Managed or Automatic ADA Compliance

When it comes to ADA website compliance a business is faced with a crucial decision: rely on automatic AI compliance solutions or invest in a hybrid approach for their WCAG compliance?
Automatic compliance tools may promise quick fixes but what they don’t say is that they often fall short of delivering complete accessibility. On the other hand, hybrid solutions combine both the efficiency of technology and the reliability of human oversight, thus ensuring a thorough compliance solution. This contrast is essential for businesses looking to protect themselves from legal risks and provide a completely accessible experience for all users.
The importance of choosing the correct compliance solution is further emphasized by the recent events like the FTC action against Accessibe where they slapped them with a $1M fine for misleading claims about their AI’s capabilities and the usability of their tool.
So why is a hybrid managed ADA compliance solution the superior choice?

Automatic Compliance Solutions

Tools for automatic compliance solutions use algorithms to detect and fix accessibility issues on websites. The issue with automated solutions is that they promise quick and easy solutions, however the effectiveness of these solutions is oftentimes very limited as they only address surface-level issues, but never the core issues themselves. This in turn leaves a website non-compliant and the company open to significant legal risk.

Limited accessibility Coverage

As previously stated, automated tools only cover surface-level issues and thus often miss critical accessibility issues such as providing detailed alt-texts for images or making sure that there’s a logical navigation for screen readers. The result from this is a subpar experience for users with disabilities that are reliant on these technologies as it fails to meet the comprehensive requirements of ADA compliance for websites.

Legal Vulnerabilities

Besides the usability issues of the automated accessibility solutions, companies that solely rely on automated AI compliance solutions also face significant legal risks. There has been a plethora of lawsuits filed against companies for failing to provide fully accessible websites, even when using an automated tool. This is mate completely clear in the latest FTC ruling against the accessibility company Accessibe amidst false accessibility claims. This ruling clearly demonstrates that automation alone cannot guarantee compliance or protect businesses from costly penalties.

Case Study: AccessiBe’s $1M Fine

The FTC fine of $1M against Accessibe is the ultimate proof of the pitfalls of relying solely on automation. Their false claims of full ADA compliance left their clients vulnerable to legal and reputational damage. This case highlights the critical need for hybrid compliance, where human expertise supplements technology to ensure thorough and accurate accessibility measures.

Why Managed Compliance Is the Safer Choice

Hybrid compliance combines the efficiency of automated tools with the precision of human oversight. Human accessibility experts identify nuanced issues that algorithms may miss, and these tailored fixes will ensure lasting compliance. Managed ADA compliance solutions will also provide ongoing support to adapt to changing standards and maintain accessibility. By choosing hybrid compliance businesses can minimize legal risks, enhance the user experience on their website and build a more inclusive digital presence.

Conclusion

The risks of relying solely on automatic compliance are clear, as highlighted by the FTC’s action against AccessiBe. To safeguard your business and provide an accessible experience for all users, invest in a hybrid ADA compliance solution for your website. You should prioritize comprehensive, reliable accessibility measures today and thus protect your business from legal and reputational risks