When we talk about ADA standards for websites and compliance, the state of New York stands out in terms of the number of ADA lawsuits. In 2020, the state recorded a staggering 2,523 ADA lawsuits (1), a 12% increase from its 2019 total.
Like in other states, following ADA standards for websites is an essential requirement in New York. So, if you own a website or sell products or services in New York, it’s important to ensure that your website is accessible to everyone.
In this post, we will look into Website ADA Compliance New York. We’ll also discuss why there are more cases than any other state, how to avoid them, who faces these cases, and the state’s laws.
As mentioned, New York recorded over 2,000 ADA-related lawsuits in the past year. Additionally, it leads the country in ADA Title III lawsuits, followed by Florida and California.
Here are the reasons why New York is a hotspot for ADA noncompliance lawsuits.
In October 2019, a dozen individuals filed hundreds of lawsuits against businesses for violating Title III of the ADA.
Additionally, these lawsuits included violations of the local New York state and city laws and were filed through at least four law firms. These lawsuits were filed in Federal District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Divisions of New York.
Website lawsuits often involve residents of states or locales that provide greater dollar damages or more specific attorney fee provisions than the ADA.
These lawsuits are even apart from threat letters demanding remediation of websites and settlement fees that include attorney fees.
Additionally, the states with the highest number of cases tended to be those with plaintiff-friendly court decisions. These included New York, which has Human Rights Laws at both state and city levels.
In 2018, thousands of lawsuits were filed based on the claim that businesses built a website in an inaccessible manner. It included lawsuits filed by different attorneys across the US.
Additionally, the defendant businesses are not incorporated in New York, nor do they have their principal place of business in the state.
That said, it’s now commonplace for businesses nationwide to be sued or receive demand letters, as individuals from any state can now file lawsuits.
Whether your website is big or small, you risk facing a lawsuit if it doesn’t comply with the necessary accessibility guidelines.
For instance, a few big and small businesses have been involved with legal cases due to noncompliance. Here are some of them:
An individual filed an accessibility-related lawsuit against Keycorp in 2020.
Keycorp faced a lawsuit for allegedly having an inaccessible website that doesn’t comply with WCAG 2.2 accessibility standards.
Several inaccessibility issues were based on the case, including the lack of alt text, mislabeled site elements, and broken links.
Eventribe faced a lawsuit in 2021.
In January 2021, a lawsuit was filed against Eventbrite, Inc., alleging that www.eventbrite.com is noncompliant with WCAG 2.2 accessibility standards.
Some of the plaintiff’s complaints included the lack of alt text, navigation links, and the denial of keyboard access.
Nissan North America received a legal case in 2020.
Nissan North America was sued in 2020, facing allegations that www.nissanusa.com is not compliant with WCAG 2.0 and WCAG 2.2 accessibility standards.
The plaintiff stated issues with the website, including the lack of alt text, screen reader incompatibility, and mislabeled site elements.
A plaintiff filed an accessibility-related lawsuit against Grizzly Griptape, LLC in 2020.
The plaintiff alleged that the company’s website doesn’t comply with WCAG 2.0, WCAG 2.2 accessibility standards.
For instance, the plaintiff cited the site’s mislabeled images and buttons and site elements idon’t integrate with a screen reader.
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ADA standards for websites and compliance in New York is not the only law applicable for people with disabilities. In some cases, state or local laws require more than the ADA.
For instance, New York has two laws covering website accessibility: Local Law 26 of 2016 and NYS PO8-005.
Mayor Bill de Blasio signed this law. The law requires city government websites to be accessible to people with disabilities. The said law requires state agencies to adhere to:
✅ Section 1194.22 of title 36 of the code of federal regulations; OR
✅ The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA.
Additionally, Local Law 26 of 2016 requires that these websites make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. However, state agencies aren’t required to make significant alterations like service or financial burdens.
The NYS P08-005 is a New York state policy that establishes minimum accessibility requirements for web-based information and applications. These include those that have been developed, procured, maintained, or used by state entities.
This policy encourages a more inclusive state workforce by providing readily available governmental services to all public members.
New York City’s Human Rights Law prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. The law includes people whose impairments are not as substantial as the narrower ADA.
Additionally, New York City´s Building Code doesn’t permit access waivers for newly constructed facilities. It also requires the incorporation of access features when existing facilities are renovated.
The New York State Hospital code also sets a higher standard than the ADA for communication. Tools like language interpreters should be provided for services at most hospitals, even on an outpatient basis.
You can also check this website (3) for more information on the NY State Hospital Code.
It’s essential to never leave compliance to chance. Instead, you should adopt a proactive approach and consider actionable ways to comply with the guidelines.
Here are some of the things you can do to ensure you meet Website ADA Compliance in New York.
Conducting a website audit helps you identify the inaccessible elements on your website. You must do this regularly to improve your site and make it accessible continuously.
The first step to making your site accessible is knowing the guidelines you should follow. For instance, understanding WCAG standards can help you determine what needs to be changed on your site.
Accessibility plugins help you maintain a website that’s accessible for all.
These tools can also help you boost your reach and improve SEO. Some of the resources you can check out are accessiBe, and Userway.
accessiBeaccessiBe is one of the most talked-about web accessibility tools available today. It helps take a lot of the manual work out of becoming ADA compliant by making it quicker and easier to identify web accessibility issues on your site.
UserWayUserWay is trusted by thousands of leading brands that want to create a more inclusive experience for their online users. With the help of an easy-to-use accessibility overlay, it’s never been easier to ensure your Magento site is compliant with some of the top ADA requirements.
Take all the necessary actions to make your website ADA compliant to avoid any issues. The basic accessibility rights of a differently-abled person are important and need to be addressed.
While maintaining an accessible website can be time-consuming and expensive, there are long-term business benefits. These include protection from litigation, inclusivity, and brand consciousness.
Ready to make digital accessibility a priority? Take the first step by auditing your website on Accessibility Checker.
Find the article helpful? Here are some more links that will help you understand Website ADA Compliance New York:
Scan your website for accessibility related issues for free
If you’re sued, you should take the complaint seriously and immediately consult with an attorney. You can find a lawyer using one of the following organizations:
Title III of the ADA states, businesses that provide goods and services are covered. It also states that all public accommodations must be accessible to people with disabilities to comply with the law.
Additionally, the ADA covers landlords that lease businesses or hold franchises.
Generally, ADA complaints can be brought forward in the following ways:
Under the third possibility, a complainant cannot file a lawsuit based on the same facts with other courts or agencies. It applies if they file a case with the NYC Commission on Human Rights.