ADA Compliance – Why it Matters

I’m sitting here at 12:30 am at night, trying to hurry this blog up so I can go to bed, but it’s just too damn important to say, “I’ll do it tomorrow”.

And you know why? Because somewhere in the U.S. – maybe back East while I’m still asleep tomorrow morning (or maybe on the West coast where I am), another company is going to get sued because of something they most likely have never heard of.

ADA non-compliance.

Over the past few years, businesses both large and small have fallen victim to this relatively new law called the, “Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)”.

Since it was signed into U.S. law on July 26, 1990, it has taken a toll on businesses both large and small, corporations, LLCs, husband and wife partnerships and the single, small business owner. It doesn’t care how big or small you are, just that you are in non-compliance and are hence, a target.

It’s bad enough that most people have never heard of it, or if they have, think it only applies to physical businesses out in the real world.

Well, here’s a shock for you. It also targets websites. Yes, I”ll say that again – websites.

You might have heard about the case years ago of a Los Angeles attorney who creating “ghost” clients to file hundreds of lawsuits under the Americans with Disabilities Act to extract settlements from Southern California businesses. Or how about the disabled person in Orange County, California, who sued dozens of local establishments because they didn’t have handicapped ramps or a handicapped accessible bathroom. But did you ever think that such a law could also be applied to an online business? Or that there are people out there who troll the internet looking for such companies to sue to make a fast buck?

Well, buckle up and hang on, because in recent years, it has not only become a reality, but an epidemic.

And the numbers are increasing every year of companies that are getting sued. Because of this, it is no longer a matter of if your website is next.

It’s a matter of when.

And that’s why we are here.

My name is Kristine, co-owner, webmistress and ADA compliance consultant for Website-Compliant.com. Four months ago, a networking friend from many a year ago, approached me with the reality of ADA non-compliance and let me tell you, it was an eye-opener, and not in a pleasant way.

I wasn’t in compliance, but now, thanks to my co-owner, Duke, I not only dodged the bullet of being targeted by this law to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars, but am now telling others about it. I have been a networking since the year 2000 and have many, many friends who are also networkers and the last thing I want to see is their businesses and lives destroyed by something that is so preventable as being clobbered by this law.

Many of you who are local to Southern California know me and know I’m telling the truth when I say this. You mean more to me than just your business connections. You are friends who also own small businesses and depend on them for your livelihood. So why take the chance and play russian roulette with such a preventable fate?

Over the course of this blog, I and my partner, Duke, will get you up to speed about ADA compliance, the law, the frightening statistics that tell of over one business per hour being sued because of ADA Title III, and offer our readers a way of avoiding this potentially fatal blow none of our businesses can comfortably weather.

Have you ever heard of ADA Compliance? Has your business been a victim of running afoul of this law? Do you know someone who has? Please share your story in the comments below. Also, be sure to check out some eye-opening statistics right now on our home page and be sure to come back regularly for more information on how to protect your website, business and gain peace of mind because, yes, this is just that important.

Yours in Compliance,

Kristine, Co-Owner, Website-Compliant.com

ADA 35-year logo credit: ADA National Network (adata.org) 1-800-949-4232