PORTFOLIO 7 ways to keep your website ADA compliant Compliance Is your community bank's website accessible to people with disabilities? Here's how to enhance the online banking experience for all of your customers. By Robert Lerose ore ommunity banks are being sued under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for not having easy-to-use websites for people with disabilities (see sidebar). Lawsuits against banks and other institutions spiked 300% in 2018, according to AuditOne Advisory. Making your website and mobile banking experience ADA compliant can not only reduce the risk of a lawsuit, but it can also assure all cus30 Q ICBA Independent Banker Q August 2019 M Quick stat 300% The increase in ADA-related lawsuits against banks in 2018 Source: AuditOne Advisory Put your content in priority order. Many people with visual impairments use screen readers, which are assistive technology software programs, to help them navigate the web. These screen readers read out content in order of a webpage's HTML hierarchy. That means your webpage's content should follow a logical sequence, with HTML heading tags structured beginning with the title, or H1. " Everything from there on down in the content area should follow a hierarchy of H2 and H3 [heading tags], " says 1 tomers that your bank is sensitive to their needs. Here are things your bank's in-house web team or external web developer should keep in mind.