In a recent article posted on CMSWire, Lawrence Shaw, CEO of AAAtraq, argues that the real privacy risk facing organizations today is not the absence of consent tools, but the false confidence they create.
Canada has finalized new federal digital accessibility rules, requiring ICT-standard conformance, assessments, statements, training, and procurement controls.
ADA Title II digital accessibility deadline takes effect for US public bodies On April 24th, 2026, updated ADA Title II rules became enforceable, creating mandatory digital accessibility obligations for US public bodies.
The moment a website launches, its value begins to decline.
Washington, D.C., December 9, 2025
Today, Representatives Mike Lawler and Lou Correa introduced the bipartisan “ADA 30 Days to Comply Act,” enabling disabled individuals to alert businesses about violations and giving those businesses a 30-day window to fix issues or show meaningful progress. The measure aims to speed up accessibility compliance and reduce predatory lawsuits against small businesses.
Watch a quick demo of how automation makes PDF accessibility simple.
PDF backlogs under control, with compliance improved in minutes.
New research highlights how quickly users leave when accessibility isn’t in place, especially during peak demand.
The ADA risk environment is shifting faster than most organizations expect, and the next phase will be driven by AI.
Managing PDFs manually makes it hard to keep files accessible and up to date. Automation offers a faster, more reliable way to support every visitor while dramatically reducing the work behind the scenes.
In a world where AI reads everything you publish, outdated documents can do more harm than you think. Lawrence Shaw breaks down why unstructured content is becoming a growing challenge for organizations.
We’ve just completed a major round of upgrades that make the platform faster, smoother, and ready for the next wave of new features, including our powerful new search.
The EU Accessibility Act (EAA) is now in force, bringing new legal and financial risks for organizations that fail to meet accessibility standards. AAAtraq helps businesses identify, manage, and minimize these risks — ensuring compliance and protecting brand reputation.
The accessibility landscape is shifting fast. Forrester’s latest findings confirm what AAAtraq has known for years: digital compliance success depends on combining automation, intelligence, and experience, not quick fixes.
How can organizations keep digital experiences consistent, compliant, and user-friendly? AAAnow CEO Lawrence Shaw shares his view.
A sharp rise in ADA website lawsuits is putting Missouri’s small businesses on alert. With unclear federal standards and rising legal exposure, digital accessibility has become a compliance and governance issue — not just a technical one.
With digital compliance risks on the rise, boards need a clearer view of how well their organizations are managing exposure. From accessibility to data protection, the need for transparent digital oversight has never been greater.
Think accessibility is only about compliance? Think again. It’s fast becoming a competitive advantage that many organizations are still overlooking.
As Halloween approaches, it’s not just haunted houses you need to worry about — it’s the ghosts in your digital estate.
Businesses today face growing legal pressure to make their websites accessible. Nat Tarnoff’s article, How to Minimize Legal Risks in Accessibility Compliance, published on his website https://tarnoff.info/ (opens in a new window), explains why lawsuits are so common and what practical steps you can take to reduce your risk.
AAAnow.ai is proud to be a partner of RWS as they head to LavaCon 2025 in Atlanta
Lawrence Shaw, CEO of AAAnow, argues that static dashboards and delayed reports are leaving leaders in the dark — and shows how AI-driven, real-time reporting can reconnect executives with operational reality and drive smarter decisions.
Digital accessibility is no longer optional. Rising ADA lawsuits in the U.S. and new EU requirements under the European Accessibility Act show the risks are real. But with the right approach, compliance can also be an opportunity.
From nonprofits to mom-and-pops, digital accessibility lawsuits continue to climb.
AI is changing web management from reactive fixing to proactive prevention.
New mandates in South Korea are reshaping how both public agencies and private businesses ensure their websites, mobile apps, kiosks, and other digital platforms are inclusive for people with disabilities, older adults, and other “digitally vulnerable” groups.
In today's increasingly digital world, businesses of all sizes face the same critical issue—ensuring their websites are accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities.
The U.S. Department of Justice has finalized new digital accessibility rules under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). For the first time, state and local governments have a clear technical standard to follow and fixed deadlines to meet.
In what’s starting to feel like a recurring accessibility audit failure, the White House is once again being sued by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), and once again, it’s under a Trump administration.
As the European Accessibility Act (EAA) enforcement deadline approaches in June 2025, companies doing business in the EU must be ready to respond to accessibility complaints from users, each country with its own process, deadlines, and penalties.
While the EAA provides a common legal framework, enforcement is handled locally, meaning businesses may face simultaneous investigations in different countries.
Public school districts can no longer treat website accessibility as optional. With new ADA Title II regulations and state laws like Colorado’s HB21-1110, K–12 schools must ensure all websites, apps, and digital content meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. Compliance deadlines begin in 2026.
Only 2.8% of global brands meet top-tier compliance standards - AAAnow calls for risk-based, executive-led action
In a landmark move for inclusive cybersecurity, the Funka Foundation has been appointed to collaborate directly with European standardization bodies on the development of new cybersecurity standards. This involvement ensures that upcoming EU regulations will be built with accessibility in mind from the start, not added in as an afterthought
As digital accessibility laws tighten across Europe and the U.S., organisations must act fast to avoid legal and reputational fallout. Corbb O’Connor of Level Access joins Bowen Craggs to explore how businesses can stay compliant and why accessibility is no longer optional.
