Creating an accessible website isn’t just a legal requirement - it’s a commitment to inclusivity, usability, and better experiences for every visitor.

ADA Website Compliance

At Minnesota Design Studio, we believe that accessibility is a cornerstone of good design. As more of our world moves online, your website must serve everyone—including users with disabilities. That’s why we offer full-service ADA website compliance solutions for businesses across Minnesota and beyond. From local shops to statewide organizations, we help make your website inclusive, legally compliant, and built to perform.

Accessibility is no longer an optional add-on—it’s an expectation. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it’s also becoming a legal necessity. ADA lawsuits are on the rise, and your business could be at risk if your website doesn’t meet accessibility standards. Fortunately, achieving compliance isn’t as complicated as it seems—especially when you partner with a team that knows the process inside and out. We’re here to break it down, explain what matters, and guide you through every step.

What is ADA Website Compliance?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal law designed to prevent discrimination against people with disabilities. While originally focused on physical spaces, the law has since expanded to include digital environments—including websites. In recent years, courts and government agencies have affirmed that websites must be accessible to users with visual, auditory, cognitive, and physical impairments.

To meet ADA requirements, most websites follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), a set of standards developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). These guidelines are currently in version 2.1 and are broken down into four key principles: websites must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. What that means in practice is your site should be usable with screen readers, navigable by keyboard, clear in layout and language, and compatible with current and future assistive technologies.

ADA compliance requires attention to dozens of specific details, including alt text for images, logical heading structures, proper use of labels in forms, readable contrast between foreground and background colors, accessible media content, and keyboard-only navigation support. At Minnesota Design Studio, we help you check all the boxes—without losing sight of your site’s design integrity or functionality.

Why ADA Compliance is a Business Imperative

There are several reasons to prioritize website accessibility, starting with legal protection. Each year, thousands of lawsuits are filed against businesses with websites that fail to meet ADA standards. These suits can be costly, time-consuming, and damaging to your reputation. Even well-meaning businesses can face penalties if their sites don’t meet accessibility benchmarks.

But beyond legal risk, ADA compliance is also a competitive advantage. There are over 61 million adults in the U.S. living with a disability. If your website isn’t accessible, you’re potentially excluding a quarter of the population. That’s a significant audience you could be missing—people who are ready to become customers but can’t use your site due to poor accessibility.

When you make your website accessible, you’re not only doing what’s right—you’re growing your reach, increasing user satisfaction, and improving your SEO. That’s because many of the same features that support accessibility—clean code, clear navigation, proper tagging, and responsive design—also align with best practices for search engine optimization. It’s a win-win for your business and your audience.

Common Accessibility Issues on Business Websites

Even well-designed websites often fall short of ADA compliance. Some of the most common issues we see include:

– Missing alt text on images, leaving screen reader users in the dark
– Videos that don’t include captions or transcripts
– Color combinations that make text difficult to read for users with visual impairments
– Navigation menus that don’t work with keyboard-only inputs
– Forms that lack labels or provide no guidance for errors
– Sliders and pop-ups that interfere with screen reader functionality
– No option to skip repetitive content or jump directly to the main content area

These issues aren’t always obvious to site owners or developers, but they create real barriers for users. That’s why we recommend a professional audit—even for websites that seem modern and functional on the surface. Chances are, if your site hasn’t been intentionally built with accessibility in mind, it’s missing key elements that users with disabilities rely on.

Our Comprehensive ADA Compliance Services

At Minnesota Design Studio, our approach to ADA compliance is holistic. We begin with a detailed accessibility audit, manually reviewing every page of your site to identify issues and evaluate conformance with WCAG 2.1 AA standards. Our audits go beyond automated scans—we test with assistive technology, assess real-world usability, and provide actionable recommendations that align with your brand and business goals.

Once we’ve completed the audit, we guide you through the remediation process. That may include adjusting color palettes, updating code to support screen readers, restructuring headings, adding alternative text to images, improving keyboard navigation, or rebuilding forms with clearer labels and error messaging. If needed, we’ll also advise you on content rewrites or media enhancements to support a more inclusive user experience.

For clients starting from scratch, we offer ADA-compliant design and development from day one. These projects are built with accessibility baked into every layer—from UX wireframes to front-end coding—ensuring compliance without compromise.

We also provide ongoing support through scheduled audits, monitoring, and accessibility statements that you can display on your site. This helps you stay compliant as your site evolves, content is added, and accessibility standards continue to shift.

Compliance Without Compromise

One of the biggest misconceptions about accessibility is that it limits design creativity. That couldn’t be further from the truth. At Minnesota Design Studio, we build beautiful, modern websites that meet accessibility standards without sacrificing your brand aesthetic. In fact, designing with accessibility in mind often leads to cleaner layouts, more intuitive navigation, and better performance across all devices.

We believe accessible design is better design—for everyone. Your visitors benefit from smoother experiences. Your brand benefits from broader reach. And your business benefits from legal protection and enhanced search visibility. That’s why we don’t treat ADA compliance as a burden. We treat it as an opportunity.

Why Minnesota Businesses Choose Us

We’ve helped hundreds of businesses throughout Minnesota navigate the world of website accessibility. From retail stores in Rochester to nonprofits in Saint Paul, we bring local understanding and digital expertise to every project. Our clients choose us because we offer practical solutions, real results, and a collaborative approach. We speak your language, explain the process clearly, and tailor every recommendation to your specific business model.

As a Minnesota-based team, we understand your audience, your industry, and your challenges. We also understand how overwhelming accessibility can feel when you’re not sure where to start. That’s where we come in. We’re here to make it simple, streamlined, and stress-free.

What Makes Our Process Different

Unlike one-size-fits-all plugins or automated overlays, our accessibility work is hands-on and personalized. We don’t believe in patching problems with bandaids—we believe in real solutions that last. Automated tools can miss critical issues and sometimes even create new ones. Our process combines technology with human expertise to ensure accuracy, functionality, and long-term success.

We also prioritize education. Throughout the process, we’ll teach you and your team what we’re doing and why it matters. Our goal isn’t just to fix your website—it’s to empower you with the knowledge to maintain accessibility as your business grows.

Make a Statement with Inclusive Design

ADA compliance is more than a legal requirement—it’s a reflection of your values. By making your website accessible, you show your customers, employees, and community that you care about equity, inclusion, and responsible digital practices. That message resonates in a world where people increasingly support brands that stand for something.

An accessible website is a statement. It says you believe in doing the right thing. It shows your commitment to all users, not just the majority. It gives every visitor a chance to fully experience what your business has to offer.

Get Started with Minnesota Design Studio

Ready to bring your website up to ADA standards? Whether you’re looking to upgrade an existing site or build something new, we’re here to help. Our team will work with you to create a solution that fits your goals, budget, and timeline—and we’ll make sure you feel supported every step of the way.

ADA compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. Let Minnesota Design Studio simplify the process, elevate your site, and help you build a more inclusive future online.

Get a Free Quote Today

Let’s create a website that welcomes everyone—and keeps your business protected, respected, and growing.