1 AA audit, fix the critical issues in your source code, install a widget for visitor customization, document your work, then maintain with quarterly audits.
Received an ADA demand letter? What to do next
Don't panic, don't respond without legal advice, and don't ignore it. ADA demand letters require a specific response strategy: preserve records, get an attorney, document your remediation efforts, and negotiate. Settlements typically range $3K–$15K if handled correctly.
ADA Compliance in 2026
In 2026, ADA website compliance means meeting WCAG 2.1 AA — the DOJ's explicit standard since their 2024 Title II rule. Lawsuits continue rising (~15% YoY), with California, New York, and Florida leading. Real compliance requires manual audits, source-code remediation, widgets, and documentation.
WCAG 2.1 AA Checklist
WCAG 2.1 Level AA has 50 success criteria across four principles (Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust). This plain-English checklist explains each criterion with real examples — no jargon.