ADA Compliance in Mississippi
Complying with the ADA in Mississippi means creating spaces where everyone feels welcome. It is how you build trust and demonstrate commitment to inclusivity. Make digital accessibility part of your strategy, not just because it is required, but because it reflects the kind of business you have.
Mississippi ADA Requirements
Though the state has not enacted its own digital accessibility law, it is taking meaningful steps for people with disabilities.
Americans with Disabilities Act
In July 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted, altering standards for physical access and inclusion. It mainly gave power to people with disabilities, but its impact was much broader. It helped build stronger and more inclusive communities while guiding businesses on how to serve everyone better.
Under Title III, there is a straightforward expectation: businesses must provide what is needed for people to access services without extra burden. That used to mean physical tools, lowering phones, ramping steps, and installing grab bars.
Today, those same expectations apply online. A website is not really open for business if someone using a screen reader can not browse it. Apps and digital content need alt text, captions, and intuitive navigation.
In Mississippi, when someone encounters accessibility barriers, they have the right to speak up. They can file complaints with the business, contact the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), or take legal steps to enforce their rights.
State of Mississippi Digital Skills and Accessibility Plan: Objective 4
Mississippi’s Digital Skills and Accessibility (DSA) Plan, led by the Office of Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi (BEAM), tackles digital gaps head-on.
The plan leans on four core areas: teaching digital skills that are effective and enduring, bringing broadband to places still waiting, putting more connected devices into people’s hands, and making public digital services easier for everyone to use.
A primary focus, Objective 4, concentrates on the accessibility of state and local government websites and online services. and local government websites and online services. BEAM plans to roll out a no-nonsense guide and checklist grounded in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 to help agencies comply with the ADA.
And it does not end there. Through partnerships with groups like the Mississippi Municipal League (MML), BEAM helps communities without online services build from scratch so that no one is left out.
Such a plan encourages businesses to rethink access as a growth strategy rooted in community and connection. This proves that digital inclusion can be both achievable and impactful.
Consequences of Noncompliance
In Mississippi, overlooking digital or physical accessibility can lead to substantial costs. A first offense could hit a business with fines reaching $75,000, while repeated violations might soar past $150,000.
Regulatory enforcement is not always necessary for organizations to experience pressure to improve accessibility. Sometimes, private lawsuits can pile on the legal costs and fines, all while pushing for those much-needed accessibility improvements.
How To Make Sure Your Website Complies With Accessibility Laws
As a business owner, consider these practical steps to create a more inclusive experience for everyone while avoiding costly accessibility pitfalls:
- Begin with a Full Accessibility Audit: Use automated checkers to uncover basic issues, then manually test your site using only a keyboard and screen readers to spot barriers machines might miss.
- Prioritize Inclusive Design Practices: Select color combinations with strong contrast, allow fonts to scale without breaking layouts, and make sure your site adjusts smoothly across screen sizes and assistive technology environments.
Be Accessible provides detailed website audits, effective accessibility fixes, efficient PDF remediations, and customized accessibility training. We can build an inclusive online experience that aligns with both legal standards and human values.
Be Accessible Increases Digital Accessibility Every Day
We serve a wide range of industries from restaurants to tech companies to financial institutions and everything in between.
Contact Us
You're one step closer to ADA compliance.
Fields marked with * are required.