ADA Title III
Public-facing businesses must offer accessible websites aligned to WCAG.
Applies to: Most businessesWhat it is
Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination based on disability in places of public accommodation.
U.S. courts and the Department of Justice have repeatedly held that this includes websites and mobile apps tied to a business open to the public.
In practice, conformance with WCAG 2.1 or 2.2 at level AA is treated as the working standard for digital accessibility.
Who must comply
- Retailers, restaurants, and e-commerce stores
- Healthcare, finance, real estate, and professional services
- Hotels, gyms, and entertainment venues
- Any business with a public-facing website that supports goods or services
Key requirements
- Keyboard navigation across every interactive element
- Text alternatives for non-text content
- Sufficient color contrast for text and UI
- Accessible forms with labels and clear error states
- Captions and transcripts for video and audio
- A consistent, predictable navigation structure
Demand letters and lawsuits are filed daily under ADA Title III. Settlements commonly land in the five and six figures, plus attorney fees, plus the cost of forced remediation on a deadline.
This is educational and not legal advice. Talk to your attorney about your specific exposure.
How Scale helps
Scale audits your site against WCAG 2.2 AA, remediates the issues that matter, documents the work, and gives your team the playbook to stay compliant.