What Does Being ADA Compliant ACTUALLY Mean?

May 13, 2022

What Does Being ADA Compliant ACTUALLY Mean?

Picture how you arrived at this blog; you may have opened an email or were scrolling through social media, then clicked on a link which took you here. Quick and easy right?

Now imagine doing the same navigation but without the ability to see or use a mouse. Would you be able to get to this blog the same way? Probably not. But millions of people with visual and motor impairments need to navigate websites each day. This is one of the reasons the ADA was developed.

The Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, was created to protect people with disabilities from discrimination and offer them reasonable accessibility. Many countries outside the US, including Canada, have similar laws. The ADA guarantees people with disabilities the same freedoms and opportunities as everyone else. These guarantees include the ability to access services, protection against discrimination in seeking employment, and much more.

What does this mean for websites?

Although websites did not exist in 1990 when the ADA was created, they are interpreted to fall under ADA Title 3. This section states that any place of business that serves the public must be accessible to those with disabilities. This used to mean brick-and-mortar locations like hotels, restaurants, and retail stores, but websites have also been placed under this umbrella as they are places that accommodate the public for goods and services.

[WEBINAR]

Everything You Need to Know About ADA Compliance Online.

Is Your Firm at Risk?

FREE WEBINAR RECORDING!

Watch Webinar

How does ADA affect funeral home websites?

As mentioned above, websites fall under ADA, meaning your funeral home’s website must comply with these standards. The easiest way to make sure your website is more compliant with ADA is to follow Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (or WCAG), specifically level AA. This means your website must be accessible to at least most users.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

Level A

Your website is accessible to some users.

Level AA

Your website is accessible to almost all users.

The 4 Core Accessibility Principles

To meet level AA, WCAG offers 4 principles to help you determine whether your website is accessible to almost all users. Your website must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. Following these 4 Principles will set your website up to be more ADA compliant.

Be Perceivable

Imagine reading a page and random parts of it are missing, it would be like reading Swiss cheese - holes everywhere. This principle is about making sure that all the information presented is accessible to everyone. For example, if a person with a visual impairment tries to watch a video on your page, are there subtitles or a transcript?
Be Operable

All users should be able to navigate your website with ease. Some people with motor impairments can’t use a mouse and won’t be able to use your menus and links in the typical way of clicking on it, so they rely on features such as keyboard navigation. This also applies to any other tools or features you have on your website, such as a pricing calculator or video content.
Be Understandable

Content and controls must be understandable to the user. Accessibility is nothing if those accessing your website cannot understand what they’re using, reading or hearing. Providing instructions for features, like a contact form, helps users form a clear idea of how to use that feature.
Be Robust

Treat all your users the same by providing them with the complete user experience, even if they’re using assistive technologies such as voice readers. Even though the delivery may be different, the information should be the same. Your content should stand the test of time and be compatible with both current and future assistive technologies.

What happens if you don’t comply?

There are 3 ways your business can be affected if you do not comply with the ADA.

Fines: Government fines can be up to $75,000 for the first violation and increase to a maximum of $150,000 for each additional violation.
Lawsuits: Whether from people with disabilities or from law firms, you can get sued for not providing adequate accommodations to disabled users.
Reputation: Serious ADA violations become public record, and will damage the image and reputation of your funeral home

For example, retail giant Amazon was hit with a website ADA lawsuit in 2018. The eCommerce platform was sued over the inability to use screen readers on their website, which caused accessibility barriers to users who are visually impaired. The lawsuit resulted in Amazon paying out a settlement.

Tribute Accessibility: Robust ADA compliance

We at Tribute are pleased to now offer ADA compliance tools through Tribute Accessibility, powered by UserWay. Tribute Technology delivers this innovative product through its network of Premier Partners including leading providers such as FrontRunner Professional, MKJ Marketing, SRS Computing, Funeral Tech, CFS, and others. Tribute Accessibility ADA compliance solutions include ADA website audits, accessibility widgets, and more. Contact us to learn how we can help your funeral home’s website become more ADA compliant.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

What’s Next in Support: Faster, Smarter, More Connected Than Ever

July 30, 2025

If you’ve noticed our support experience improving, just wait — there’s more on the way!

