ADA & GDPR Website Compliance Check
It may seem like an odd thing to consider, but there are many websites on the web that *technically* aren’t legal. Now, don’t worry. There isn’t necessarily a “website police” that’s going to come for you, but it does leave you or your business open to potential lawsuits. So let’s start with the basics: what are the ADA and GDPR anyway?
What is the ADA?
ADA stands for the Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design; it means that if your website represents a business, government (state or federal), or is funded by one, it must be ADA compliant. This means it must be accessible to those with disabilities. This includes having alternative text for images, responsive design options, resizable text, multiple color options, and other site features to help those with disabilities still access the information on your site. To learn more about the ins and outs of ADA compliance, check out their website here.
There are different tools you can use to make sure your website is ADA compliant, but the first step is definitely working with a web designer/developer who knows the standards and can create a website that abides within them. Depending on what platform your site is built with (WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, etc.) there may already be tools available to meet these standards. There are a variety of plugins for WordPress sites, for example. If you use Squarespace or another design platform, they do sometimes have features to help meet these standards (depending on what template you use), but it is not guaranteed. It is recommended to check with your platform of choice to see what comes built in and what you may need to do fully meet the requirements.
What is the GDPR?
GDPR stands for General Data Protection Regulation and is a privacy and security law passed by the EU. Now, I am not an attorney, and this is not legal advice, so I cannot speak to if this affects you or not. Suffice it to say that if your website is used by anyone in the EU, it would be best to investigate the laws and consult an attorney on whether or not your website needs to be compliant with their laws. Here is a link to the full regulatory document, and here is a link on their site breaking down that full document.
Privacy Policies & Terms and Conditions
This may seem like a no-brainer to some, but while we’re on the topic of compliance, it makes sense to also mention privacy policies and terms & conditions policies. These policies are required if your website takes any kind of information about your users. If you have an email list, opt-in, free download, etc., privacy policies are required by law.
A Terms & Conditions policy acts like a contract between the user and owner of the site. It states what the owner is responsible for and what the user agrees to by using the site. This policy protects the owner of the site because it typically outlines how lawsuits and any other legal matters will be handled, should they arise. This policy outlines much more and should be written specifically for your site by a legal professional.
Other Policies to Consider
The policies listed so far are just the basics when it comes to website legalities. If you sell any kind of product, digital or otherwise, it’s important to consider a refund policy and/or a shipping policy.
If you post links to products that you make a commission on, a disclaimer policy is also needed.
There are many things to consider when creating or updating a website. If you’re in need of an ADA Compliance Check, a GDPR Compliance Check, a Privacy Policy, or any other policy for your website, please feel free to reach out! These are all services we offer.
One Response
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