How to Make Your Website ADA-Compliant Without Losing Your Mind

Published on October 12, 2025 • 8 min read

Learn practical steps to make your website accessible to everyone without overwhelming complexity. This guide breaks down ADA compliance into manageable tasks that improve both accessibility and user experience.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that websites be accessible to people with disabilities. If you're reading this, you probably know you need to make your site ADA-compliant—but the prospect might feel overwhelming. Don't worry. We're going to break this down into manageable, actionable steps that won't require a computer science degree or months of work.

The good news? Most accessibility improvements benefit all users, not just those with disabilities. Better navigation, clearer content, and faster load times make everyone's experience better.

What Is ADA Compliance, Really?

ADA compliance means your website is accessible to people with various disabilities, including:

• Visual impairments: Blindness, low vision, color blindness
• Hearing impairments: Deafness, hard of hearing
• Motor impairments: Limited fine motor control, paralysis
• Cognitive disabilities: Learning disabilities, attention disorders

The ADA doesn't provide specific technical standards, but most courts and businesses follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 as the gold standard. WCAG has three levels: A (basic), AA (standard), and AAA (enhanced). For most websites, WCAG 2.1 AA compliance is the goal.

The 4 Pillars of Web Accessibility

Understanding these four principles will help you approach accessibility systematically:

1. Perceivable

Users must be able to perceive the information being presented. This means:

2. Operable

Users must be able to operate the interface. This includes:

3. Understandable

Information and UI operation must be understandable. This means:

4. Robust

Content must be robust enough to be interpreted by various assistive technologies. This means:

Your ADA Compliance Action Plan

Now let's get practical. Here's a step-by-step approach to making your website ADA-compliant:

Phase 1: Quick Wins (Week 1-2)

Start with these high-impact, low-effort improvements:

1. Add alt text to all images
   • Use descriptive, contextual alt text (not just "image" or "photo")
   • For decorative images, use alt="" so screen readers skip them
   • Consider using AI tools like AltSnap to generate alt text at scale (remember: alt text is just one piece of ADA compliance)
2. Improve color contrast
   • Test your current color combinations using tools like WebAIM's contrast checker
   • Aim for at least 4.5:1 contrast ratio for normal text
   • Use 3:1 for large text (18pt+ or 14pt+ bold)
3. Add focus indicators
   • Ensure all interactive elements have visible focus states
   • Test by tabbing through your site with only the keyboard

Phase 2: Structural Improvements (Week 3-4)

1. Improve heading structure
   • Use proper heading hierarchy (H1 → H2 → H3, etc.)
   • Don't skip heading levels
   • Use headings to create a logical content outline
2. Add form labels and instructions
   • Every form field needs a clear label
   • Provide helpful instructions and error messages
   • Use fieldset and legend for grouped form elements
3. Improve link text
   • Avoid generic text like "click here" or "read more"
   • Make link text descriptive and unique
   • Ensure links make sense out of context

Phase 3: Advanced Features (Week 5-6)

1. Add skip navigation links
   • Provide a way for keyboard users to skip to main content
   • This is especially important for sites with complex navigation
2. Implement ARIA landmarks
   • Use ARIA roles like main, navigation, and contentinfo
   • Help screen readers understand page structure
3. Add captions and transcripts
   • Provide captions for all video content
   • Include transcripts for audio content
   • Consider automated captioning tools for live content

Essential Tools for Testing Accessibility

You don't need expensive software to test accessibility. Here are the tools you should use:

Automated Testing Tools

• WAVE: Free browser extension that identifies many accessibility issues
• axe DevTools: Browser extension with detailed accessibility testing
• Accessibility Insights: Microsoft's comprehensive testing tool

Manual Testing

• Keyboard-only navigation: Test your entire site using only the Tab key
• Screen reader testing: Try NVDA (free) or VoiceOver (Mac)
• Zoom testing: Test your site at 200% zoom to ensure it remains usable

Color and Contrast Testing

• WebAIM Contrast Checker: Test color combinations
• Color Oracle: Simulate color blindness

Common ADA Compliance Mistakes to Avoid

Learn from others' mistakes. Here are the most common accessibility issues:

❌ Missing or Poor Alt Text

The problem: Images without alt text or with unhelpful alt text like "image" or "photo."

The fix: Write descriptive alt text that conveys the same information a sighted user would get from the image.

❌ Poor Color Contrast

The problem: Light gray text on white backgrounds or similar low-contrast combinations.

The fix: Ensure at least 4.5:1 contrast ratio for normal text, 3:1 for large text.

❌ Keyboard Navigation Issues

The problem: Interactive elements that can't be reached or activated with the keyboard.

The fix: Test keyboard navigation and ensure all interactive elements are focusable and usable.

❌ Missing Form Labels

The problem: Form fields without proper labels, making them unusable for screen readers.

The fix: Use proper <label> elements or ARIA labels for all form inputs.

Building Accessibility Into Your Workflow

The key to long-term ADA compliance is making accessibility part of your regular process, not an afterthought:

For Content Creators

• Write alt text when adding images
• Use clear, descriptive headings
• Write in plain language
• Provide captions for videos

For Developers

• Use semantic HTML elements
• Test with keyboard navigation during development
• Include accessibility testing in your QA process
• Use automated testing tools in your CI/CD pipeline

For Designers

• Design with sufficient color contrast from the start
• Consider how the design will work for users with different abilities
• Plan for keyboard navigation in your layouts
• Test designs with accessibility tools

The Business Case for ADA Compliance

Beyond legal requirements, ADA compliance makes good business sense:

• Expanded audience: Reach the 1 billion+ people worldwide with disabilities
• Better SEO: Accessible sites often rank better in search results
• Improved usability: Accessible design benefits all users
• Legal protection: Reduce risk of accessibility lawsuits
• Brand reputation: Show commitment to inclusivity

"The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect." — Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web

Getting Help: When to Bring in the Experts

While many accessibility improvements can be done in-house, sometimes you need expert help:

• Complex applications: Custom web applications often need specialized accessibility expertise
• Legal compliance: If you're facing a lawsuit or need legal certainty
• Large-scale audits: Comprehensive accessibility audits for enterprise sites
• Training: Teaching your team accessibility best practices

For ongoing accessibility needs, consider tools like AltSnap that can automate alt text generation at scale. Remember, alt text is just one component of ADA compliance—you'll still need comprehensive accessibility testing and auditing.

Your Next Steps

ADA compliance doesn't happen overnight, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming either. Here's what to do right now:

1. Audit your current site using the tools mentioned above
2. Start with alt text—it's the easiest win and has immediate impact
3. Test keyboard navigation on your most important pages
4. Check color contrast on your current design
5. Create a plan based on the phases outlined above

Remember: Perfect accessibility is less important than consistent progress. Every improvement you make helps more people access your content and reduces your legal risk.

Ready to start with one of the most impactful accessibility improvements? Try AltSnap for free and see how easy it can be to add alt text to all your images automatically—a crucial first step in your ADA compliance journey.

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