Chiropractic ADA Compliance: Make Your Website Accessible
by Gerek Allen ~ Last Updated: November 14th, 2025 ~ 8 Min Read
by Gerek Allen
~Â Last Updated: November 11th, 2025Â ~
~ 8 Min Read ~
Your website might be driving away potential patients with disabilities — and exposing your practice to legal action — simply because it's not accessible to everyone.
Website accessibility isn't just about doing the right thing (though it absolutely is). The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) increasingly applies to websites, and healthcare providers are particularly vulnerable to accessibility lawsuits.
Law firms are actively targeting medical practices with inaccessible websites, resulting in costly settlements and legal fees that can reach $20,000-$50,000 or more.
Beyond legal risks, inaccessible websites exclude millions of potential patients. People with visual impairments, hearing loss, motor disabilities, or cognitive challenges deserve equal access to healthcare information and booking capabilities.
When your website works for everyone, you expand your patient base while demonstrating the inclusive, caring values that define quality healthcare.
In this guide, we'll explain chiropractic ADA compliance requirements for websites, show you how to identify and fix common accessibility issues, and help you create an inclusive online presence that serves all patients while protecting your practice from legal liability.
What is the ADA and Why Does it Matter for Your Website?
The Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, is a civil rights law passed in 1990. The law prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of public life.
You might think of the ADA in terms of physical spaces like wheelchair ramps, accessible parking spaces, and restrooms with grab bars. But courts have repeatedly ruled that websites count as "places of public accommodation."
This means your website must also be accessible. Title III of the ADA applies most directly to private businesses, including health care facilities. It sets requirements for businesses open to the public to give equal access to people with disabilities. Since your website is a primary entry point to your practice, it falls under these ADA regulations.
The law was written to address architectural barriers in physical locations, but the same principles now apply online. Just as a patient must be able to navigate the path to your entry door, they must also be able to navigate your website. A digital barrier can be just as prohibitive as a flight of stairs for someone seeking your medical care.
The Alarming Rise of Website Accessibility Lawsuits
Legal claims related to website accessibility are no longer an exclusive problem for large corporations. They happen to small businesses every day, including many chiropractic offices. The number of lawsuits filed in federal court has been climbing for years, reaching an all-time high in 2021 and showing no signs of slowing down.
Many of these legal actions start with a simple demand letter. The letter states your site is not accessible and demands a settlement to avoid a lawsuit. These letters often come as a shock and can feel like an unfair shakedown. But the legal threat is real, and ignoring it can drain your financial resources with high legal fees and a forced website redesign, which can disrupt your practice.
The costs can be significant, and this is a risk that malpractice insurance typically does not cover. It is a separate business liability that all care providers must address. Proper planning for accessibility is a much better use of funds than paying legal settlements.
NEED MORE CLIENTS?
Free conversion-focused analysis uncovers the 3 biggest problems killing your bookings — we'll walk you through your results personally
Beyond the Law: The Real Reasons for Chiropractic ADA Compliance
Thinking about legal risks can be stressful. But let's put that aside for a moment. There are some very positive reasons to make your website accessible that have nothing to do with lawyers. These reasons line up with the core mission of your practice as a healthcare provider.
Reaching More Patients Who Need Your Care
Did you know that about 61 million adults in the United States live with a disability?
That's one in every four adults.
Many of these individuals experience conditions that affect their major life activities, and they could be your next patients.
Think about someone with low vision who uses a screen reader to browse the web. If your site isn't built correctly, their screen reader can't make sense of it, preventing them from finding your phone number or using your contact form.
By making your site accessible, you are reaching a huge group of potential patients and making it possible for them to find your chiropractic services.
An inaccessible website is a closed door to a large segment of the population. Opening that door is good for the community and good for your business.
Building Unbreakable Trust with Your Community
Trust is the foundation of any healthcare practice. Patients come to you because they trust you with their well-being.
An accessible website sends a clear message that you care about everyone in your community. It shows that your practice is inclusive and thoughtful by demonstrating a commitment to equal access for all.
It tells people that you see them as individuals with specific needs. That kind of trust is something marketing dollars can't buy.
Getting a Boost from Google
Here's a benefit that might surprise you. Making your website accessible is actually good for your SEO. The things you do for accessibility often align with what Google wants to see.
For example, adding descriptive alt text to images helps visually impaired users understand the content. It also helps Google's crawlers understand what your images are about, which can help your site rank in image searches.
Clean code, logical heading structures, and video transcripts are other examples.
