{"id":97042,"date":"2025-10-14T12:24:58","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T17:24:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allyant.com\/?p=97042"},"modified":"2025-10-14T12:27:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T17:27:14","slug":"why-accessibility-matters-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allyant.com\/blog\/why-accessibility-matters-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Accessibility Matters\u2014And Why It Matters Now\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When I lost my sight years ago, the internet became one of my greatest tools as well as one of my biggest barriers. With a screen reader, I can do most anything online, which\u2014in some instances\u2014made things like shopping, scheduling, and learning much easier. Digital access opens doors. However, when a website, app, or document isn\u2019t built to be accessible, the digital doors slam shut. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For me\u2014and for more than a billion people worldwide living with disabilities\u2014accessibility isn\u2019t a feature, enhancement, or a \u201cnice to have.\u201d It can be the difference between independence and exclusion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I strongly believe most people understand the importance of access to digital information.  
I also believe most people care <\/em>about creating digital experiences that enable every user to accomplish what they set out to accomplish.  
 
However, the reality is\u2014many organizations don\u2019t believe they have the resources to prioritize accessibility, so they delay or deprioritize it entirely.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As someone who\u2019s blind, this is frustrating. But as someone who\u2019s been in the accessibility industry for more than a decade, delaying or deprioritizing accessibility is a costly, brand-damaging decision\u2014now more than ever.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why Accessibility Now?<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before getting into the risks, let\u2019s talk about what\u2019s driving accessibility urgency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the core, what we continue to hear is that legal rulings and rulemaking predominantly drive urgency. As background, here are a few laws\u2014and deadlines to be aware of:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ADA Title II<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Department of Justice issued final rulemaking in 2024 clarifying that U.S. state and local government agencies, including their vendors and contractors, must ensure their websites, apps, embedded products, and conventional electronic documents conform with WCAG 2.1 AA standards. The deadlines for compliance are April 2026 and April 2027\u2014depending on a municipality\u2019s population size.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is particularly important because the ADA was written into law before the prevalence of digital content. Clarifying that Title II of the ADA applies to digital content is a huge step forward for access and holds local and state agencies clearly accountable.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if you\u2019re not <\/em>a public sector agency and think you\u2019re in the clear, you might not be. If you do any business with a Title II entity, the rule likely applies to you as well. Sales to the public sector, whether new business or existing contracts, are now at risk if your products and services are not accessible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ADA Title III<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Title III of the ADA is applicable to the private sector. It states that \u201cplaces of public accommodation\u201d must be accessible. Whether public accommodation applies to websites, mobile apps, and other digital experiences, has largely been up to interpretation. This means that if a user encounters an access issue, they can sue that business. And they have\u2014by the thousands every year. And in many cases, ADA lawsuits are filed under the banner of state-level laws, such as the California Unruh Civil Rights Act, compounding the costs.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Importantly, the number of ADA-related lawsuits targeting websites and mobile apps is already outpacing the number of lawsuits filed in all of 2024, and we have months yet to go. And this number doesn\u2019t account for the number of demand letters, which do not enter the public record. The legal threat is not going away.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

U.S. federal agencies\u2014and their vendors\u2014must deliver, and procure, accessible information and communications technology. Since Section 508 was refreshed in 2018 to incorporate the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0, it explicitly includes web sites, mobile apps, and documents. This law has been around for years, but I bring it up because\u2014similar to Title II\u2014it doesn\u2019t just apply if you\u2019re in the public sector. If you want to do business, or keep doing business, with the federal government, what you sell must be accessible.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

European Accessibility Act (EAA)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As of June 28 of 2025, the EAA requires the accessibility of digital products and services. But this isn\u2019t just a regulation impacting our friends across the pond. What you may not know is that if you have any customers who are based in the European Union\u2014regardless of where your organization is located\u2014the EAA applies to your business. The consequences of non-compliance, such as damages, fines, and penalties, vary depending on each EU member state.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

State-Level Requirements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Certain U.S. states are doubling down on access to digital communications, many replicating the same timelines and approach required in the recent Title II rulemaking. Colorado and Virginia are establishing statewide accessibility standards related to software and digital product procurement. Colorado\u2019s standard goes as far as stating the \u201ccontractor shall indemnify the State agency in relation to the contractor\u2019s noncompliance with the accessibility standards.\u201d 

Sell to an organization in Colorado or Virginia\u2014and accessibility is a must.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bottom line, compliance requirements are clear\u2014becoming clearer\u2014and they\u2019re not going away. Quite the opposite, in fact. New laws, requirements, and standards are coming online from all corners of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Dangerous \u201cDelay and Risk\u201d Mentality<\/strong>. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This brings us to the dangers of delaying or deprioritizing accessibility. Even as compliance deadlines loom, we continue to hear teams say, \u201cWe\u2019ll take the risk.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I understand the temptation. Budgets are tight. Competing priorities can feel more urgent. Lawsuits may seem like someone else\u2019s problem. But from where I sit, this mindset is a gamble with very real stakes: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Legal risk<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Settling a lawsuit is costly and doesn\u2019t make the problem go away. If your organization is sued or served a demand letter, you still have to fix the problem. Now you\u2019re on the hook for potential legal or settlement fees, and settling one ADA lawsuit does not prevent you from receiving another from a different plaintiff. On top of any legal or settlement costs, you now have to pull together a reactive<\/em> accessibility plan\u2014which suddenly consumes unplanned, valuable time and resources.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lost revenue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Delays or deprioritizing can cost money on several fronts: <\/p>\n\n\n\n