ADA Website Compliance Checklist: 2025 Requirements Guide

Let me be blunt: ADA website lawsuits are a real thing. Over 4,000 got filed last year. Settlements typically run $25k-$100k, plus legal fees.

The ADA was written in 1990, before most people had email. But courts have consistently ruled that websites count as "places of public accommodation." If you run a business with a website, you're expected to make it accessible.

Do You Need to Worry About This?

Probably. The ADA applies to:

Even small businesses get targeted. If you sell things online or provide services to the public, assume you need to comply.

What Courts Actually Look For

There's no official "ADA website checklist" from the government. But courts consistently point to WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the standard. Here's what that means in practice:

Images need alt text. Screen readers can't see pictures. If an image conveys information, describe it. If it's decorative, mark it as such with an empty alt attribute.

<img src="product.jpg" alt="Red leather wallet, open to show card slots">
<img src="decorative-swirl.png" alt="">

Forms need labels. Every input field needs a label that's programmatically connected to it. Placeholders don't count.

<label for="email">Email</label>
<input type="email" id="email">

Color contrast needs to be readable. Regular text needs a 4.5:1 contrast ratio against its background. That light gray text on white that designers love? Usually fails.

The site needs to work with just a keyboard. Tab through your whole site without touching the mouse. Can you reach everything? Can you see where focus is? Can you get out of modals?

Videos need captions. Not auto-generated ones—those are usually terrible. Actual accurate captions.

Don't rely on color alone. If you mark errors in red, also use an icon or text. Colorblind users need another way to get the information.

Quick Tests You Can Do Right Now

The tab test. Start at the top of a page and press Tab repeatedly. You should be able to reach every link, button, and form field. You should always see where focus is. You should never get stuck.

The zoom test. Zoom your browser to 200%. Does everything still work? Can you read it? Does it require horizontal scrolling?

The squint test. Squint at your page. Can you still make out the text? If barely, your contrast might be too low.

The "click here" test. Search your site for the phrase "click here." Every instance is probably a link that needs better text. "Click here to view pricing" should just be "View pricing."

Common Failures

Missing alt text on product images. Missing labels on search fields (yes, even if there's a magnifying glass icon). Low contrast on placeholder text. Focus outlines removed for "aesthetic" reasons. Dropdown menus that only work with a mouse.

These aren't obscure edge cases. They're on most websites.

What Happens If You Get Sued

First comes a demand letter. This is a lawyer saying "my client tried to use your website with a screen reader and couldn't. Pay us $X to settle."

If you don't settle, it goes to court. Settlements usually land between $10k and $100k depending on your business size and how bad the issues are. You might also be required to fix the problems and submit to ongoing monitoring.

And you often have to pay the plaintiff's legal fees too.

The Smarter Approach

Don't wait for a demand letter.

1. Scan your site with ClearA11y to find out what's broken

2. Fix the critical stuff first (things that completely block access)

3. Work through serious and moderate issues

4. Set up regular scanning so new problems don't sneak in

5. Document everything—if you ever do get a letter, showing good-faith effort helps

The cost of fixing accessibility issues upfront is a fraction of fighting a lawsuit. And beyond legal risk, about 15-20% of people have some kind of disability. That's a lot of potential customers you might be turning away.

Run a free scan and see where you actually stand. You might be fine. You might have work to do. Either way, better to know now.