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You may never have had a website before, but once you own a franchise you (in all likelihood) will. And for franchisees, that means adhering to franchise website guidelines. Some are more strict than others, but there is one thing you cannot overlook: ADA compliance.
The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) is more than just ramps to access sidewalks or public crossing signals with audible warnings. It applies to private businesses too. Any business that provides a service to the public cannot knowingly or not discriminate against people with disabilities—and that applies to website accessibility as well.
As you develop your new franchise, whether it is an actual physical store or a home-based service, ensure compliance with ADA from the start to avoid costly legal bills. Anyone who feels they cannot use your website to obtain your product or service could file a lawsuit against you. Reduce your risk, and open up your market to all prospective customers, by advertising your wares with a ADA compliant website.
What does this mean exactly? Building in multiple features on your site. If you’re not sure how you might be excluding someone based on their disability, consult with your franchisor for support and include a knowledgeable web designer who is qualified to optimize your website for all types of disabilities.
Websites can include designs for those who are visually impaired, have hearing loss, or have other limitations in motor skills. A web designer should audit your site for features like these:
- Navigation options. The site must be responsive to both mouse and keyboard navigation.
- Screen reader software compatibility. This software optimizes your site for visually impaired users. Usually located at the top of the landing page, this option reads your site content aloud to a visually impaired user. The site must interact with all readable font and alt-text images (words that are input underneath of an image by website developers that search engines can use).
- Blinking and flashing pause. The user must be able to stop blinking or flashing features if needed to avoid medical complications.
- Skip navigation. For people who use screen readers, skip navigation lets users go directly to the page content without having to listen to all the tabs and options along the top of the page.
- Notifications. These must be both audible and visual to accommodate vision and hearing-impaired users.
- PDF’s won’t always work, and any forms must include descriptive HTML tags.
- Local regulations. Lawsuits in your area may have amended the ADA to include different thresholds of compliance based on your location.
And when you’re feeling good about your compliance level, then apply all of it to your phone app, too, if you have one. As a franchisee with a known brand, you can be a leader in your own market in many ways. Be sure your website development is A-OK with all your potential customers.
Anne Daniells is a co-owner of Enterprising Solutions, a professional services firm specializing in corporate communication and financial improvement for businesses where she shares decades of corporate and entrepreneurial experience—including franchise ownership—in her writings on business culture. She has authored hundreds of articles for publications including AllBusiness.com, TweakYourBiz.com, and MSN.com. Reach out via her website for more on where corporate culture, communication, and human architecture collide.