If you run an aesthetic practice you know all about insurance and minimizing liability. It’s essential for any business, especially those in the medical field. But what about your website?
You need to ensure your website is accessible for all users, not just for optimal user experience but to protect your practice from a pricey lawsuit.
What is ADA and WCAG Compliance?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design was introduced by The Department of Justice (DOJ) in September 2010. These standards state that all electronic and information technology must be accessible to people with disabilities. Websites with significant inaccessible components can be seen as discriminatory against persons with disabilities, in violation of Title III of the ADA.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 defines how to make Web content more accessible to people with disabilities. Your website’s accessibility is intended to help a wide range of users with disabilities, including visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, language, learning, and neurological impairments.
While WCAG consists of guidelines, WCAG 2.0 AA has frequently been referenced by courts when upholding ADA.
Why should I care about ADA and WCAG compliance?
- For starters, making your site compliant will mean it’s easier for those with disabilities to navigate and interact.
- There’s been a big rise in lawsuits over the past few years targeting non-compliant sites. ADA is a strict liability law which means there are no excuses for not following. In short, claiming ignorance or that “my web developer is working on it” are not viable defenses.
- Boost brand perception.
I added a free plugin to my site…does that mean I’m protected?
Some free plugins provide a little protection – better than nothing at all – but not enough to protect you from the law or actually make it user-friendly for those with disabilities.
What is the cost?
$49/month for sites with 1,000 pages or less and $149/month for sites with 1,000-10,000 pages.
If you weigh this investment vs. the cost of a lawsuit, which could be tens of thousands of dollars, it’s a no-brainer, especially when you factor in the other benefits below…
What work is required by my practice if I utilize this tool?
None. No additional coding or updates needed on your end. Just sign up and we’ll install the code, which will appear as a small icon on the side of your website.
Is this Turbo’s tool?
No. Be wary of any digital marketing or ad agency that claims expertise in ADA law. TRBO has partnered with the industry leader to provide this solution to its clients.
What kind of commitment does this require?
Only a month-to-month commitment is required.
How protected will I be?
As mentioned above, TRBO has partnered with the #1, industry-leading provider to ensure your site is at least 98% complaint (no one can offer 100% protection).
Beware of scam artists
You may have seen this already: a random web company approaches claiming you are in violation of ADA and claims they’ll fix it for thousands, or even tens of thousands of dollars! I’ve seen this and my advice is this: do not take the bait! They might be right that your site is not compliant but don’t let yourself be swindled.
Even worse, there are scam artists (including attorneys) offering settlement letters where in lieu of going to court you pay them $x amount of dollars to make them “go away.” Do not take that bait either!
Lastly, there are also a number of free plugins out there, as mentioned above; some that help a little and others that do nothing at all to make your site compliant, so be careful about the solution you choose and the company you partner with to protect your website.
Take the next step and protect your aesthetic practice today
If you’d like to learn more about how to help get your website ADA and WCAG complaint then talk to TRBO today. To learn more, drop us a line here or call us directly at 877-673-7096 x2.
