This month I wanted to share something I’ve been keeping an eye on for 
a while… And that I will continue to watch for Your Computer Lady and for you.
If you’ve been following business news lately, you may have started hearing more about website accessibility and ADA compliance. If you haven’t, that’s okay — that’s partly why I send these newsletters.
I want to give you an early heads-up about something that’s quietly becoming a bigger deal for small businesses and nonprofits, so you have time to think about it before it becomes urgent.
What’s happening?
The Americans with Disabilities Act — the same law that requires wheelchair ramps and accessible restrooms — has increasingly been applied to websites. Courts and the US Department of Justice have made it clearer in recent years that websites are considered “places of public accommodation” which means they need to be usable by people with disabilities, including those who use screen readers, keyboard navigation or other assistive technology.
Lawsuit activity in this area has been growing steadily. This is a new revenue stream for law firms. Small businesses and nonprofits are not exempt. In fact, smaller organizations are sometimes specifically targeted because they are less likely to have the technical staff to address the issues or the legal resources to fight a suit.
Do you need to panic? No.
This is not something you need to drop everything and fix today. But it is something worth putting on your radar and beginning to think about — especially if you are planning any website updates or redesigns in the coming year.
What should you do for now?
The single best first step is simply to have a conversation with your attorney about your exposure and obligations. Every business is a little different, and an attorney familiar with your situation is the right person to help you assess your risk.
Beyond that, just being aware of this issue puts you ahead of most small business owners. When the time comes to take action, having already thought about it means you won’t be scrambling.
My role in all of this
Web accessibility compliance is a specialized legal and technical area that goes beyond standard website design and development. It’s not something I offer as a service. But as someone who knows your website well, I’m always happy to talk through questions or help you think about next steps if and when you decide to move forward.
As always, my goal is to make sure you have the information you need — even when it’s about things outside my own wheelhouse.
There will be more to come on this topic as the landscape continues to develop. In the meantime, feel free to reach out if you have questions.