Tribute Technology Announces Obit360: A Reimagined Obituary Experience for the Digital Age

July 24, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 24, 2025 Contact For Further Information: Tribute Technology 315 Raemisch Rd., Ste G Waunakee, WI, 53597 press@tributetech.com Tribute Technology Announces Obit360: A Reimagined Obituary Experience for the Digital Age WAUNAKEE, WI – Tribute Technology has announced the upcoming launch of Obit360 , a next-generation obituary platform that transforms how families and communities engage with online memorials. Obit360 is the most significant evolution of Tribute Technology’s obituary experience to date, delivering a faster, more intuitive, and emotionally resonant design built for today’s digital expectations. Optimized for mobile, powered by improved SEO, and designed to increase engagement and revenue, Obit360 helps funeral homes better serve families while elevating their online presence. “Obit360 is the result of listening closely to our clients and the families they serve,” said Craig Greenseid, CEO of Tribute Technology. “We knew the obituary experience needed to evolve — so we built something faster, smarter, and more personal. Obit360 helps funeral homes create deeper connections and greater value from their websites.” Matt Powell, Tribute Technology’s Chief Technology Officer, added, “We’re seeing a fundamental shift in how families connect and grieve, and it’s happening online. In the first 48 hours after a death, more than 25% of all obituary traffic occurs, and that traffic is not passive. It drives condolence messages, flower orders, donations, even attendance. Obit360 was built to meet this moment: to turn every obituary into an engine of connection, compassion, and community, and to help funeral homes turn visibility into real-world impact.” Built for the Way People Engage Today Obit360 was designed using real user behavior, family feedback, and industry best practices. It introduces a clean, scrollable layout that places details all in one continuous view — no tabs or extra clicks required. With 70–80% of visitors arriving on mobile, the platform delivers a smooth, intuitive experience on any device while keeping the focus on the loved one being honored. Pages load 30% faster, rank higher in search results, and display sympathy gift options directly within the tribute — leading to a 60% increase in purchases. The straightforward design helps reduce confusion, minimizing support calls from families and guests. Real Results for Funeral Homes Firms using Obit360 report major improvements: obituary page visits have increased by 97%, condolence messages by 86%, and sympathy gift purchases by 60%. With fewer support requests, stronger engagement, and a more modern online presence, funeral homes are deepening their connection with families while elevating their digital brand. Available Soon Obit360 will be available first to funeral homes on Tribute Technology’s Premier Partner Network, with expanded availability to follow. Members of the media with questions about Tribute Technology or any of the company’s products and services are asked to contact press@tributetech.com . About Tribute Technology: Tribute Technology’s mission is to bring the best technology to all funeral homes, to help communities around the world celebrate life, and to pay tribute to loved ones. Over 9,000 end-of-life providers already use Tribute Technology’s software and product offerings, including websites, marketing services, management software, online planning, personalized memorial keepsakes, payment processing, and other solutions. Tribute Technology is focused on innovating to help funeral directors save time on tasks, so they can focus more on connecting with the families who have lost a loved one. The company’s goal is to give funeral directors everything they need to run their business in one place, making their lives easier.

Funeral Expense Reimbursement for Texas Flood Victims’ Families

July 18, 2025

Up to $10,000 in assistance from Samaritan’s Purse

Building on Excellence: Elevating Support to Serve You Better

July 18, 2025

At Tribute Technology, support isn’t just a department — it’s part of how we serve you. And now, that experience is more streamlined, responsive, and personalized than ever before. These updates aren’t just about change. They’re about setting a higher standard for the kind of support you deserve. You’ve always delivered for the families who count on you. Our goal is to keep delivering for you — with tools and service that evolve to meet your needs. We’ve made behind-the-scenes improvements to bring you faster answers, more familiar voices, and a support team that understands your world. Dedicated Support for Your Firm You deserve support that feels personal — and now, clients have a go-to account manager who knows their funeral home and how they work. Having someone who already understands your needs means fewer steps and quicker solutions — every time.

What Does Being ADA Compliant ACTUALLY Mean?