What Does Pizza Have to Do with Your Utility Website?
Everything you need to know on website accessibility
Putting pizza and power into perspective.
Another One Bites the Crust
It all started when visually impaired, Guillermo Robles, was unable to order food on Dominos’ website and mobile app. Robles sued the pizza chain for inaccessibility of its website and app. The website’s improper use of a screen reader obstructed Robles’ access to the products and services of the franchise– a place of public accommodation.
Domino’s Pizza v. Guillermo Robles called attention to Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Title III of the ADA states that a public space must equally communicate the same information to persons with, or without, a disability. The coverage of this lawsuit resulted in greater awareness as it shed light on the need for accessibility.
Guillermo Robles’ lawsuit is one of many digital accessibility cases. Since 2018, website and mobile app accessibility lawsuits have made up almost a fifth of all ADA Title III filings in federal courts, exceeding over 10,000 lawsuits annually.
A Slice of the Action
With several website accessibility regulations, the overwhelming number of requirements may be hard to digest. People want to enjoy the whole pizza, not just a slice. Similarly, website-users want to enjoy the whole website, not just a limited part. It is important to understand how disabilities may impact one’s website interactions.
Non-compliant websites create barriers for those with visual, auditory, motor, cognitive and neurological impairments. For example, a person with motor impairments may have difficulties using a mouse to click on small buttons. Visual impairments may prevent someone from interpreting colors or contrasts. Auditory impairments may interfere with a person’s ability to interpret audio in the absence of text alternatives. Those with cognitive and neurological impairments may experience difficulties navigating through complex websites.
Web Accessibility is crucial to include everyone, regardless of disability.
History in the Baking
The Civil Rights Division of Justice (DOJ) acknowledges the necessary measures needed for inclusivity. The DOJ under the Biden Administration has renewed their focus on web accessibility. As of March 2022, the DOJ issued Web Accessibility Guidance under the ADA. The new guidance emphasizes that all public-facing websites are subject to Title III, meaning they must be accessible to all persons with disabilities. Title III of the ADA applies to “any place of public accommodation.”
What does the DOJ’s Guidance on Web accessibility cover?
Here’s what you need to know:
- Emphasizes compliance with the ADA’s requirements, including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and the Section 508 standards
- Identifies web accessibility as a priority for the agency
- States its commitment to enforce authority to ensure website accessibility
Building an Accessible Website Cannot be Topped
Website accessibility is essential as online services and information have become more prevalent. Now, more than ever, people rely on websites for many aspects of daily living. From locating health and safety resources to accessing voting information to finding recent news; people rely heavily on websites to find important information.
Website accessibility matters. Everyone should be able to access the internet without unnecessary barriers. In order to avoid any obstacles, the recipe for accessibility includes a variety of customizable toppings. With every website-visitor in mind, websites must offer features to satisfy all kinds of needs.
It’s all about the Delivery
Our Powerful team of trusted web experts take supreme measures to ensure our websites provide equal access and equal opportunity to people with diverse disabilities. We have built several key features to create and maintain compliant websites. Our web design process and platforms promote inclusivity through:
- Enhanced print functionality
- Mouse-free navigation with landing tiles
- Larger font sizes for vision impairment with on-page zoom functionality
- Required alt-tags
- Form field labels
We strive to create universal websites accessible to all. Afterall, access to the web is a basic human right (United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities).
