FAQ
Accessibility compliance FAQ
Straight answers to the questions we hear most. For anything specific to your organization, ask us — or your counsel.
Does the ADA apply to websites?
Yes, for state and local governments the DOJ’s Title II rule explicitly requires WCAG 2.1 AA. For businesses, the DOJ has long said the ADA applies to websites of public accommodations, and most courts agree — especially where the website is connected to a physical location. See ADA Title III.
What is the ADA Title II deadline?
April 26, 2027 for public entities serving 50,000 or more people, and April 26, 2028 for smaller entities and special districts. See ADA Title II.
What's the HHS Section 504 deadline for healthcare?
May 11, 2027 for HHS funding recipients with 15 or more employees, and May 10, 2028 for those with fewer. See Section 504.
What does 'WCAG 2.1 AA' mean?
Version 2.1 of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, at conformance Level AA — the middle of three levels and the one laws require. WCAG 2.2 AA includes everything in 2.1 AA plus a few more criteria. See WCAG 2.2 explained.
Do our PDFs need to be accessible?
Yes, if they’re on your website or apps and people use them. The ADA Title II and HHS Section 504 rules both cover documents, and inaccessible PDFs are frequently cited in Title III claims. See PDF remediation.
Is an automated scan enough to prove compliance?
No. Automated tools detect only some WCAG issues. Conformance requires manual testing with keyboards and screen readers. See free testing tools and their limits.
Will an accessibility overlay protect us from lawsuits?
No. The FTC fined one overlay vendor $1 million in 2025 for claiming its product made websites compliant, and sites using overlays are sued regularly. See accessibility overlays.
How much do ADA website lawsuits cost?
Most settle confidentially; costs include the plaintiff’s attorneys’ fees, your own legal fees, remediation on a deadline and, under some state laws, statutory damages (for example $4,000 per violation in California). Large cases have cost millions. See lawsuits and penalties.
How long does it take to become compliant?
A typical audit takes two to three weeks, and focused remediation of a mid-sized website four to eight weeks. Document libraries depend on volume. Ongoing monitoring keeps you compliant afterward.
Can we get a certificate of ADA compliance?
There’s no official government certification for ADA website compliance. What carries weight is an independent audit and conformance report describing what was tested and how, plus evidence of remediation and ongoing monitoring.
Do you work outside the United States?
Yes. We support companies selling into the EU under the European Accessibility Act, and our delivery center in India works with clients worldwide.
Do you sign NDAs and BAAs?
Yes. Mutual NDAs are standard, and we sign Business Associate Agreements for healthcare clients whose documents contain protected health information.
Find out where you stand, in writing.
Send us a few URLs or sample PDFs. Within two business days you get a free, plain-English snapshot of your biggest accessibility risks and what it takes to fix them.