--- title: 7 Predictions for Accessibility in 2020 and Beyond description: 2019 was a big year for ADA Website lawsuits. We take a look at Website Accessibility trends and predict what we'll see in 2020 and beyond. image: https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/GettyImages-866706340.jpg --- - [skip to menu](https://blog.usablenet.com/7-predictions-for-accessibility-in-2020-and-beyond#nav) - [skip to content](https://blog.usablenet.com/7-predictions-for-accessibility-in-2020-and-beyond#main-content) - [skip to footer](https://blog.usablenet.com/7-predictions-for-accessibility-in-2020-and-beyond#footer) Test the accessibility of your website for free! Try UsableNet AQA. [Test now!](https://usablenet.com/automated-accessibility-testing-tool) Close [![UsableNet home](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SaaS%20Theme/2023%20Header%20and%20Footer/logo.png?width=429&height=62&name=logo.png)](https://usablenet.com/) - [Solutions](https://usablenet.com) ## Solutions [UsableNet Assistive](https://usablenet.com/technology/assistive-technology-services) A managed service combining experts, technology and legal support to make your website accessible [UsableNet AQA](https://usablenet.com/technology/aqa) Accessibility management and testing software for designers, developers, and testers [Accessibility Audits & Support Services](https://usablenet.com/services) Expert guidance and training to empower your team to create accessible digital experiences Explore which of our digital accessibility solutions is right for you [Watch a Demo](https://info.usablenet.com/choose-a-demo?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1737658630173.1737669055746.199&__hssc=181257784.7.1737669055746&__hsfp=3011104808) - [Resources](https://usablenet.com/resources) ## Resources - [E-books & Guides](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=E-books%20and%20Guides) - [Case Studies](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Case%20Studies) - [Reports](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Reports) - [Webinars](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Webinars) - [Tools](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Tools) - [All Resources](https://usablenet.com/resources) ## Essential Resources ![](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SaaS%20Theme/2023%20Header%20and%20Footer/resources-1.png?width=100&height=100&name=resources-1.png) [ADA accessibility lawsuit tracker](https://info.usablenet.com/ada-website-compliance-lawsuit-tracker) ![](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SaaS%20Theme/2023%20Header%20and%20Footer/resources-2.png?width=100&height=100&name=resources-2.png) [Checklist: how to achieve and maintain digital accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/digital-website-accessibility-checklist) ![](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SaaS%20Theme/2023%20Header%20and%20Footer/resources-3.png?width=100&height=100&name=resources-3.png) [Which remediation approach is right for me?](https://info.usablenet.com/website-accessibility-remediation-quiz) ![](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ADA%20Primer.png?width=100&height=100&name=ADA%20Primer.png) [A Primer on ADA and Digital Accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/a-primer-on-ada-and-digital-accessibility) The EAA is in Effect — Is Your Website Compliant? [Get Help with EN 301 549 Compliance](https://info.usablenet.com/eaa-en-301-549-compliance) - [Who We Serve](https://usablenet.com/strategic-relationships) ## Industry [E-commerce and Consumer Goods](https://info.usablenet.com/e-commerce-accessibility-solutions) [Food Service and Hospitality](https://info.usablenet.com/-industries-food-service-hospitality) [Banking and Financial Services](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-financial-services) [Healthcare](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-healthcare) [Technology and Business Services](https://info.usablenet.com/-industries-technology-and-business-services) [Public Sector and Education](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-public-sector-and-education) ## Compliance [Canadian Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-canada) [European Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/eaa-en-301-549-compliance) [Other International Accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-international) [United States Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-united-states) 2026 Midyear report on digital accessibility lawsuits in the US [Download Now](https://info.usablenet.com/2026-midyear-report) - [Pricing](https://usablenet.com/pricing) - [Blog](https://blog.usablenet.com/) - [About Us](https://usablenet.com/about-us) [Get a Demo](https://info.usablenet.com/contact) Close Open Menu - Solutions ## Solutions [UsableNet Assistive](https://usablenet.com/technology/assistive-technology-services) A managed service combining experts, technology and legal support to make your website accessible [UsableNet AQA](https://usablenet.com/technology/aqa) Accessibility management and testing software for designers, developers, and testers [Accessibility Audits & Support Services](https://usablenet.com/services) Expert guidance and training to empower your team to create accessible digital experiences Which accessibility remediation approach is right for me? [Take our Quiz](https://info.usablenet.com/website-accessibility-remediation-quiz) - Resources ## Resources [E-books & Guides](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=E-books%20and%20Guides) [Case Studies](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Case%20Studies) [Reports](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Reports) [Webinars](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Webinars) [Tools](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Tools) [All Resources](https://usablenet.com/resources) ## Essential Resources [ADA accessibility lawsuit tracker](https://info.usablenet.com/ada-website-compliance-lawsuit-tracker?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) [Checklist: how to achieve and maintain digital accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/digital-website-accessibility-checklist?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) [Which remediation approach is right for me?](https://info.usablenet.com/website-accessibility-remediation-quiz?