Website Accessibility: What NYSDA Members Should Know
Is Your Website ADA Compliant?
NYSDA has received reports of dental practices receiving communications threatening litigation over alleged website accessibility violations. These reports include practices using ProSites, an NYSDA-endorsed website provider. An allegation alone does not establish a violation, but members should take these communications seriously. ProSites has advised us that it has released an updated accessibility solution and improved website forms as part of ongoing platform maintenance and development.
ProSites accessibility updates and member support
NYSDA met directly with ProSites leadership to discuss website accessibility and support for affected members. ProSites outlined its recent accessibility updates and procedures for promptly escalating reported litigation threats to its technology leadership. The company provided the following statement:
“Website accessibility is an ongoing priority for ProSites, alongside security and the continued improvement of our website platform. Our latest enhancements include an updated accessibility solution and adding additional labels for contact forms, designed to help visitors with disabilities access practice information and services. Automated testing of the updated solution has shown improved results, and we are continuing follow-up testing and monitoring. We are working directly with practices that have raised accessibility concerns and coordinating with NYSDA to support its members. Practices with specific questions or correspondence concerning their website should contact ProSites Support so our team can review the reported issues and coordinate technical assistance.” - ProSites
Members using ProSites should contact ProSites Support at 888-932-3644 or service@prosites.com to report accessibility concerns or share correspondence they have received. Include your website address, the reported issues and any stated deadlines. If you experience difficulty obtaining support, please notify NYSDA so we can help coordinate follow-up.
How to review your website
Website accessibility helps ensure that people with disabilities can access your practice’s information and services. These resources can help you or your website provider begin reviewing your website:
- WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool: Enter a webpage address to identify potential accessibility issues. Review several key pages, including your homepage, contact page and appointment request forms.
- U.S. Department of Justice Website Accessibility Guidance: Learn about accessibility obligations and common website barriers.
- Checklist from W3C: A step-by-step guide to basic accessibility checks you or your website provider can perform, such as making sure text can be enlarged and menus work without a mouse.
Disclaimer: An automated scan is a starting point, not a certification of ADA compliance. A complete evaluation requires knowledgeable human review. Share findings with your website provider and request a written assessment describing the scope of testing and a plan to address identified barriers.
If you receive a litigation threat
Preserve the original correspondence and attachments, note any deadlines, and consult your attorney promptly before responding or agreeing to payment. Notify your website provider and request preservation of relevant website records, along with information about available technical support. Do not wait for a vendor response before seeking legal guidance. Website updates and technical reviews do not extend deadlines stated in legal correspondence.