On June 28, 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) comes into force. For U.S. businesses offering digital products or services in EU markets, this marks a significant legal and operational milestone. The EAA mandates that websites, mobile apps, e-books, ATMs, e-commerce platforms, banking services, and other digital interfaces be accessible to people with disabilities.
Digital accessibility is a vital part of inclusive design, especially for organizations serving the public, like nonprofits and healthcare providers. For individuals on the autism spectrum, many common web design choices can create unnecessary barriers, making it harder to access information, services, or support.
If you're exploring the business impact of digital accessibility, this upcoming webinar may be worth attending:
Live webinar | May 29 @ 12 PM ET
Hosted by Level Access and Forrester
Lawsuits are hitting companies at every level. In April 2025 alone, dozens of new accessibility cases were filed. From major corporations to local businesses and nonprofits, no one is exempt.
A new bill out of Colorado could significantly shift the accountability for digital accessibility failures in public schools, placing the burden directly on vendors.
A new nationwide report from CivicPulse and CivicPlus sheds light on the evolving state of web accessibility in local government, based on a survey of over 1,000 local leaders across the U.S. The 2025 Web Accessibility in Local Government Report explores how well municipalities, townships, and counties are meeting the digital needs of their communities, especially residents with disabilities.
Now available to watch on-demand: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7318639515076595712/comments/ (opens in a new window)
Number of Cases Filed in March 2025
• California – 25
• New York – 256
• Florida – 113
• Other states – 63
Over the second half of the year, hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against companies for failing to make their websites, apps, or video content accessible. These compliance violations not only continue to rise but also highlight the persistent challenges businesses face in meeting accessibility standards.
PDFs are everywhere. From bank statements to annual reports, they’re the go-to format for sharing information in a clean, professional way. But have you ever thought about how accessible they are? For millions of people with disabilities, PDFs can feel like locked doors, impossible to navigate without the right keys.
Explore how Tridion Sites 10.1, from AAAnow partner RWS Tridion, is revolutionising content management with cutting-edge features and innovations.
Equidox PDF Accessibility Solutions highlights the importance of understanding accessibility laws, noting that it’s not just where your company is located that matters, but where you do business.
Before reading this article, check your website’s accessibility (no charge or registration) at www.AAAtraq.com/check to see exactly where you stand on compliance.
A great opportunity to connect with pools and introduce new digital risk management tools, helping organizations better manage compliance and mitigate risks.
We had a fantastic time at CAJPA 2024 in South Lake Tahoe, where we connected with many AAAtraq pools, current clients, brokers, and numerous support service providers. It was great meeting so many organizations dedicated to helping pools understand and mitigate various risks.
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a vital directive from the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, aimed at improving accessibility to products and services across the EU for people with disabilities. With the EAA deadline approaching, publishers need to be prepared. To help navigate these changes, join Data Conversion Laboratory’s (DCL) Lunch & Learn session on October 9 with industry experts Mark Gross and Bill Kasdorf.
For the first time in U.S. history, there are now formal standards for digital accessibility that must be met by all public entities. With 96% of content failing basics, pools are “the easy win” cash cows’ lawyers will soon have their sights on?
AAAtraq announces participation at this year's CAJPA (California Association of Joint Powers Authorities) conference in South Lake Tahoe, from September 10-13, 2024 Addressing the Growing ADA Compliance Risks
As we reach a little over the midpoint of 2024, the surge in ADA digital accessibility lawsuits shows no signs of slowing down. Whether it's a website, mobile app, or video content, companies of all sizes are finding themselves vulnerable to litigation if they fall short of compliance standards.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping digital accessibility by making websites smarter and more inclusive. With over half of government sites failing to meet accessibility standards, AI offers a game-changing solution to ensure that everyone can access digital services effortlessly.
Grants are available at various levels, including federal, state, and local governments, and they aim to address a range of disability issues, including those in the digital space - an introduction to available resources.
The question is, will public entities leave their homework until the last minute? Some are working under the mistaken belief that the government will show leniency towards educational institutions. This is a dangerous and entirely unverified assumption.
L'Oréal, a global beauty giant, has faced several lawsuits in the past regarding issues with accessibility compliance. L'Oréal has been sued for allegedly failing to make its websites accessible to visually impaired users and therefore failing to meet the standards set by the ADA.....
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has updated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This mandates that all public entities ensure their digital content is accessible.
The surprising impact of website and app accessibility on reach and engagement / GUEST BLOG Dan Drury
Dan Drury Introducing the Equity Performance Certificate™ ahead of the EACD 2024 Annual conference, May 27-28 / Brussels
New Survey Exposes DE&I Failures and AAAtraq Unveils the Game-Changing Equity Performance SCORECARD
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued an unprecedented final ruling on Title II of the ADA, mandating website accessibility as a legal requirement for public entities. This ruling marks a significant advancement in ensuring equal access to government services preventing discrimination.
Webinar - Digital Accessibility Shouldn’t be a Thousand-Piece Puzzle! - Still time to register! May 16th, 2024, 13:00 – 14:00 (Eastern (EDT) Time Zone)
As businesses demand faster content publishing and compliance with stringent legal standards, the need for seamless integration of tools like Sitemorse within CMS platforms has never been more critical.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued their final ruling on Title II of the ADA, mandating website accessibility as a legal requirement for public entities.
