Thousands of ADA website accessibility lawsuits were filed last year — and the majority targeted small and mid-sized businesses.

For small and medium-sized businesses, your website isn’t just a marketing tool — it’s your storefront, your sales rep, and often your customer’s first impression. But if your site isn’t accessible to people with disabilities, you’re not only turning away potential customers — you could also be putting your business at serious legal risk.

What Is Website Accessibility?

Website accessibility means designing and developing your website so it can be used by people with a wide range of disabilities — including visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments. This includes things like:

  • Screen reader compatibility for blind and low-vision users
  • Keyboard-only navigation for users with mobility impairments
  • Proper use of color contrast and alt text for visual content
  • Captioning and transcripts for video or audio content

Accessibility is guided by the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), which outline technical and usability standards to ensure equal access for all users.

The Legal Risk Is Real

Many business owners assume accessibility laws only apply to large corporations or government websites. That’s not true.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), courts have increasingly ruled that websites are considered “places of public accommodation” — and therefore must be accessible. Over the last few years, thousands of small and medium businesses across the U.S. have been hit with lawsuits, often from firms that specialize in identifying non-compliant websites.

Examples of Real-World Website Accessibility Lawsuits

  • Domino’s Pizza was sued in 2019 by a blind customer who was unable to place an order through their website or mobile app. The case made it to the U.S. Supreme Court, which let stand a lower court ruling that the ADA applies to websites.
  • Avanti Hotel, a small boutique hotel in California, was sued for having a website that lacked alt text and keyboard accessibility — resulting in a $4,000 settlement plus legal fees.
  • Winn-Dixie Supermarkets lost a case after it was found their website wasn’t usable by a blind shopper using a screen reader — highlighting the need for accessible shopping experiences.

In fact, over 4,000 ADA website accessibility lawsuits were filed in 2023 alone — and the majority targeted small and mid-sized businesses.

Accessibility Is Good for Business

Aside from legal risk, there’s a business case to be made. An estimated 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. lives with some form of disability. By making your website accessible, you expand your market reach, improve your user experience, and demonstrate your commitment to inclusivity.

And here’s the best part — many accessibility improvements (like faster load times, cleaner code, and better navigation) benefit all your users, not just those with disabilities.

JBR Marketing Builds Accessible Websites — By Default

At JBR Marketing, accessibility isn’t an afterthought — it’s baked into every website we design. We follow WCAG best practices, build with screen readers and mobile devices in mind, and ensure proper semantic structure from the ground up.

Whether you’re launching a new site or updating an existing one, we can help make sure you’re protected — and more importantly, that your website is usable by everyone.

Not Sure If Your Website Is at Risk?

Contact JBR Marketing for a free Website Accessibility Evaluation. We’ll review your current site and let you know if you’re vulnerable to legal action — and what steps you can take to fix it fast.

Accessibility isn’t optional anymore. It’s smart business, and it’s the right thing to do.