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) [A Primer on ADA and Digital Accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/a-primer-on-ada-and-digital-accessibility?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) The EAA is in Effect — Is Your Website Compliant? [Get Help with EN 301 549 Compliance](https://info.usablenet.com/eaa-en-301-549-compliance?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) - Who We Serve ## Industry [E-commerce and Consumer Goods](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-e-commerce-consumer-goods) [Food Service and Hospitality](https://info.usablenet.com/-industries-food-service-hospitality) [Banking and Financial Services](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-financial-services) [Healthcare](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-healthcare) [Technology and Business Services](https://info.usablenet.com/-industries-technology-and-business-services) [Public Sector and Education](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-public-sector-and-education) ## Compliance [Canadian Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-canada) [European Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-europe) [Other International Accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-international) [United States Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-united-states) 2026 Midyear report on digital accessibility lawsuits in the US [Download Now](https://info.usablenet.com/2026-midyear-report) - [Pricing](https://usablenet.com/pricing) - [Blog](https://blog.usablenet.com/) - [About Us](https://usablenet.com/about-us) [Get a Demo](https://info.usablenet.com/contact) # 7 Predictions for Accessibility in 2020 and Beyond **By** [Jason Taylor, Chief Innovation Strategist](https://blog.usablenet.com/author/jason-taylor) on Dec 11, 2019 **Topics:** [Web Accessibility](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/web-accessibility) 0 Comments - - - ![GettyImages-866706340](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/GettyImages-866706340.jpg) 2019 has been another big year of ADA-based Website legal action. While release of UsableNet's Annual ADA Website and App Accessibility Lawsuit report is still around the corner. In advance, I take a look at what we already know about the increasing attention brought to inclusion online and what I believe that we'll see in 2020 and the future, a continuation of 2019 initiatives and some new emerging trends too. ## **Prediction 1- Lawsuits at all levels will increase** Why? There's no reason to slow down. Plaintiffs keep winning. One especially notable victory for disability advocates in 2019 was the [U.S. Supreme Court's decision to not hear Domino's petition](https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/10/07/dominos-pizza-website-accessibility-supreme-court-wont-hear-case/3904582002/). Company Websites and Apps have accessibility issues easy to detect and document. There's also no proposed federation regulation in sight, so disability rights activists are left to fight for online inclusion in the courts, through private lawsuits and claims letters. [Lawsuits increased 181% in 2018](https://www.wfla.com/8-on-your-side/better-call-behnken/businesses-sitting-ducks-for-lawsuits-because-websites-arent-ada-compliant/) and it was reported in 2019 that [Website Accessibility litigation risk was on the rise](https://www.natlawreview.com/article/when-good-sites-go-bad-growing-risk-website-accessibility-litigation). By the date of UsableNet's 2019 Midyear ADA Website and App Accessibility Lawsuit Report, the number of federally filed [ADA lawsuits had reached a rate of one every working hour](https://fox17.com/news/nation-world/website-owners-could-be-slapped-with-a-lawsuit-over-americans-with-disabilities-act).  [![Download the full report here >>](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3280432/e377cbac-e7f9-463b-b234-ebe9c8aed7b6.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3280432/e377cbac-e7f9-463b-b234-ebe9c8aed7b6) ## **Prediction 2- Less Corporations Will Take a "Wait and See" Approach** Big brands can no longer wait on accessibility initiatives for their online assets. Inclusion will become the new rallying cry. The best defense for companies to reduce exposure to lawsuits is to implement digital accessibility best practices - test and fix top user-paths, verify accessibility  with users from the disability community, [develop and publish an online accessibility statement](https://www.w3.org/WAI/planning/statements/) and partner with an experienced accessibility expert.  When a corporation implements a more inclusive culture it improves experiences for all and research has found a strong correlation between [financial performance and well-developed disability-inclusion practices.](https://hbr.org/2019/06/4-ways-to-improve-your-companys-disability-inclusion-practices) ## **Prediction 3- CMS Platforms Will Launch Accessible Templates** Companies can’t be asked to pay $100 a month for a website from a CMS platform and no trust that they aren't incurring significant ADA based legal risk. CMS platforms will have to change templates to provide better accessibility solutions for their clients who rely on the CMS provider to ensure accessibility when providing a solution.  ## **Prediction 4- Retail Platforms Will Launch A11y Tutorial And Education** Retail and more complex platforms will be in a similar boat as CMS, but the fix is not as easy. Retailers who use platforms such as Shopify and Big Commerce can unknowingly create accessibility issues when customizing the platform. More education on Accessibility and better testing tools will ensure teams create accessible e-commerce sites and maintain that accessibility through out updates and changes.  ## **Prediction 5- Web Agencies Have To Take A11y Responsibility** I covered this before in a previous article, [5 Steps to creating an Accessibility Clause for Vendor Contracts](https://blog.usablenet.com/5-steps-to-creating-an-accessibility-clause-for-vendor-contracts), but we're hearing from some ADA lawyers that adding Accessibility clauses into new website and App procurement and contracts may be a way for companies to mitigate legal risk. It seems logical that the third party that builds a website or app should be held accountable for the accessibility of what they produce.  ## **Prediction 6- All Major Companies Will Hire Or Appoint an A11y Expert** Accessibility should be as essential to companies as cyber security and it has some inherent similarities in how it should be approached- it requires specific knowledge, there are legal risks involved, and it should be owned across the enterprise, not as a silo in Quality Assurance or at the end of a development process. Many major brands are already listing new Accessibility positions, some as part of compliance teams, some as part of product teams and some as part of the eCommerce team. ## **Prediction 7- The Digital World Will Become More Accessible!** The good news is that all this will make the digital world more accessible. Private legal actions may seem unfair to some companies that were unaware of their accessibility issues. But the surge of legal action is ensuring action across key industries. As the digital world becomes a larger part of our everyday lives it is essential that it is also accessible to people of all abilities.  Want to hear more 2020 predictions? Check out recording from our recent Webinar, ["Analogue Laws Meet Digital Technology: Is your Website ADA Compliant?"](https://info.usablenet.com/webinar-registration-for-analogue-laws-meet-digital-technology) with special guest speaker, Lewis Wiener, Partner at Eversheds Sutherland.  Ready to become a part of the new, more inclusive 2020 and beyond? Speak with one of our Accessibility Experts and we can help get you started now.  [![ADA Accessibility Remediation Calculator](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3280432/90d5cb10-8c3c-4e47-8c27-9325f83742da.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3280432/90d5cb10-8c3c-4e47-8c27-9325f83742da) ![Jason Taylor, Chief Innovation Strategist](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Reuploads%20-%20SEO/Jason%20Taylor.png) ### [Jason Taylor, Chief Innovation Strategist](https://blog.usablenet.com/author/jason-taylor) Jason C. Taylor is the Chief Innovation Strategist and Advisor to the UsableNet CEO with over 20 years of experience in usability and accessibility. Jason is a global technology thought leader for multichannel customer engagement, actively advising leading companies on how to extend their brands across multiple channels for all users. He has been an active member of the accessibility and usability communities since 2001, which started with leading partnerships between UsableNet, Macromedia (now Adobe), and The Nielsen Norman Group. - - - - ### Related posts ![Hotel Website Accessibility: Check-in, Messaging, and In-Stay Barriers for Blind Guests](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Check-in, Messaging, and In-Stay Barriers for Blind Guests](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-check-in-and-in-stay-barriers-for-blind-guests) Jul 15, 2026 ![Hotel Website Accessibility: Browsing Room Options](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Browsing Room Options](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-browsing-room-options) Jul 14, 2026 ![Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Registration%20-%20Midyear%20Report.png) [Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/inside-the-2026-midyear-numbers-where-digital-accessibility-litigation-is-going) Jul 8, 2026 ![The Low-Cost Moves That Strengthen an ADA Website Defense](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/The%20Low-Cost%20Moves%20That%20Strengthen%20an%20ADA%20Website%20Defense.png) [The Low-Cost Moves That Strengthen an ADA Website Defense](https://blog.usablenet.com/the-low-cost-moves-that-strengthen-an-ada-website-defense) Jun 16, 2026 ### Sign Up for the UsableNet Blog ### Recent Posts ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Check-in, Messaging, and In-Stay Barriers for Blind Guests](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-check-in-and-in-stay-barriers-for-blind-guests) Jul 15, 2026 ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Browsing Room Options](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-browsing-room-options) Jul 14, 2026 ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Registration%20-%20Midyear%20Report.png) [Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/inside-the-2026-midyear-numbers-where-digital-accessibility-litigation-is-going) Jul 8, 2026 ### Posts by Topic - [Web Accessibility (311)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/web-accessibility) - [User Experience (113)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/user-experience) - [ADA Lawsuits (45)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/ada-lawsuits) - [ADA Website Compliance (38)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/ada-website-compliance) - [European Accessibility Act (34)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/european-accessibility-act) - [Mobile Web (30)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/mobile-web) - [Mobile Apps (27)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/mobile-apps) - [Retail (27)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/retail) ![](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Consultation%20Icon.svg) Need to improve digital usability, accessibility or performance? 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Stay up-to-date on our insights, the latest tech news and digital trends. ![International Association of Accessibility Professionals logo](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SaaS%20Theme/2023%20Header%20and%20Footer/IAAP-logo.png?width=150&height=81&name=IAAP-logo.png) © 2026 UsableNet Inc. ![International Association of Accessibility Professionals logo](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SaaS%20Theme/2023%20Header%20and%20Footer/IAAP-logo.png?width=150&height=81&name=IAAP-logo.png) © 2026 UsableNet Inc. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Jason Taylor, Chief Innovation Strategist", "url" : "https://blog.usablenet.com/author/jason-taylor" }, "dateModified" : "2020-10-21T20:04:37.523Z", "datePublished" : "2019-12-11T20:48:39.000Z", "headline" : "7 Predictions for Accessibility in 2020 and Beyond", "image" : [ "https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/GettyImages-866706340.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.usablenet.com/7-predictions-for-accessibility-in-2020-and-beyond", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/UsableNet%20Logo_Black.png" }, "name" : "UsableNet Inc." } } ```