California Assembly Bill 1757: The Potential Impact on Website Accessibility
Navigating Compliance with the European Accessibility Act: Strategies, Pitfalls and Benefits
Tridion Sites - The Roadmap for your future Digital Experiences, 2024 trends like Accessibility, Website Performance, and AI
Service that may be worth a look, check your apps accessibility (ADA) compliance - 'Abra Desktop' as it is now available in Beta.
Ensure Your Developer Takes Responsibility or Risk Accountability Yourself.
New videos online - offering additional help and support at each stage of AAAtraq Continuous Protection compliance journey.
What is compliance?
How content management leads to most websites failing to meet accessibility standards.
Web accessibility goes beyond technical guidelines; it is an emotionally charged subject with high stakes.
You may have heard of the updates the 'WCAG' (technical web content guidelines) and be wondering how we are going to incorporate into AAAtraq. Will litigation be even most complex, confusing - is a technical standard fit for litigation purposes?
Extract of the article on Phocuswire 'Travel websites failing basic accessibility tests' following interview with Lawrence Shaw
AAAtraq’s July audit shows that most of the 97% of H Ed who failed The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance tests were let down on their home page, leaving them sitting ducks and exposed to unnecessary legal action.
When it comes to online ADA risk, The Times They Are A-Changin' for CFOs, even more so for website software vendors, consultants and service providers
Justice Department Advances Proposed Rule to Strengthen Web and Mobile App Access for People with Disabilities and clarify how public entities can meet their existing ADA obligations as activities shift online.
LA College pays out $240,000 - what were the internal costs, and ongoing distraction? With 96% of content presently failing and new laws on the horizon it's no wonder Education is a litigation top 3.
Until now accountability may have been lacking, we do not have a position to protect - we want to ensure those paying for compliance, achieve it.
CFO's - online Risk is leaving you unnecessarily financially exposed, short term it's repeated spending to fail - long term undermine brand value.
Mid 2023, and it's same old same old - ever more ADA cases..... noticeable increase in claims against 'widget' providers (despite their compliance promise).
Universities and other higher education institutions tend to have a large digital footprint, spread across different sites and channels that have grown over time. In many cases this represents a “sprawl” with uncontrolled growth of the website estate, lacking central governance and controls.
18th May 2023 1pm (BST) on Zoom
AAAtraq are pleased to host a live webinar to help retailers improve their online performance.
Sitemorse likes to keep in regular contact with their clients, and feedback is essential to them! From many of their recent conversations and, of course, the current economic climate, they’re very aware of the balancing act authorities are playing between budgets, with compliance. This isn’t just an issue in Government at a Local level; Central Government must also keep a watchful eye on budgets. Many authorities are keen to make the case to senior management about maintaining a dedicated web team and evidence the important role a good website can play in increasing efficiency, and how cost effective this is.
A website must be accessible by law, and there are considerable financial risks associated with non-compliance. Every year more dollars are being spent on litigation, and the numbers are likely to keep on rising. At the same time, initiatives that are designed to drive compliance are simply not working. The situation is untenable in the longer term.
Each year there is an alarming increase in the level of litigation relating to online accessibility. In 2022 there were 3,255 claims filed in the US (opens in a new window), a year-on-year rise of 12%. These are the just the results that are in the public domain – there are thousands more ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) demand letters that are settled out of court.
AAAtraq is the world’s first service to combine automated compliance software with litigation support and costs coverage indemnity, giving organizations the opportunity to effectively manage the risks around online accessibility compliance and the inevitable corresponding costs.
Lack of executive ownership of the process of improving your website is at the heart of the problem
There is a societal need to be inclusive, and a legal requirement not to discriminate. Over the last five years, compliance spend and litigation have continued to rise, but with no discernible improvement in website accessibility compliance.
In the digital age, businesses and organizations must take into account their cross-border responsibilities when it comes to digital compliance. This includes ensuring accessibility and privacy for all users, regardless of their location or nationality. With the increasing use of the internet and digital technologies, it is crucial that website owners and operators understand their responsibilities and take the necessary steps to comply with regulations in different jurisdictions. Failure to comply can result in legal and financial consequences, as well as damage to the reputation of the business or organization.
The New York State Senate Bill S7572A, requiring contractors and vendors who supply websites and related services to the state to confirm that the sites and/or services meet website accessibility standards, became law on December 2, 2022 and will take effect on May 31, 2023. This bill has significant implications for contractors and vendors who work with the state, as well as for the state itself.
Post COVID, the number of digital assets including websites, web applications and online content has continued to grow rapidly. Digital sprawl refers to the proliferation of these digital assets which occurs within organizations without proper oversight and control of them, e.g., websites can be created for a variety of reasons such as personal projects, experimental initiatives and promotional events.
New York, March 13, 2023 - Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is already costing billions, to the Higher Education sector in particular, yet evidence shows that current approaches are failing.
Litigation against higher education institutions for non-compliance with online ADA shows no sign up slowing down, with recent cases against Harvard (opens in a new window), Berkeley (opens in a new window), Colgate (opens in a new window), Mercer (opens in a new window), Lafayette and Loyola (opens in a new window) – to name but a few.
Last week we wrote about new cases already being reported in 2023 (opens in a new window). No doubt we will see more and more cases being reported over the next few weeks. But what’s happened in the last week?
