Is WCAG 2.1 AA legally required for my website?

While the ADA itself does not name a specific technical standard, courts and the DOJ have consistently used WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the benchmark for website accessibility compliance. ADA Title III applies to all businesses open to the public, and settlements overwhelmingly require WCAG 2.1 AA conformance.

What is the difference between WCAG 2.1 Level A, AA, and AAA?

Level A covers the most basic accessibility requirements. Level AA is the standard target for most websites and is what courts and the DOJ expect. Level AAA is the highest level but is not required for general compliance — some AAA criteria cannot be met for all content types.

Do accessibility overlay widgets make a website compliant?

No. Overlay widgets like accessiBe, UserWay, and EqualWeb do not make your website ADA compliant. The FTC fined accessiBe $1 million for deceptive compliance claims. Over 1,000 websites with overlay widgets were sued in 2024. True compliance requires fixing the actual code — HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

How often should I test my website for accessibility?

Websites should be tested whenever significant content or code changes are made, at minimum quarterly. Automated tools (axe DevTools, WAVE, Lighthouse) catch many issues, but manual screen reader testing (NVDA, VoiceOver) and keyboard navigation testing are essential for full WCAG 2.1 AA compliance.

Accessibility Statement — ADA Compliant Websites

Our commitment

ADA Compliant Websites is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We continually improve the user experience for everyone and apply the relevant accessibility standards to our own website.

Conformance status

This website conforms to WCAG 2.1 Level AA. WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the standard required by the U.S. Department of Justice under ADA Title II (28 CFR Part 35) and referenced in virtually all ADA Title III web accessibility settlements.

Measures we take

We take the following measures to ensure accessibility:

All pages use semantic HTML with proper heading hierarchy, landmark regions, and ARIA attributes where needed.
All images have appropriate alternative text — descriptive alt text for informative images, empty alt attributes for decorative images.
Color contrast ratios meet or exceed WCAG 2.1 AA minimums (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text).
The entire site is fully navigable by keyboard alone. All interactive elements have visible focus indicators.
The HTML lang attribute is set on every page for correct screen reader pronunciation.
All form fields have programmatic labels and error messages are clearly communicated.
A "Skip to main content" link is provided on every page.
The site is responsive and functions correctly at 200% zoom and at a viewport width of 320px.
No content flashes more than three times per second.
We regularly test with automated tools (axe DevTools, WAVE, Lighthouse) and manual screen reader testing (NVDA, VoiceOver).

Technologies used

This website relies on the following technologies to work with assistive technology:

HTML5
CSS (Tailwind CSS)
JavaScript (React)
WAI-ARIA

Known limitations

We are committed to continuous improvement. If you encounter any accessibility barriers on this website, please contact us so we can address them promptly.

Feedback

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of this website. Please let us know if you encounter any barriers or have suggestions for improvement:

Email: info@adacompliantwebsites.com
Phone: (555) 123-4567

We aim to respond to accessibility feedback within 2 business days.

Date

This statement was last updated on August 2, 2026.

Accessibility statement

Full accessibility statement