While the ADA applies broadly to all businesses that serve the public, some industries face additional regulations, higher lawsuit rates, or unique accessibility challenges based on their services.
This guide breaks down the specific requirements, common issues, and lawsuit risk levels for 10 major industries. Find your sector below to understand exactly what's expected of your website.
Lawsuit Risk by Industry
| Industry | Risk Level | % of ADA Lawsuits |
|---|---|---|
| Retail & Ecommerce | High | ~35% |
| Restaurants & Food | High | ~18% |
| Healthcare | High | ~12% |
| Banking & Finance | High | ~8% |
| Travel & Hospitality | High | ~7% |
| Education | Medium | ~5% |
| Government | Medium | ~4% |
| Legal Services | Medium | ~3% |
Healthcare
High RiskHealthcare websites face stringent requirements under multiple laws: ADA Title III, Section 504 (for entities receiving federal funding), and HIPAA considerations for patient portals.
Key Requirements
- •Patient portals must be fully keyboard accessible
- •Appointment scheduling must work with screen readers
- •Medical documents must be accessible (not scanned images)
- •Telehealth platforms must support assistive technologies
- •Emergency alerts must be announced to screen readers
Common Issues
- • PDF intake forms without proper tagging
- • Appointment calendar widgets without keyboard support
- • Low contrast on critical health alerts
- • Form fields without labels in patient registration
Retail & Ecommerce
High RiskEcommerce sites are the #1 target for ADA lawsuits, accounting for over a third of all filings. The complete purchase journey—from browsing to checkout—must be accessible.
Key Requirements
- •Product images need descriptive alt text
- •Add-to-cart buttons must be properly labeled
- •Checkout flow must be keyboard-only completable
- •Cart updates must be announced via live regions
- •Product filters must be operable without a mouse
- •Error messages must explain what went wrong and how to fix
Common Issues
- • Image carousels without keyboard controls
- • Product quick-view modals that trap focus
- • Size/color selectors without labels
- • Checkout timeouts without extension options
Restaurants & Food Service
High RiskRestaurant websites—particularly menus and online ordering—are frequent lawsuit targets. The shift to QR code menus during COVID made accessibility even more critical.
Key Requirements
- •Menus must be text-based, not image-only PDFs
- •Online ordering must be keyboard accessible
- •Reservation forms need proper labels
- •Allergen information must be screen reader accessible
- •Delivery customizations (extra toppings, modifications) must be accessible
Banking & Financial Services
High RiskFinancial institutions face heightened scrutiny due to the essential nature of banking services. Online banking, loan applications, and investment platforms must all be accessible.
Key Requirements
- •Account dashboards must be navigable by keyboard
- •Transaction tables need proper headers
- •Security timeouts must provide warnings and extensions
- •Two-factor authentication must offer accessible alternatives
- •Balance and alert notifications must be announced to screen readers
Common Issues
- • Custom form controls (date pickers, dropdowns) without ARIA
- • Session timeouts without warning
- • Charts and graphs without text alternatives
- • Focus trapped in authentication modals
Education
Medium RiskEducational institutions face requirements under ADA, Section 504 (for federal funding recipients), and Section 508 (for public schools). Learning management systems and course content must be accessible.
Key Requirements
- •All videos must have accurate captions
- •Course materials (PDFs, slides) must be accessible
- •LMS platforms must support keyboard navigation
- •Interactive quizzes must be accessible
- •Live classes need real-time captioning options
Government
Medium Risk (Strict Requirements)Federal, state, and local government websites must comply with Section 508 and ADA Title II. The 2024 Title II rule explicitly requires WCAG 2.1 AA compliance for state and local government websites.
Key Requirements
- •WCAG 2.1 AA is now legally mandated for state/local governments
- •All public-facing documents must be accessible
- •Online forms (permits, licenses, taxes) must work with assistive tech
- •Public meeting recordings need captions
- •Emergency alerts must be announced properly
Deadline: State and local governments with populations ≥50,000 must comply by April 2026. Smaller entities have until April 2027.
Legal Services
Medium RiskLaw firms face a unique irony: many firms that litigate ADA cases have inaccessible websites themselves. Contact forms, intake processes, and resource libraries must be accessible.
Key Requirements
- •Contact and intake forms need proper labels
- •Attorney bios should use proper heading structure
- •Legal resources/PDFs must be accessible documents
- •Live chat must support keyboard users
Travel & Hospitality
High RiskHotels, airlines, and travel booking sites face high lawsuit rates due to complex booking flows and the essential nature of travel services.
Key Requirements
- •Booking engines must be fully keyboard accessible
- •Date pickers need keyboard support and screen reader announcements
- •Room/seat selection maps must have text alternatives
- •Accessibility features (wheelchair rooms, etc.) must be clearly findable
- •Itinerary confirmations must be accessible
Read our complete Hotel Accessibility Guide → | Travel Accessibility Guide →
Real Estate
Medium RiskReal estate websites with property listings, virtual tours, and mortgage calculators must ensure all search and inquiry functions are accessible.
Key Requirements
- •Property photo galleries need alt text and keyboard controls
- •Virtual tours must have accessible alternatives
- •Map-based search needs list-based alternative
- •Mortgage calculators must work with screen readers
- •Contact forms for showings need proper labels
Don't Forget: State-Level Regulations
Beyond federal ADA requirements, some states have additional accessibility laws. California's Unruh Act and New York State Human Rights Law often lead to higher lawsuit volumes in those states.
Check our state-specific guides for detailed information on regulations in your area.
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