Key figure on 'online' accessibility bill moves from congress to senate.
To kick the new year off we’re hosting another webinar! This webinar will cover Vendor and Supplier Management, it’s open to all AAAtraq members and will be held on Tuesday, January 17th 2023 at 9:30 PST / 5:30 GMT / 12:30 EST.
The start of the year often brings about a series of changes with people making new year’s resolutions and organizations starting new campaigns. However, one change we haven’t seen is website ADA legal demands, it’s only a few days into the year and we’re already seeing stories hitting the headlines.
One question that organizations often ask is whether laws relating to website and online accessibility can be applied to them. There can be misconceptions that somehow if an organization is of a particular size or in particular sector, it means they are exempt. The truth is that there are virtually no exemptions – the law affects every organization in the US.
Throughout society there is a call to be increasingly inclusive. Yet more than 30 years after the establishment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, as well as recurring lawsuits for alleged inaccessible content in violation of the 1973 US Rehabilitation Act, high-branded institutions such as Harvard University and University of California, Berkeley (UCL Berkeley), are failing to achieve digital inclusion for Americans with a wide range of disabilities.
Why do so many organisations have websites that fail their basic legal requirement of being accessible to people living with disabilities and open themselves up to the risk of litigation?
When it comes to making a website accessible to ensure it meets the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other similar legislation, the immediate assumption is that this is an area purely for IT, the web or digital team, or a digital agency partner. Most business stakeholders will assume it’s “just one for the techies” to sort out, and a technical problem that can be fixed.
Receiving a demand letter from a legal firm with the potential threat of legal action can be stressful. But it’s becoming an everyday part of running a business.
New Report Shows Shocking Widespread Failure of Digital Inclusion; Litigation Risk
New York, November 8, 2022 - According to the new Risk INDEX™: Higher Education (opens in a new window) Report from InsurTech AAAtraq (opens in a new window), 96% of higher education websites are not accessible to people who browse the web with assistive devices, making them non-complaint with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In today’s post-secondary education environment, 19.4% of students are disabled.1
For years, Congress has been incapable of enacting (and even introducing) legislation that would have a meaningful impact in assisting the millions of disabled Americans currently disenfranchised by discrimination on the internet.
While the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 508 do protect disabled individuals from most discrimination on the internet, it does not protect them in every instance or in every municipality.
If you’re the Risk Manager or AAAtraq Service Owner, you may hear this from your technical team, so be ready: THIS REPORT IS WRONG! RUBBISH! THIS SYSTEM DOESN’T WORK! IT’S INCORRECT!
AAAtraq’s Risk Control Service guides clients through a step-by-step process to reduce the risk of ADA website litigation.
AAAtraq delivers an online ADA Risk Control Program focused on your website(s). The program is simple to deploy, allows you to assign tasks and enables clients to demonstrate significant improvement in just one week.
There has been a lot of recent activity from Senators and other government departments, on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and how change needs to happen.
US institutions for the blind and people with disabilities are urging congress to move quickly on ’The Website and Software Accessibility Act’ introduced by Senator Tammy Duckworth and Congressman John Sarbanes on September 29th, 2022.
If you’ve reached the stage where you understand the need to address the threat posed by a lack of ADA compliance, you ought to know that 94% of website homepages have compliance failures. Whether you have a coded, bespoke website or one constructed using templates from a Content Management System (CMS), there is no difference. It’s a steep challenge to create a fully compliant site that then remains so going forward.
It’s extremely important that you have an Accessibility Statement on your website, not least to demonstrate where you are with compliance, but to aid those who might find it a bit harder to access your website’s content, by giving them contacts to ask for help.
On Monday August 1st, 2022, Illinois House Bill 26 (HB 26) entered as law in the State of Illinois, details of the bill can be viewed at https://trackbill.com/bill/illinois-house-bill-26-sch-cd-internet-accessibility/1978129/ (opens in a new window).
[AUGUST 4, 2022 NEW YORK] The latest report by InsurTech company, AAAtraq (AAAtraq.com (opens in a new window)) on the Inclusivity of more than 600 Congressional websites shows that the majority of Congressional webpages are inaccessible to disabled users and that more than 9 out of 10 pages are vulnerable to litigation.
In today’s digital world, an organization’s website is just as important as their physical front door. For many, it is the first and last point of interaction with your organization/company. As such the design of your website is critical to your organization’s brand and its ability to survive.
Web developers are individuals/entities that create and maintain websites.1 Often contracted by 3rd parties (in this case your company being the client), web developers are responsible for creating, maintaining (in many cases), and testing the websites they service. Web developers can be sued for the inaccessible websites they create; however, the manner and rationale for said suit is a bit trickier to understand.
[JULY 27th, 2022 NEW YORK] AAAtraq, an InsurTech company, today announced its collaboration with the leading insurance pool in the mid-west, CLIC. The AAAtraq Risk Management Program (RMP) is now available to all CLIC members, and any Illinois public school district is eligible for the program via CLIC.
Tuesday July 26th, 2022 marks the 32nd anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).
July has been another busy month for accessibility; with a mid-year report being released and it being Disability Pride Month.
Three years after the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic, very few things are certain beyond the fact that life has forever been changed. Of the many adaptations to everyday life, one change that appears to be of a more permanent nature is the predilection to more flexibility in dining.
