What every leader must know about 2023’s accessibility lawsuits

Denis Boudreau
11 min readJan 12, 2024
Close up of a wooden gavel on a desk lying in front of an open book.
Photo credit — Canva

UsableNet’s “2023 Year-End Web and App Lawsuit Report,” released a few days ago, monitors and documents all digital accessibility-related lawsuits where a website, mobile application, or video content is the subject of a claim in federal or state courts. If you’ve been paying attention, you already know that with each passing year, staying ahead of digital accessibility requires more than just compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). What WCAG demands is a real commitment to people with disabilities and genuine inclusion!

This report sends a critical message to decision-makers. Shifting towards digital inclusion must become an integral part of their company culture and self-defence mechanisms, as failing to do so could very well result in their brand being exposed to legal and reputational risks. The truth is, the surge in lawsuits under the ADA is more than a legal headache or a threat to reputations. It’s social proof that the public now expects digital spaces to be welcoming and accessible to all.

The wave of making spaces accessible to everyone isn’t losing steam, underscoring a stark reality — including people with disabilities is no longer something businesses can choose to ignore. Embracing those with disabilities is now an essential part of conducting business ethically and…

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Denis Boudreau

Helping leaders connect with the missing piece in their DEI efforts. Amazon BestSelling Author “The Inclusive Speaker". Speaker/Trainer/Coach. #neurodivergent