Online ADA compliance is going to become more and more complex as time passes. This year, we have seen the most changes in terms of coding and visual requirements and the legal aspect for websites belonging to government agencies. Under Section 508 Standards (which governs the technical requirements to be ADA compliant online), there are the Web-based Intranet and Internet Information and Applications (1194.22). It reads “When a timed response is required, the user shall be alerted and given sufficient time to indicate more time is required.”

What does it mean for your website? It only applies to you if your website, online portal or software has a web element that automatically disappears if no response is provider by the website visitor. A good example is “Do you want to receive a promo code for your next purchase? Yes or No.” Often times those disappear on their own if Yes or No are not clicked on. To be ADA compliant this function would need to indicate clearly to someone with a disability that the message will go away if no answer is given.

The alert of expiration has to be clear to the user though the ADA rule does not address what that alert should be (visual, sound base, or other) and what code should be used.

This regulation is just one of many that recently came up. The compliance guidelines get much more complex with still many gray areas open to interpretations.

The “funny” thing is that, on the ADA’s official website (as of the date this post was released), the Regulations Development is not even available and gives out an error page.

For more on the subject of Online ADA Compliance and how we can assist you, we invite you to contact us directly or visit our ADA compliance services web page here.