The largest minority group in the world is that of disabled individuals. Roughly 15% of the global population identifies as disabled, with roughly one in four American adults doing so.1 Inclusivity of disabled individuals into the economic sector remains a significant struggle for businesses.
External validation is a critical component of review for most organizations. External validation, as opposed to internal validation, holds greater credence in the review of work produced most closely associated with the internal activities of a business. Checking one’s own work can be problematic, as confirmation bias may veil the existence of real issues from being identified.
In June, AAAtraq released “Accessibility in Virtual Closings and Signings” (opens in a new window), the first part of a two-part series on how to make the closing process on real estate more accessible for disabled users. The former article focused primarily on the digital component of electronic closings (eClosing), particularly the different ways in which brokers and borrowers can engage in a closing that makes use of the digital format. The second part of the series, this article, will focus on the role of electronic signing (eSigning) in the process of eClosings and the subsequent preference for eSignings more broadly.
[JULY 1st, 2022 NEW YORK] Collective Liability Insurance Cooperative (CLIC), the leading insurance pool for school districts in Illinois, today announced its collaboration with InsurTech, AAAtraq; introducing a new risk management program for members, to protect them from the rapidly growing threat of litigation for website non-compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
New data released by the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy indicates that web inaccessibility is amongst the most prevalent issues facing disabled users of the internet. Not only does inaccessibility limit individuals’ ability to engage with websites, but it has also been linked to a lower level of employment and can be causal of lower socio-economic status. In recognition of such information, many prominent officials have recognized the need for change and have sent a letter to the Department of Justice hoping to generate some forward movement on the issue.
June sees more interesting articles around the topic of Inclusion News.
Last week, AAAtraq VP Partnerships & Commercial, Rob Andrews, had the pleasure of being part of a panel hosting a CE course for the Surplus Line Association of California (SLA) on ‘The Yellow Click Road: Perils When Operating In An Online Environment’.
It’s been four years to the day since 103 members of the House of Representatives wrote to then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions, calling on his Department to mitigate the amount of litigation resulting from violations of the ADA on the grounds of inaccessible content on websites.1
While many of the recent technological developments in articles discussed by AAAtraq were brought about by about the reliance on digital during quarantine periods of the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of technology to engage in virtual closings in real estate and esignatures had already begun to ingratiate itself into modern real estate practice.
[JUNE 8th, 2022 NEW YORK] The latest report by InsurTech company, AAAtraq https://AAAtraq.com/ (opens in a new window) on the Inclusivity of more than 600 Congressional websites home pages shows that the majority of these pages are inaccessible to disabled users and that more than 9 out of 10 are exposed to litigation. The report also reveals the amount of money now being wasted by organizations on litigation costs – some $600,000,000 per month.
The simple answer: no! Widgets, as defined by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), are a “discrete user interface object with which the user can interact.” Widgets, and overlays, whose use is almost synonymous with that of the widget, engage with aspects of the website in the attempt to make it more user friendly and inclusive.
May, as always, has been a busy month for Inclusion news as we celebrated Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) on the 19th.
Let’s face it: for most people, there is too much to do and not nearly enough time in a day to complete everything. For businesses, not only is time an issue, but the unfortunate reality remains that too many just don’t have the resources to cover their necessities.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to websites in addition to physical premises – and a recent audit shows that 97% of real estate websites in California, do not meet the requirements of the ADA. Leaving them exposed to the risk of litigation which is already costing $600,000,000 per month in legal demands.
April has continued to bring us many news pieces covering digital inclusion. In the last month, we’ve seen some significant pieces which we’ll highlight for you below.
These highlights include new sectors and big businesses targeted with lawsuits in US courts, pieces on the link between accessibility and search engine optimisation and much more!
[APRIL 26, 2022 CALIFORNIA] In the latest report, released today by InsurTech, AAAtraq https://AAAtraq.com/ (opens in a new window) it was revealed that almost 9 out of 10 California restaurants’ websites are non-complaint with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), leaving them exposed to the risk of litigation by opportunistic lawyers.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to websites in addition to your physical premises – and a recent report shows that 96% of restaurant websites in California do not meet the requirements of the ADA. Leaving them exposed to litigation which is already costing $600,000,000 per month in legal demands.
Institutions of Higher Education prove to be among the most progressive sectors in the current market when referring to disability policy.
All too often, for far too many, the arrival of a demand notice is the first indication as to the importance of not discriminating online.
[April 6th, 2022, CALIFORNIA] The latest report by InsurTech company, AAAtraq https://AAAtraq.com/ (opens in a new window) on the Inclusivity of restaurants website homepages (ADA Audit) is to be released on April 26th, 2022.
On Friday March 18th, 2022, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued new guidance on web accessibility and its relationship with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).
The month of March hasn’t been a quiet one in terms of digital inclusion news. In the last month, we’ve seen some significant updates which we’ll highlight for you below.
On February 28th, 2022, over 170 disability organizations signed and issued a letter calling on the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) to finalize rules relating to online accessibility.1
On Friday February 25th, 2022, United States President Joseph R. Biden nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to replace retiring Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer.
Adam Bialek (Partner / Wilson Elser) looks at the barriers presented by non-accessible websites and materials, the impact and risk.
2021 was a year unlike any other. As the world came together to respond to the pandemic that was devastating human life as we knew it, politics pushed people further apart. In the U.S., 2021 began on a somber note.
