What Is ADA Website Compliance?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. While the ADA was enacted in 1990 — before the modern internet — courts and the Department of Justice have consistently interpreted it to cover websites, especially for businesses that serve the public.
In practice, ADA website compliance means making your website accessible to people with disabilities: those who are blind or low vision (using screen readers), deaf or hard of hearing (needing captions), those with motor disabilities (navigating by keyboard), and those with cognitive disabilities (needing clear, simple interfaces).
The DOJ has formally adopted WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the technical standard for ADA web accessibility. Our ADA compliance checker tests your website against this exact standard.
Who Needs ADA Website Compliance?
Private Businesses (Title III)
Any business that offers goods or services to the public — retail, restaurants, hotels, banks, law firms, healthcare providers, SaaS companies, and more.
At risk now — lawsuits are actively being filed
State & Local Government (Title II)
All state and local government websites must meet WCAG 2.1 AA. The DOJ's 2024 rule sets a hard deadline of April 24, 2026.
Deadline: April 24, 2026
Federal Government (Section 508)
Federal agencies must meet accessibility standards under Section 508, which aligns with WCAG 2.1 AA.
Already required
Education Institutions
Schools, colleges, and universities receiving federal funding must ensure website accessibility under Title II and Section 504.
Active enforcement by DOJ and OCR
Healthcare Providers
Hospitals, clinics, telehealth platforms, and insurance portals — especially critical for patient access to health information.
New HHS rule effective May 2026
E-commerce & Online Retail
Online stores are the most frequently sued category in ADA web accessibility litigation. Product pages, checkout flows, and filters must be accessible.
Highest lawsuit volume
What Our ADA Compliance Checker Tests
We run 50+ automated WCAG 2.1 AA checks against your website using the axe-core engine — the same technology used by Microsoft, Google, and the U.S. Digital Service. Here's what we test:
Image Alt Text
Every image must have descriptive alternative text for screen readers
Color Contrast
Text must have 4.5:1 contrast ratio against backgrounds
Keyboard Navigation
All functionality must be operable with keyboard alone
Form Labels
Every input must have a clear, associated label
Link Text
Links must have descriptive text — not just 'click here'
Mobile Responsive
Content must reflow at 320px without horizontal scrolling
Language Declaration
Page language must be programmatically declared
Heading Structure
Headings must follow a logical hierarchy (H1 → H2 → H3)
Media Alternatives
Video must have captions; audio must have transcripts
Focus Indicators
Keyboard focus must be visible on all interactive elements
ARIA Usage
ARIA attributes must be valid and correctly applied
Status Messages
Dynamic content updates must be announced to screen readers
The ADA Lawsuit Landscape in 2026
Web accessibility litigation continues to grow. Understanding the landscape helps you assess your risk:
- 4,600+ federal lawsuits filed in 2025 — a 15% increase over 2024, and the trend is accelerating.
- E-commerce is the top target — online retail accounts for over 75% of filed cases. Product images without alt text and inaccessible checkout flows are the most cited violations.
- Average settlement: $50,000-$100,000 — plus attorney fees, which can equal or exceed the settlement amount.
- Serial plaintiff firms drive volume — a small number of law firms file the majority of cases, using automated scanning to identify targets.
- Proactive compliance is the best defense — courts look favorably on organizations that can demonstrate ongoing compliance efforts, regular testing, and a published accessibility statement.
Free vs Paid ADA Compliance Testing
| Feature | Free Scan | Pro ($29/mo) |
|---|---|---|
| Single page scan | ✓ | ✓ |
| WCAG 2.1 AA testing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Compliance score | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fix recommendations | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scheduled monitoring | ✗ | ✓ |
| Email alerts on regressions | ✗ | ✓ |
| Multi-page scanning | ✗ | ✓ |
| Compliance documentation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Brand competitor monitoring | ✗ | ✓ |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ADA compliance checker really free?
Yes. You can scan any URL as many times as you want with no signup, no credit card, and no usage limits. Our free scanner runs the same axe-core engine as our paid monitoring plans.
What does the ADA require for website accessibility?
The ADA doesn't specify a technical standard in its text, but the DOJ has formally adopted WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the benchmark for ADA compliance. The 2024 Title II rule explicitly requires WCAG 2.1 AA for state and local government websites by April 2026. Courts in Title III cases (private businesses) have also consistently pointed to WCAG as the appropriate standard.
Can I get sued for ADA non-compliance?
Yes. Over 4,600 web accessibility lawsuits were filed in 2025 alone. Any business operating a website that offers goods or services to the public can be subject to ADA accessibility claims. Plaintiff firms actively use automated tools to scan websites for violations and file lawsuits at scale. See latest lawsuit statistics →
Does passing this scan guarantee I won't be sued?
No automated scan can guarantee legal protection. However, demonstrating ongoing compliance efforts — regular scanning, documented remediation, and a published accessibility statement — significantly reduces lawsuit risk and provides a strong legal defense. Courts have consistently looked favorably on good-faith efforts.
Is an accessibility overlay enough for ADA compliance?
No. Accessibility overlays (like accessiBe, UserWay, or AudioEye widgets) have not been accepted by courts as proof of ADA compliance. Multiple companies using overlays have been sued successfully. The accessibility community's Overlay Fact Sheet explains why overlays don't work. Real compliance requires fixing issues in your code.
How much does it cost to make a website ADA compliant?
For most small-to-medium websites, fixing critical accessibility issues costs 4-16 hours of developer time (roughly $400-$2,000 as a one-time investment). Ongoing monitoring with RatedWithAI is $29/month. Compare this to the average ADA lawsuit settlement of $50,000-$100,000 plus attorney fees. Small businesses may also qualify for the $5,000 Disabled Access Tax Credit (Form 8826).
What's the ADA Title II deadline?
State and local government websites with populations of 50,000+ must meet WCAG 2.1 AA by April 24, 2026. Smaller governments have until April 24, 2027. This is a firm deadline — non-compliance can result in DOJ enforcement actions, loss of federal funding, and private lawsuits. Full Title II countdown and guide →
💰 Small Business? ADA Compliance May Be Free
The Disabled Access Credit (IRS Form 8826) provides up to $5,000 annually for small businesses spending on ADA compliance — including accessibility scanning tools and developer remediation costs. If your business earns less than $1 million in revenue or has fewer than 30 employees, this credit can effectively cover the entire cost of making your website accessible.
Check Your Website's ADA Compliance Now
Free, instant ADA compliance testing. Paste your URL, see your violations, and get clear instructions on how to fix them. No signup, no credit card.
Run Free ADA Compliance Check →Need ongoing monitoring? See Pro plans from $29/mo for scheduled scans, alerts, and compliance documentation.