These features help both users with disabilities and search engines. A more accessible site is often a site that ranks better. It improves the user experience for everyone, which is a significant factor in search rankings.
Understanding WCAG: Your Guide to Accessibility
So, how do you actually make a website accessible?
There isn't a government checklist specifically for websites. Instead, the legal system and web developers look to a set of guidelines called the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or WCAG.
These accessibility requirements are the gold standard for web accessibility. When a court looks at a website, it compares it to WCAG.
The current standard is WCAG 2.2, which is the level of compliance most businesses are expected to meet.
WCAG is built on four main principles, which you can remember with the acronym POUR.
- Perceivable: Can people see and hear the content? This means providing text alternatives for images and captions for videos. It also covers things like color contrast so text is easy to read.
- Operable: Can people use the website? This means making sure the site can be fully used with just a keyboard. It also means avoiding things that can cause seizures, like flashing lights.
- Understandable: Is the content and navigation clear? The language should be simple and the website should work in predictable ways. Error messages on forms should be easy to understand.
- Robust: Can the site be used by different technologies? Your website needs to work well with screen readers and other assistive devices people use to browse the web. This mostly comes down to clean, standard code.
These principles might sound too technical for you. But the main takeaway is that your website must be designed so people with different abilities can use it successfully. These are the general requirements that form the foundation of digital accessibility.
Common Website Barriers for People with Disabilities
It can be hard to spot accessibility problems on your own website. You are used to seeing and using it in a certain way. To help you understand what a person with a disability might face, consider the parallels to your physical doctor's office.
You know your practice needs accessible examination rooms with adequate, clear floor space for a wheelchair to maneuver. You might have height-adjustable examination tables or lift medical equipment to help patients. An accessible entry door needs adequate clear width and accessible hardware.
Just as these physical accommodations are necessary, digital ones are too. The table below outlines some common website issues. Thinking about how these digital barriers impact access to your care services can be very illuminating.
| Images without alt text | People who are blind | Add a short, descriptive sentence to the image code. |
| Videos without captions | People who are deaf or hard of hearing | Include accurate, synchronized captions. |
| Low contrast text | People with low vision | Use a color palette with strong contrast between text and background. |
| Navigation that requires a mouse | People with motor disabilities | Make sure every link and button can be reached using the Tab key. |
| Confusing or missing headings | Screen reader users | Use proper H1, H2, and H3 tags to structure content logically. |
| Time-outs that can't be extended | People with cognitive or learning disabilities | Allow users to request more time before a session expires on a form. |
| Forms that are hard to submit | Everyone, but especially users with cognitive disabilities | Clearly label all fields and give clear instructions. |
This list just scratches the surface. It shows how seemingly small design choices can create huge barriers. An accessible examination room is pointless if a patient can't book an appointment online to get into your care facilities in the first place.
A Simple Checklist for Your Chiropractic Website
Are you wondering where your own website stands? You don't need to be a technical expert to do a quick check. Here are a few simple tests you can run on your site right now.
- Try the Keyboard Test. Put your mouse aside. Can you get to every part of your website using only the Tab key on your keyboard? You should be able to see where you are at all times and be able to select every link and fill out every form field.
- Check Your Images. Right-click on an important image on your site and select "Inspect." Look at the code for an alt attribute. Does it have a good description, or is it empty or filled with keywords?
- Watch Your Videos. Play the videos on your site. Do they have a "CC" button that turns on accurate captions? Auto-generated captions are often full of errors, so they don't count.
- Run a Contrast Check. Use a free online tool to check the color contrast between your text and background colors. It will tell you if you pass the WCAG AA standard.
- Test Your Forms. Go to your contact or appointment request form. Is it obvious what information goes in each box? If you make a mistake, does it clearly tell you what went wrong and how to fix it?
This simple check won't catch everything. But it will give you a good idea if your site has major accessibility issues. If you find problems here, it's likely there are more hidden beneath the surface.
How to Get Your Website ADA Compliant
If your quick check reveals some problems, don't panic. Fixing them is completely possible. But it's not a good idea to just rely on an automated plugin or overlay widget to solve the problem. Many of these automated "solutions" don't actually fix the underlying code issues and some have even been cited in lawsuits themselves.
The right way to approach compliance takes a bit more effort, but it gives you lasting results and true peace of mind. This process often involves both automated and manual testing to meet requirements.
Running an Automated Audit
A good first step is to run a scan with an automated accessibility testing tool. There are free browser extensions like WAVE and Axe that can scan any page on your site. These tools are great for catching some common problems, like missing alt text or low color contrast.