Disability organizations call on DOJ to finalize online accessibility rules
[MARCH 1st, 2022 NEW YORK] The latest report by InsurTech company, AAAtraq AAAtraq.com (opens in a new window) on the Inclusivity of Top 100 Shopify websites (ADA Risk Audit) has been released. The report reveals more than 9 out of 10 of the Top 100 Shopify websites are non-compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), leaving them exposed to the risk of litigation by serial plaintiffs.
National law firm, Wilson Elser, will present a webinar on “ADA Compliance for Websites: Risk Mitigation & Defense Strategies”.
Multiple pieces of technology are used by restauranteurs to assist with activities such as digital reservation making, automated check payment, and order placement. Such technology has been ushered in by the Digital Age and has made it so that customers enjoy a more relaxed dining experience.
The last month has seen more topics around digital inclusion being discussed. The theme of litigation continues to dominate and there is unlikely to be an end to that anytime soon.
[FEBRUARY 22, 2022 NEW YORK] In the latest report, released today by Insurtech, AAAtraq, it was revealed that more than 9 out of 10 higher education institutions’ websites are non-compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), leaving them exposed to the risk of litigation by opportunistic lawyers.
Your homepage is your digital front door. Much like an apartment or a house, there is so much to see beyond the front door. Like a homeowner is responsible for their property, website owners are responsible for maintaining all parts of their website. Such parts include the areas of the site not often noticed by most users.
[FEBRUARY 16, 2022 NEW YORK] The latest report by InsurTech company, AAAtraq AAAtraq.com (opens in a new window) on the Inclusivity of more than 2000 Higher Education website homepages (ADA Audit) is to be released on February 22, 2022.
[FEBRUARY 15, 2022 NEW YORK] The latest report by InsurTech company, AAAtraq AAAtraq.com (opens in a new window), evaluated more than 550 websites operated by members and committees of the 117th United States Congress on their websites’ inclusivity.
The recent boom of the real estate market in the United States has demanded much from those brokers and agents responsible for its success. As the market expanded, so too did the need for accessible entries into the market.
As mentioned in our previous article (opens in a new window), the growth of disability is a reflection on the historical and continuous redefining of what it means to be disabled.
Today’s highspeed world demands that individuals seek out the most efficient and convenient avenues to obtain the goods and services that they use in their everyday lives.
July 26th, 2021, marked the 31st anniversary of the enactment of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, also referred to as the ADA. Today, over one billion individuals (roughly 15% of the global population) live with some type of disability, making it the single largest minority group in the world.1 Domestically, that fact is also true, as roughly 26% of American adults are living with at least one type of disability.2 Although the largest minority group in the United States, today, is those who identify as disability, historically that hasn’t always been the case.
2021 was a busy year for inclusion news, with a whole range of topics being covered. 2022 has also got off to an eventful start with some very thought-provoking articles covering the subject.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in the 2019-2020 academic school year, there were nearly 4,000 degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the United States.1
Your website reflects your business: some are big; some are small; some are modern and some take more traditional approaches.
The AAAdvent Calendar is helping to spread the festive spirit and the word about digital inclusion, every day we'll be unveiling a new window.
The AAAdvent Calendar is helping to spread the festive spirit and the word about digital inclusion, every day we'll be unveiling a new window.
The AAAdvent Calendar is helping to spread the festive spirit and the word about digital inclusion, every day we'll be unveiling a new window.
The AAAdvent Calendar is helping to spread the festive spirit and the word about digital inclusion, every day we'll be unveiling a new window.
The AAAdvent Calendar is helping to spread the festive spirit and the word about digital inclusion, every day we'll be unveiling a new window.
The headlines around online inclusion keep coming. Over the last month we’ve seen many topics being covered including sectors that previously haven’t had much of a spotlight.
The AAAdvent Calendar is helping to spread the festive spirit and the word about digital inclusion, every day we'll be unveiling a new window.
The AAAdvent Calendar is helping to spread the festive spirit and the word about digital inclusion, every day we'll be unveiling a new window.
The AAAdvent Calendar is helping to spread the festive spirit and the word about digital inclusion, every day we'll be unveiling a new window.
The AAAdvent Calendar is helping to spread the festive spirit and the word about digital inclusion, every day we'll be unveiling a new window.
The AAAdvent Calendar is helping to spread the festive spirit and the word about digital inclusion, every day we'll be unveiling a new window.
Recent news heading 'Sony Launches Brilliant Accessibility Website for PS5, PS4' - shouldn't the page be 'accessible' ?
The AAAdvent Calendar is helping to spread the festive spirit and the word about digital inclusion, every day we'll be unveiling a new window.
The AAAdvent Calendar is helping to spread the festive spirit and the word about digital inclusion, every day we'll be unveiling a new window.
The AAAdvent Calendar is helping to spread the festive spirit and the word about digital inclusion, every day we'll be unveiling a new window.
The AAAdvent Calendar is helping to spread the festive spirit and the word about digital inclusion, every day we'll be unveiling a new window.
The AAAdvent Calendar is helping to spread the festive spirit and the word about digital inclusion, every day we'll be unveiling a new window.
The AAAdvent Calendar is helping to spread the festive spirit and the word about digital inclusion, every day we'll be unveiling a new window.
The AAAdvent Calendar is helping to spread the festive spirit and the word about digital inclusion, every day we'll be unveiling a new window.
