EdTech companies need to be serious about ADA compliance, and fast. Over the last few years there has been exponential growth in the number of lawsuits filed against organizations. COVID-19 has added a new dimension as users are challenged with adapting to remote conditions. After a brief lull in 2020 cases that coincided with the onset of pandemic shutdowns, the pace has returned to 2018 and 2019 levels.
This summer, UsableNet released their 2020 Midyear ADA Website and App Accessibility Lawsuit Report. Their data shows a lull in federal claims occurred in the early months of the pandemic, but by May, the pace was back up to 2018-2019 levels. EdTech product leaders need to be alert to accessibility issues as attention on the role of educational software and apps is at an all time high among teachers, students, parents and administrators who have been forced to react quickly to new realities in learning environments that seem to be shifting weekly.
As if 2020-ing wasn’t hard enough, it’s now more important than ever to ensure your product won’t put you in the crosshairs in an era of heightened scrutiny. Simply put, making products accessible for ALL users is more than a requirement, it’s the right thing to do. On the business side, the consequences of not doing so include ADA lawsuits, declining sales, and negative brand perception.
How This White Paper is Organized:
- Why so many products fail to meet compliance standards. A quick look at some of the common reasons why product teams don’t address compliance issues.
- Understanding ADA compliance. An overview of the organizations, rules, and affected populations.
- What’s at stake for EdTech. An alarming trend threatening EdTech and why buyers of your product might turn away.
- How to become and remain compliant. A simple plan that EdTech product leaders can take to get on the path to ADA compliance.
- The upsides of compliance. The benefits include reducing the risk of declining sales and lawsuits and gaining a new competitive edge.
