FAQ: Website Accessibility
As of July 26, 2019, WineDirect has completed a comprehensive third-party accessibility audit certifying that our ecommerce tools meet the accessibility standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Click here for full details.
- What is website accessibility and how does it impact my winery?
- What does the law require of me?
- Do ADA requirements apply to wineries outside the US?
- Whose responsibility is it to ensure my website is fully accessible in accordance with the ADA?
- Which parts of my website need to be compliant?
- How do I know if my website meets compliance standards and who can I contact to make any updates needed?
1. What is website accessibility and how does it impact my winery?
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), your winery must meet federal standards to ensure that all individuals, including those of diverse ability levels, can access your website.
2. What does the law require of me?
While the ADA itself does not specify requirements you must follow, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide a single shared standard for website accessibility that meets the needs of individuals, organizations, and governments internationally.
3. Do ADA requirements apply to wineries outside the US?
The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) applies only to businesses operating in the United States. However, most countries have similar accessibility legislation in place and reference the same Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.0.
4. Whose responsibility is it to ensure my website is fully accessible in accordance with the ADA?
As a business owner, you are ultimately responsible for ensuring your website meets ADA standards, but our partner, Accessible 360 is available to assist and help guide you.
5. Which parts of my website need to be compliant?
All the pages of your website must adhere to the guidelines. Your website as a whole is made up of two parts: customized web content pages, and transactional pages.
Examples of customized web content include:
- Your About page
- Your Visit Us page
- Your Vineyard pages
- All other general information pages
Examples of transactional pages include:
- Your shopping cart
- Wine club pages
- User account pages
6. How do I know if my website meets compliance standards and who can I contact to make any updates needed?
If your winery has concerns about your ADA compliance (or are facing legal action), please follow these steps:
- Contact our partner Mary Brockman at Accessible 360 (A360).
- Accessible 360 is an ADA compliance specialist agency that is familiar with the WineDirect platform and are experts in helping wineries reach and maintain ADA website compliance.
- A360 will put a plan in place to help your winery respond to any legal threats, and fix website issues at the same time. They also continually monitor your website to ensure you remain in compliance. You have access to preferential pricing as a WineDirect client.