AudioEye sued accessiBe for patent infringement (US10423709, et al.) as well as claims under the Lanham Act (false advertisement & product disparagement) and under New York State Law (product disparagement, tortious interference, etc).
The AAAdvent Calendar is helping to spread the festive spirit and the word about digital inclusion, every day we'll be unveiling a new window.
The AAAdvent Calendar is helping to spread the festive spirit and the word about digital inclusion, every day we'll be unveiling a new window.
The AAAdvent Calendar is helping to spread the festive spirit and the word about digital inclusion, every day we'll be unveiling a new window.
The AAAdvent Calendar is helping to spread the festive spirit and the word about digital inclusion, every day we'll be unveiling a new window.
The AAAdvent Calendar is helping to spread the festive spirit and the word about digital inclusion, every day we'll be unveiling a new window.
The AAAdvent Calendar is helping to spread the festive spirit and the word about digital inclusion, every day we'll be unveiling a new window.
The AAAdvent Calendar is helping to spread the festive spirit and the word about digital inclusion, every day we'll be unveiling a new window.
Preparations for the festive season are well and truly underway, with Thanksgiving having just been enjoyed and the attention now focusing on stockings and Christmas lights.
The last month has continued to bring us big stories on digital inclusion. We’ve seen articles focusing on different aspects such as eBooks and captions in the theatre industry, showing just how wide the topic of digital inclusion really is.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Rite Aid Corporation to Make Its Online COVID-19 Vaccine Registration Portal Accessible to Individuals with Disabilities
More than four months after a California federal judge ordered Domino’s Pizza LLC to make its website fully accessible to blind and visually impaired patrons, the pizza chain and a blind man who sued it for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) announced on Nov. 5 that they had reached a settlement in the five-year-old lawsuit.
Thirty-one years ago, the United States passed the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). The ADA, widely regarded as the cornerstone piece of legislation protecting disabled Americans from wrongful discrimination, established a national standard by which people, businesses, and the government are obliged to act in the pursuit of universal equity to access.
New Settlement Terms In Website Access Class Suit Preliminarily Approved
(October 13, 2021, 10:40 AM EDT) -- SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal judge in California on Sept. 30 granted preliminary approval of new settlement terms that will provide $112,500 in addition to injunctive relief in a class suit accusing a juice company of failing to offer a website accessible to those with visual impairments.
More articles focusing on digital inclusion have been in the media over the last month. We’ve seen a lot about technologies being rolled out by organizations to improve inclusion as well as the ongoing topic of overlays.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Lanzillo of the Western District of Pennsylvania granted lead plaintiff Anthony Murphy's unopposed motion to certify class for settlement purposes and for preliminary approval of class action settlement.
You received an accessibility demand letter in the mail. Now what?! Unfortunately, many businesses learn that their website or building is not accessible because they receive a demand letter in the mail.
It’s been another big month for digital inclusion in the news. We’ve not seen so much about the increase in cases over the last month, but articles have highlighted new sectors being targeted by lawsuits, as well as many other interesting topics.
For those that have heard of the stark increase in website accessibility lawsuits in the past few years, there has been a growing need for protection against these types of demand letters. There wasn’t a way to address it, until now. A new category has emerged: web accessibility insurance.
Like many states and cities across the US, the city of Vancouver in Washington, is evaluating the accessibility of facilities across the city. This includes the city’s buildings, parks and trails, streets, jobs, programs, services and activities.
In today’s digital first world, video content has become increasingly popular for marketing and communication purposes, and is an easy way to convey information.
Digital inclusion and website accessibility have continued to make headlines over the last month. News pieces have kept the same theme about increasing numbers of lawsuits, but have we also seen the first headlines of the next big ADA case?
The Gil v. Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. case has continued to make headlines in recent months with Gil filing in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, a petition for a rehearing en banc after the case had recently been focusing on whether Winn-Dixie’s website is a place of public accommodation covered by the ADA.
AAAtraq was delighted to join this month's working lunch with CLM (Claims and Litigation Management). The virtual meeting event is open to CLM members, including risk managers, claims adjusters, defense lawyers, EPL brokers, and carriers.
With the frequency of ADA website accessibility lawsuits increasing, we’re regularly seeing new articles in the media around this topic.
AAAtraq CEO, Lawrence Shaw, spoke to Lee Boyd on the FNO: InsureTech Podcast to talk all about AAAtraq, our service, ADA litigations cases and much more.
The judgment in the Winn-Dixie case has finally been revealed: those hoping to see legal clarity, and the establishment and big business that support those with disabilities, will be less than satisfied. But who is the real loser and what will the medium to long-term effect be on how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upholds the rights of the disabled to freely access digital content? Detailed review and article available, PDF (opens in a new window)
AAAtraq has been awarded the 2021 award for InsurTech innovation by business publication, Acquisition International.
Website accessibility company Nebula Media Group www.nebulamediagroup.com (opens in a new window) has partnered with AAAtraq to provide SMEs and smaller government entities with a fixed-price service that will ensure their online content remains accessible for the long term. AAAtraq’s ADA compliance service will be at the heart of Nebula Media Group’s solution.
AAAtraq CEO Lawrence Shaw has been the subject of a wide-ranging interview published in specialist magazine Tech Company News.
