Website Accessibility & ADA Compliance Sarasota | Guide

Make Your Website Inclusive, Improve SEO, and Avoid Legal Risks

In today’s digital world, a website isn’t just your online storefront—it’s a space that should be accessible to everyone. For Sarasota businesses, ensuring that your site is ADA-compliant and accessible to people with disabilities isn’t just the right thing to do—it can also improve your SEO, expand your audience, and help you avoid costly lawsuits.

What is Website Accessibility?

Website accessibility means designing and developing your site so that people with disabilities—such as vision, hearing, mobility, or cognitive impairments—can navigate, understand, and interact with it.

Common accessibility considerations include:

• Screen reader compatibility

• Proper color contrast

• Text alternatives for images

• Keyboard navigation

• Clear and descriptive link text

Why ADA Compliance Matters for Sarasota Businesses

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to websites just like it does to physical storefronts. While not every business is legally required to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), lawsuits against non-compliant websites are increasing nationwide—including here in Florida.

Benefits of compliance:

• Avoid legal risks: Accessibility lawsuits can cost thousands in legal fees and settlements.

• Increase your audience: Around 15% of the world’s population lives with some form of disability.

• Improve SEO: Search engines reward accessible websites because they’re easier to index and navigate.

• Enhance user experience: Accessibility improvements often benefit all users, not just those with disabilities.

Key Steps to Improve Website Accessibility

1. Add Alt Text to Images

Every image should have descriptive alt text so screen readers can explain it to visually impaired visitors.

2. Use Proper Heading Structure

Headings (H1, H2, H3) should follow a logical order to help users navigate content.

3. Ensure Keyboard Navigation

Some visitors rely on keyboards instead of a mouse. Make sure menus, forms, and buttons are accessible via keyboard.

4. Provide Transcripts and Captions

For videos and audio content, offer captions or transcripts so hearing-impaired visitors can access the information.

5. Maintain Color Contrast

Text should have enough contrast against its background to be readable by those with visual impairments.

Testing and Tools

Use accessibility testing tools like:

• WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool)

• axe DevTools

• Lighthouse in Google Chrome DevTools

These tools can identify common accessibility issues and suggest fixes.

ADA Compliance and Legal Protection

Florida businesses have seen a rise in “surf-by” lawsuits—where a user files a claim after finding a website is inaccessible. To reduce risk:

• Conduct a full accessibility audit

• Document your remediation efforts

• Keep your site updated with ongoing checks

The Sarasota Advantage: Community Reputation

Sarasota is a tight-knit community, and businesses that prioritize inclusivity often build stronger reputations and customer loyalty. Accessibility isn’t just about compliance—it’s a reflection of your values.

Bottom line: Making your website ADA-compliant ensures everyone can access your content, protects your business from legal issues, and can even boost your search rankings.