#website accessibility

Last week the Eleventh Circuit issued a decision on an important issue in the area of disability rights: whether a business website is a "place of public accommodation" under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Complexities aside the 11th Circuit basically said "no" in a 2-1 decision, as least not for informational websites. Winn Dixie supermarket was therefore not liable to a plaintiff with vision impairment, for a website lacking design features friendly to those who use screen readers.

While some courts have taken a similar approach, others have concluded otherwise. Those courts say websites can be places of public accommodation within the ADA, especially where there is a sufficient nexus to the physical business location.

A potential customer with low vision uses a screen reader to browse your website. The device can’t read your menu because the images have no text descriptions. Frustrated, they move on to a competitor whose site they can use. You’ve just lost a customer—and alienated a portion of your community—without even knowing it.

Website accessibility means designing your site so everyone, including people with disabilities, can use it. It’s not just a nice thing to do; it’s a smart business practice. Making your site accessible expands your customer base, improves your SEO, and shows your entire community that you value their business.

The Business Case for an Inclusive Website

Ignoring accessibility has real-world consequences for your restaurant.

You’re Excluding Customers: Millions of people live with disabilities that affect how they use the web. An inaccessible site effectively tells them they aren’t welcome.

It Improves SEO: Many accessibility best practices, like adding descriptive text to images (alt text) and having clear site structure, are also SEO best practices. Google rewards well-structured, clear content.

It Builds Positive Brand Reputation: Demonstrating social responsibility and inclusivity is a powerful way to build community goodwill and loyalty.

Simple Steps to Become More Accessible

You don’t need to overhaul your site overnight. Small changes make a big difference.

Add Alt Text to All Images: Describe your photos in the alt text field. Instead of “image123.jpg,” use “Plate of our signature garlic parmesan wings.” This helps screen readers and also helps your images rank in Google search.

Ensure Keyboard Navigation: Some users cannot use a mouse. Make sure every part of your website can be accessed and used with just a keyboard (using the ‘Tab’ key).

Use High Color Contrast: Text color should stand out clearly from the background color. This helps users with low vision or color blindness read your content easily.

Provide Captions for Videos: If you have video content on your site, always provide captions for users who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Accessibility is Good for Everyone

Features like clear navigation and readable text don’t just help users with disabilities—they create a better, less frustrating experience for every single customer who visits your site.

In the digital age, accessibility is not just an option—it’s a necessity. At Lapiz Digital Services, our professional PDF Accessibility Services ensure your documents are readable, navigable, and compliant with global accessibility standards. We specialize in transforming inaccessible PDFs into formats that work seamlessly with assistive technologies such as screen readers and text-to-speech tools.

Whether you’re a government agency, educational institution, corporate organization, or publisher, we provide reliable and affordable PDF Remediation Services designed to meet your compliance needs and support a diverse audience.

PDF accessibility involves converting static, untagged PDFs into structured, readable documents that individuals with visual or cognitive impairments can access.