Websites Will Need To Be Handicapped Accessible

By Amy E. Feldman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Americans With Disabilities Act requires that public places be accessible to those with disabilities. But one place where the average adult spends about 20 hours a week falls woefully short of that goal.

Under the law, businesses are required to be handicapped accessible. But what is required by law in order to make your website accessible to those with visual, auditory, or other physical handicaps?

The Department of Justice was supposed to release regulations this month but they've pushed back release of the standards to 2016. Which is not good news because businesses are still required to be compliant but don't have certainty around what is considered compliant.

International technical standards provide some guidance but its 61 different elements to show a completely accessible website are overwhelming to most businesses.

At a minimum, your company's website should provide text alternatives for those who are visually impaired; be distinguishable to those who are color blind; have adaptable layouts to provide simpler formats without losing content; be compatible with browsers that work for people with disabilities, and can be navigated by those whose physical disabilities make it impossible to use a mouse or their fingertips.

There are tools for determining your website's accessibility, so look into them before you look into hiring a lawyer to defend you against an Americans With Disabilities lawsuit brought by someone who couldn't navigate your website.