FUNDAMENTALS
COMPLIANCE
5 Tips on ADA Compliance for YourWebsite
HOW PROPERTY MANAGERS CAN AVOID COMPLAINTS AND POSSIBLE LAWSUITS
by Lisa G. Noon, CAE RCE
e are hearing more and more from NARPM® (National
W
Association of Residential Property Managers) members about compa- nies being contacted by law firms with complaints about the company’s website and its compliance with ADA Title III rules. These types of what are called “drive by” complaints can be hard to fight and very expen- sive for a property manager, so it’s always a good idea to periodically check your website for compliance. How do you do that? Here are a few tips: • Go to WAVE, a reputable web 1 accessibility evaluation tool that you can access free of charge. All you have to do is type in your website address and in seconds, you’ll have a report that shows exactly where errors and alerts appear. Don’t be surprised if your logo gets flagged for missing alternative text—this is fairly common! The goal is to bring your error count down to as close to zero as possible; if it is really high, you could be in danger of receiving a demand letter from a plaintiff’s attorney. • Add an accessibility policy to your website. In 2020, not having a policy page has been a common source of complaint and lawsuit. The more specific 2
54 | think realty magazine :: august 2020
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