Our Story with ADA Compliance

If you’re a leader in an organization, you know there are key moments that can change its direction. In 2017, we experienced one of those defining moments that reshaped our path forward.

Background

In 2017, We were a web partner for two very well-known South Carolina organizations, one a bank and the other a college. We were proud of the sites we built. Then, out of nowhere, both were hit in the same year with official legal notices claiming their websites weren’t ADA compliant, outlining how serious it was, and what needed to happen next.

One was a demand letter from a trolling attorney looking for settlement money. The other was tied to a potential class action lawsuit that was still in the early stages.

In 2017, we understood the importance of ADA compliance, but it hadn’t yet become a core part of how we designed websites.

Around that same time, we started working with Able South Carolina, one of the nation’s leading advocates for citizens with disabilities. We were awarded their website project, and that’s where our journey really began: learning what accessibility means and changing the way we approach our work.

What is ADA Compliance?

It’s often reported that more than 20% of the U.S. population has a disability that can affect how they use the internet. Just like a building includes parking spaces, ramps, and automatic doors, websites can be built in ways that help people with disabilities have a better experience online.

ADA website compliance helps make sure a website works for people with visual, hearing, and mobility disabilities. The website works with assistive tools like screen readers and are easy to use with a keyboard (not just a mouse). It also supports people with cognitive or neurological disabilities by keeping content clear and consistent, and by avoiding things like flashing elements that can cause problems.

Different Types of Compliance: WCAG & 508

Accessibility compliance for websites is usually based on one of two standards: WCAG or Section 508. WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) are international guidelines from the W3C that outline how to make web content usable for people with disabilities. Section 508 is a U.S. federal requirement that ensures government agencies’ websites and digital tools are accessible to employees and the public, including people who use assistive technology like screen readers.

WCAG Compliance Levels (A, AA, AAA)

As a standard practice, we build all of our websites to WCAG Level AA compliance. Our team has completed extensive accessibility training and continues to stay current as guidelines evolve and expectations mature.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) define three levels of compliance. Each level builds on the one before it and reflects increasing accessibility support for users with disabilities.

Level A is the foundational level. It addresses the most critical accessibility barriers, such as providing text alternatives for images, ensuring basic keyboard navigation, and avoiding content that could cause seizures. This level is often appropriate for small, informational sites or early-stage organizations, but on its own it does not meet the expectations of most public-facing businesses or regulated entities.

Level AA is the most widely accepted and commonly required standard. It expands on Level A by improving usability and clarity for a broader range of users. This includes sufficient color contrast, clear focus indicators, consistent navigation, readable text, and properly labeled forms. Most businesses, healthcare organizations, educational institutions, nonprofits, and government-related entities aim for Level AA because it strikes a strong balance between accessibility, practicality, and legal alignment.

Level AAA is the highest and most rigorous level of compliance. It includes enhanced requirements such as very high color contrast ratios, sign language interpretation for video, and advanced readability standards. While valuable, Level AAA can be difficult or impractical to achieve across an entire website, especially for large or content-heavy organizations. It is typically pursued only for specific use cases or individual pages rather than full sites.

It’s also important to note that WCAG levels are distinct from Section 508. Section 508 is a U.S. federal requirement that references WCAG as its technical standard. In modern practice, meeting WCAG Level AA is what most closely aligns with current Section 508 expectations.

In short, WCAG AA is the accessibility sweet spot for most organizations, and it’s the level we design and build toward by default.

Conclusion:

Our company’s purpose is simple: “Use our gifts to bless others.” That’s our why, and it aligns naturally with inclusivity and making sure the work we do serves everyone. Whether someone has a disability or not, a website should be accessible to everyone. That’s why we aim to build WCAG AA–compliant websites as a standard in every project, even if accessibility isn’t technically required for your audience on paper.

If you’d like to better understand what digital accessibility really means and how it impacts your organization, we’ve created a practical resource to help. Download our Complete Guide to Digital ADA Compliance to learn the standards, the risks, and the opportunities for creating a more inclusive web experience.