The State of Website Accessibility in 2017: Lawsuits are STILL Rising
Posted on 09/20/2017 at 10:17 AM
Website accessibility is a topic we have not touched on in a while. Though the need for website accessibility has always been present, there was a surge in awareness beginning around 2015 and into 2016. This awareness stemmed from the slew of website accessibility lawsuits that occurred during that time, sending organizations into a fury to quickly bring their websites up to code.
While the initial buzz around the subject seems to have fizzled, your website’s accessibility in 2019 should still take high priority. In fact, Seyfarth Shaw, a law firm based out of Chicago, has been monitoring the number of lawsuits over website accessibility. Their count shows that since 2015 there have been at least 751 lawsuits filed in federal court. The change they note is that 2015 only saw 57 of those cases, whereas at least 432 have been filed in the first 8 months of 2017.
Additionally, the law group stresses that these numbers are “likely higher,” as tracking every federal lawsuit over the issue is not an easy task. They also mention that these numbers do not include state level cases. So while the headlines may not always reflect this urgency, these numbers prove that compliance should still be top-of-mind for any website owner.
The claims in these cases typically argue that websites are violating the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) by not allowing equal access to websites for those with disabilities.
To protect yourself and your business, the law group recommends reviewing your website and hiring outside help to ensure your site is following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Global Reach strives to help our customers be WCAG compliant. Contact us today if you have questions, worries, or would just like to know more about website accessibility.
For more information, see Seyfarth Shaw Law Group’s publication or check out some of our tips for obtaining WCAG Compliance.
Categories: Website Tips