But remember, these scans are just a starting point. Automated tools can only detect about 30% of all potential accessibility issues. They can't tell you if the alt text makes sense or if your keyboard navigation is logical.
Manual Testing is a Must
The next and most important step is manual testing. This is where a human expert goes through your website, page by page. They will use the same tools and techniques that people with disabilities use.
They will use a screen reader, navigate with only a keyboard, and zoom in on text. This hands-on process finds the issues that automated tools always miss.
The best audits also involve testing by people who actually have disabilities, because their real-world experience is invaluable.
Finding the Right Help and Managing Costs
Unless you're a web developer who specializes in accessibility, this is not a DIY project. Getting true chiropractic ADA compliance requires specialized knowledge. You need a partner who understands the WCAG guidelines and knows how to fix the code on your website.
Look for a web development team or consultant with proven experience in accessibility remediation. They can perform a thorough audit of your site. Then, they can give you a clear plan to fix the problems and make your website accessible to everyone.
Fortunately, you can offset expenses incurred for this type of work. The Internal Revenue Code provides tax credits and deductions to help small businesses with barrier removal and accessibility upgrades. These financial incentives can help you meet ADA requirements without a significant strain on your budget.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chiropractic ADA Compliance
What does ADA compliance mean for a chiropractic website?
ADA compliance refers to meeting the accessibility standards outlined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. In the context of your chiropractic website, it means ensuring that all visitors—including those with visual, auditory, or mobility impairments—can easily navigate and interact with your online content. This may involve using readable text, descriptive image tags, keyboard navigation, and accessible forms so that every patient, regardless of ability, can schedule appointments or learn about your services without barriers.
Why is ADA compliance important for chiropractors?
For chiropractors, ADA compliance is not only a legal requirement but also a reflection of patient care and inclusivity. A compliant website demonstrates that your practice is committed to serving all patients equally, both in-office and online. It also helps reduce the risk of costly lawsuits and improves your search engine performance, as accessible sites are often better structured for SEO. Most importantly, accessibility builds trust and expands your reach to patients who might otherwise feel excluded from digital interactions.
What are the most common accessibility issues found on chiropractic websites?
Many chiropractic websites fall short due to missing alt text on images, poor color contrast, small or non-scalable fonts, and videos without captions. Other common issues include navigation menus that can’t be used with a keyboard, inaccessible contact forms, and lack of ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) labels for assistive technologies. These oversights can make it difficult or impossible for people with disabilities to use your site effectively—and can expose your practice to compliance risks.
How can chiropractors ensure their websites meet ADA accessibility standards?
The best approach is to conduct a professional website accessibility audit to identify gaps and prioritize fixes. Once issues are found, updates may include adjusting design elements, adding descriptive alt tags, improving form labels, and testing site functionality with screen readers and keyboard navigation. Chiropractors should also maintain ongoing monitoring since accessibility standards evolve over time. Partnering with a web development team familiar with healthcare and ADA guidelines — like iTechValet — ensures your site remains compliant, user-friendly, and welcoming to every patient.
Conclusion
Thinking about the legal side of chiropractic ADA compliance can be intimidating. But it's much more than just a box to check or a law to follow. It's a fundamental part of providing health care and serving your community effectively in the modern world.
An accessible website makes your practice stronger, more trusted, and more successful. It expands your reach to patients you may have been unknowingly turning away. This aligns with your mission as a care provider committed to helping people live better lives.
When your digital door is open to everyone, you make sure that anyone who needs care can find their way to your practice. It is a critical step in building a modern, inclusive, and thriving chiropractic office.
Free website audit — manual audit with a Loom video (up to ~10 minutes) delivered within 24 hours of opt-in; includes an immediate case study after opting in.
Gerek Allen
Co-Owner iTech Valet
Entrepreneur, patriot, CrossFit junkie, IPA enthusiast, loves to travel to tropical destinations, and knows way too many movie quotes.
About iTech Valet
iTech Valet specializes in web design and content marketing for online entrepreneurs who want to share their expertise.
Services Include:
- Web Design
- Graphic Design
- Sales Copy
- Funnel Building
- Authority Sites
- Membership Sites
- Course Creation
- Email Systems
- Content Marketing
- Competitive Analysis
- Tech Integrations
- Strategic Planning
NEED MORE CLIENTS?
Free conversion-focused analysis uncovers the 3 biggest problems killing your bookings — we'll walk you through your results personally
621 Enterprises, Inc. | Copyright 2022 | All rights reserved