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ADA Accessibility Compliance: How It Impacts Your Visitors, Website, and SEO

Writer's picture: Andi RiveraAndi Rivera

Updated: Jan 23

This post was originally published on 1/24/24 and has been updated on 1/23/25 for accuracy, relevancy, and fresh visuals.


Two men shaking hands, one with a prosthetic arm.

Website owners, this could affect you. Did you know there’s a law that ensures people with limited vision, hearing, cognitive, or physical abilities can access, navigate, and understand your site? It’s part of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which requires owners, lessors, or operators of “places of public accommodation” to provide equal access to users who meet ADA standards for disability.


Various courts have ruled that commercial websites qualify as places of public accommodation and are subject to ADA accessibility compliance rules. However, the specifics of the Act related to websites are not clearly defined. So, how can you tell if compliance is mandatory for your site?


The answer isn’t always straightforward. In some cases, the courts decide whether businesses should be held accountable.


For several reasons, your best choice is to make your site accessible to users with disabilities:


  • It’s the right thing to do: Providing access to everyone helps bridge the gap for users who might otherwise be excluded from online services and information.

  • It expands your audience: By being accessible, you tap into a demographic that may have been underserved.

  • It benefits your SEO: Websites that prioritize accessibility tend to meet the criteria for a strong user experience—a key factor in Google’s ranking algorithm.


Aim for WCAG 2.0 Level AA Compliance


The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide a framework for creating accessible websites. These guidelines outline three levels of compliance:


  1. Level A: The minimum level of accessibility.

  2. Level AA: A good balance between accessibility and practicality.

  3. Level AAA: The highest standard, suitable for specific use cases.


For most businesses, Level AA compliance is the recommended goal. Meeting these standards ensures your site is navigable and understandable for users with various disabilities while also boosting your search rankings.

How Accessibility Impacts SEO


Google prioritizes websites that deliver a healthy user experience. Sites optimized for accessibility often meet the same criteria Google uses to evaluate user experience, such as:


  • Fast page load times.

  • Logical site structure and navigation.

  • Descriptive alt text for images.

  • Readable and properly structured content.


By making your site accessible, you’re not just complying with the law—you’re creating a website that Google loves, which can help boost your visibility in search results.
A man sitting in a chair reading a book in Braille


Get Your Website Checked


There are free accessibility checkers available online to evaluate your website, but these tools may highlight issues you’re unsure how to fix.


That’s where we come in! At La Mejor Website, we’re experienced in optimizing sites for accessibility and SEO on platforms like Wix, WordPress, Squarespace, and Showit.






Our first consultation is always free. We will:

  • Evaluate your site’s accessibility.

  • Assess your overall Google ranking.

  • Provide actionable recommendations to improve both.

 




Join the many businesses we’ve helped succeed with over 160+ Five-Star Google reviews to prove it. Let's partner together to make sure your visitors of all abilities have the smooth and engaging user experience they expect and deserve.










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