Speaker, Strafford, "ADA Compliance and Website Accessibility: Circuit Split, Online Accessibility Act, W3C Guidance"

While physical access to brick and mortar locations must meet the ADA’s standards of accessibility, there is a current circuit split on whether websites and mobile applications must also meet the ADA’s accessibility standards. Cases remain on the rise, and a business may find itself on the receiving end of a demand letter or a lawsuit brought by one of many plaintiffs’ firms that focus on such litigation and target noncompliant websites, in multiple jurisdictions.

Despite disability rights advocates’ demand for the Department of Justice to issue regulatory action on the accessibility of websites, it has not yet done so. Accordingly, businesses will need to continue to interpret and apply the courts’ conflicting guidance as best they can as determined by their locations, and digital accessibility lawsuits will continue to be filed in forums most favorable to plaintiffs.

Listen as our expert panel discusses how to navigate the circuit split related to ADA accommodations and website accessibility. The panel will address best practices to mitigate risks of a claim and proactive steps that can be taken before a claim arises.

Outline

1. Application of the ADA to websites and apps
   • How ADA principles apply to websites and mobile apps
   • Circuit split
   • Online Accessibility Act
   • W3C guidance
2. Risk mitigation
   • Proactive steps to minimize the risk of a suit
   • Steps to mitigate liability and damages when a claim is filed

Benefits

The panel will review these and other essential matters:

• What is the current published guidance by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) on website accessibility?
• What are the legal risks and exposures to clients for maintaining inaccessible websites and mobile applications?
• Will the Department of Justice step in to issue regulatory guidance in this area?
• What is the status of the Online Accessibility Act, and will it affect future litigation?