Is Your Property Website ADA Compliant?

Roughly 15% of Americans have disabilities, spending $17.3 million annually on travel, it is a part of the population that can’t be ignored when it comes to being ADA compliant. It is required by law for your property to be ADA compliant and soon it will be required to make your website ADA compliant as well. With many lawsuits hitting a few major corporations recently, it has become an obvious change that most expect to happen soon.

With this potential change in the law right around the corner it is a good time to ask: Is your property website ADA compliant?

To help you get started in making your website ADA compliant, here are some important components to keep in mind from the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.

Perceivable

The internet provides access to knowledge for its users. To gain access to this knowledge, it must be processed through the senses (touch, hearing, vision). This is either done through the browser or through assistive technologies like screen readers or screen enlargers.

Operable

The website must be compatible with all the ways in which users browse the internet. Those who use alternative devices to accommodate their disabilities require a way in which all controls and interactive elements can be used via their keyboard or an assistive device.

Understandable

Content must be clear and precise. It cannot bring with it ambiguity or clutter. Content on your website must feature intelligent language and be highly functional.

Robust

Your website content must be compatible with an array of assistive technologies, like alternative keyboards, screen magnifiers, and text-to-speech software.

For further, detailed information regarding these components, reference the worldwide technical standard known as the Web Content Accessibility Guide 2.0, WCAG 2.0.

Here are some ways in which to help make your website compliant:

  • Make sure your booking engine vendor is compliant with website accessibility and the guidelines discussed above.
  • Ensure all buttons and CTAs include text labels.
  • Provide alt text for non-text content, like images. All images on the website should have ALT tags added.
  • All internal and external links should have a text description.
  • Make sure your property’s website is readable and navigable by screen readers, magnifiers, and alternative keyboard devices.

Do I need to make these changes now?

While it is not written into law yet, Forbes.com states there is likely to be legislation pushed through to the Department of Justice in 2018 to ensure all websites providing a good or service are ADA compliant.

So, while you may have some time to make these upgrades it is a good idea to start now. To stay up to date with this information and other industry highlights, be sure to sign up for our RezStream blogs and resource guides so you don’t miss anything when it comes to managing your property. 

Published: July 21, 2018