Accessibility Design Standards according to ADA: Ensuring Compliance

In the digital age, ensuring accessibility for all users, including those with visual disabilities, is of utmost importance. This is where the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) comes into play. Signed into law in 1990, the ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including the digital sphere.

The ADA sets forth new standards for accessibility, known as the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. These guidelines provide a comprehensive approach to making digital content accessible to people with sensory impairments. Compliance with these standards is enforced by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).

One key aspect of ADA compliance is the use of image alt text. It's essential to add alt text to all digital designs as it helps those with visual disabilities understand the content and context of non-text elements. The platform's Accessible editor automatically assigns alt text description fields to all graphic elements, streamlining the image alt tagging process.

When it comes to visual design specifically, the standards reflect the recommendations made in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. These guidelines suggest using font sizes no smaller than 12 points (or 16 pixels) for any body text, ensuring sufficient color contrast for improved readability, providing alternative text for images, making all functionality available from a keyboard, and creating content that can be presented in different ways.

Negative space, or white space, is another important factor in accessible design. It helps signify important content, enhances text, and reduces clutter in designs.

Following ADA guidelines is not only essential for ensuring designs are accessible to those with disabilities but also safeguards against legal ramifications. Failure to comply with the ADA can result in legal action against the organization, including fines, penalties, and other legal repercussions. In 2021, more than 11,000 lawsuits were filed for ADA non-compliance, and over 2300 of them were directly related to web design inaccessibility.

Signing up for the platform gives access to tons of accessible templates that are easy to customize using the best-in-class Accessible editor. The US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) recommends using sans serif fonts (such as Arial or Tahoma) for improved readability.

In conclusion, designing for ADA compliance is not just a legal necessity but also a best practice for creating a better user experience overall. It's best practice to always design for ADA compliance, regardless of the size of the organization or business. By following these guidelines, we can ensure that digital designs are accessible to all users, fostering a more inclusive digital world.