How to Make Your Website ADA Compliant in Long Island

ADA Compliance Is No Longer Optional for Businesses
If your Long Island business serves the public, your website should too. In 2025, ADA compliance is not just about doing the right thing—it’s also about avoiding lawsuits and expanding your audience. Making your website accessible ensures all users, including those with disabilities, can navigate and use your site effectively.

What Is ADA Website Compliance?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires businesses to provide equal access to their services—both offline and online. This includes making sure your website is usable for people with visual, hearing, motor, and cognitive impairments. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) serve as the standard for digital accessibility.

Why ADA Compliance Matters for Long Island Businesses
  • Avoid legal risk – ADA lawsuits are rising, especially against small businesses.
  • Expand your reach – Millions of Americans have disabilities.
  • Improve SEO – Accessible sites often perform better in search rankings.
  • Boost user experience – Accessibility benefits everyone, not just those with disabilities.

Core Features of an ADA-Compliant Website
Here are some of the key elements every accessible Long Island business site should include:
  • Alt text for all images – Describes visuals for screen readers.
  • Keyboard navigation – Enables users to browse without a mouse.
  • Sufficient color contrast – Makes text easier to read for those with visual impairments.
  • Resizable text – Allows users to enlarge font sizes without breaking the layout.
  • Captions and transcripts – For videos and audio content.
  • ARIA labels and landmarks – Help assistive technologies understand your site’s structure.

Who Needs to Be ADA Compliant?
While ADA doesn’t explicitly mention websites, courts have interpreted the law to apply to any business that serves the public—including restaurants, medical practices, service providers, retailers, and more. If you operate in Long Island and your site offers information, booking, or shopping, you should prioritize compliance.

Small Steps Make a Big Difference
You don’t have to overhaul your website overnight. Start with basic updates:
  • Add alt text to every image
  • Check font sizes and contrast
  • Ensure all navigation can be done with a keyboard
  • Avoid autoplay videos or flashing animations
    These adjustments can improve usability for many users immediately.

Tools That Help You Test for ADA Compliance
Free tools like WAVE by WebAIM, Axe, or Google Lighthouse can scan your website and point out accessibility issues. While these tools aren’t perfect, they give you a strong starting point for identifying what needs improvement.

Work with a Web Designer Who Understands Accessibility
ADA compliance isn’t just a checklist—it’s about thoughtful design. Partner with a Long Island web designer who knows how to build sites that are both visually stunning and fully accessible. Accessibility should be baked into the design process—not tacked on later.

Accessibility and SEO Go Hand in Hand
Many of the practices that improve ADA compliance also boost search engine optimization. For example:
  • Alt tags help with image SEO
  • Clear headings improve crawlability
  • Fast, mobile-friendly sites enhance user experience for all

Legal Peace of Mind and Ethical Practice
No business wants to be hit with a lawsuit. But beyond legal concerns, ADA compliance reflects your values. It shows that you care about every customer, no matter their ability. That kind of brand integrity builds loyalty and respect.

Make Your Website Welcoming for Everyone
An inclusive website is a smarter website. It increases your audience, protects your business, and supports a better digital experience for all.

Schedule Your Free Custom Website Demonstration and we’ll show you how to bring your website up to ADA standards—while also improving design, SEO, and conversions for your Long Island business.
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