InsurTech company, AAAtraq (www.AAAtraq.com) (opens in a new window), has teamed up with AbleDocs (www.abledocs.com) (opens in a new window), enabling subscribers to more easily publish accessible documents on their websites.
We were delighted to see respected insurance publication Emerging Risks (opens in a new window) publish an opinion piece from AAAtraq on website content failure, and how this is rapidly becoming a corporate risk of note in the US.
Research suggests there may be a false sense of security amongst NASDAQ companies over ADA compliance - almost all of the biggest tech companies in the USA are failing to meet the necessary standards to ensure their websites meet ADA compliance regulations.
[Mar 24th 2021 | London] InsuTech company, AAAtraq (www.aaatraq.com), has completed its latest audit of how California schools are complying with the American Disabilities Act (ADA), with the results showing that the majority, despite efforts are falling short of their obligations and perhaps unwittily, being discriminatory.
Microassist Inc, a leading provider of digital accessibility and usability solutions,has announced it has partnered with AAAtraq. The partnership means that procurement customers will more easily be able to embed ADA compliance measures within their processes.
The Fire Agencies Insurance Risks Authority (FAIRA) in California and Nevada is enhancing support for its members by joining forces with AAAtraq a service that helps subscribers to reduce the costs and time to understand, achieve and maintain ADA compliance.
Hosted by CAL-ISBOA, the event will be run by national law firm Wilson Elser, who leads a legal panel created by AAAtraq, leaders in compliance identification and management services (CIMS).
'analysis of 10,000,000 websites revealed that 98 percent of websites failed WCAG compliance standards' Are executives being told 'what they want to hear' with those reporting, setting the metrics?
AAAtraq has entered a strategic partnership with Advantage Microsystems (https://advantagemicro.net), a leading provider of IT services to SMEs and non-profit organizations, to help clients reduce their cyber risk.
Summary of a few articles we have seen over the last week. Extracts with links to the full piece.
AAAtraq, has been named as a top 25 InsurTech Innovator for 2020 The distinguished hall of fame is researched and created by the US magazine Technology Innovators and comprises the sectors most prestigious leaders.
From sourcing through to monitoring, digital accessibility is a potential factor, so it is critical that the procurement team not only have a thorough understanding of accessibility but also carry out the necessary actions.
The first step to ensure ‘online’ ADA compliance is often the hardest. But once taken, the process of demonstrating reasonable adjustment and reducing risk for your organization from potential litigation has already begun.
Ablr’s 2020 Presidential Website Accessibility & ADA Compliance Report Identifies Multiple Violations on Presidential Campaign Websites for Donald J. Trump and Joe Biden. An estimated 26 percent of American voters, have a disability and may not have equal access and opportunity to browse campaign websites.
Effective digital policing needs to be the new norm for web accessibility – FORBES article We were delighted to see our CEO, Lawrence Shaw, feature heavily in an insightful Forbes article about the new Online Accessibility Act and how this is falling short of its original intentions.
ICRMA insurance pool partners with AAAtraq to protect members and improve ADA compliance.
ADA Compliance Increase Your Compliance Awareness Around ADA Website Laws & Regulations.
Cyber liability cover has developed as the fight against digital crime has evolved. However, Covid-19 has added a further dimension to the online picture. Remote working and the heightened is reliance on the internet has placed additional pressures on organisations to comply with laws governing digital content of all types. These new risks have increased and organisations now need to consider a more holistic form of cyber insurance cover, one that can cover the breath of 'content failure'
COVID-19 Moves ADA Compliance for Websites to the Forefront
Summer 2020 | ATTORNEY ARTICLE
Authors: Adam R. Bialek, Kara Thorvaldsen
With recent reports showing over 90% of websites fail accessibility compliance, online discrimination to a greater or lesser extent is still widespread. Perhaps of even greater concern is 71% of digital teams believing the matter is in hand. This complacency along with an adhoc approach is costing millions of dollars, failing to address the root cause of the issue and leaving far too many exposed to expensive litigation.
Wilson Elser Named First Law Firm on ADA Website Compliance Legal Panel, 30 Years After ADA's Passage Focus is now on Web Barriers for Disabled
An innovative digital accessibility compliance insuretch company, launched in 2019, has become the latest organisation to pledge support for Team BRIT.
Website owners will continue fail to meet the digital accessibility regulations unless there is a change from the present Ad hoc approach to compliance. Online discrimination continues to leave organizations exposed to in a number of cases, repeated litigation risk.
Digital accessibility more important than ever as there we see an significant increase and a reliance on the internet, especially those less able following Covid-19.
Digital accessibility technology company, AAAtraq (www.aaatraq.com), sees the reliance on the internet growing significantly, with recent events putting considerable focus into transacting online, meaning meeting digital accessibility guidelines will be more important than ever for US organisations.
A new InsurTech solution has been launched to help organizations demonstrate reasonable adjustment towards digital accessibility compliance, and ward off the threat of increasingly prevalent legal action in the USA. AAAtraq (www.aaatraq.com) is an automated compliance identification management system that allows organizations to understand their existing level of accessibility non-compliance risk exposure, and then work towards full compliance through a managed process.
The ongoing accessibility case involving Domino’s that has been dragged through the US lawcourts is almost a textbook example of how to damage your reputation and brand. The Domino’s brand is now tainted as a large corporation who doesn’t care about disabilities; we certainly don’t envy the task ahead for the Domino’s PR department.
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