ADA laws in new hampshire combine federal rules with state enforcement. the americans with disabilities act (ada) is federal law from 1990, and courts have interpreted it to cover websites tied to physical businesses. title iii prohibits discrimination in “places of public accommodation,” which now includes digital services connected to stores, offices, or service locations. compliance generally follows wcag 2.1 level aa standards, enforced in federal court, and can involve significant costs if websites lack proper alt text, keyboard navigation, labeled forms, or accessible pdfs.
state law (rsa 354‑a) adds another layer, particularly for private plaintiffs seeking damages. government websites must follow the doj’s 2024 rule under title ii, requiring wcag 2.1 aa compliance for state, county, and municipal sites, as well as public schools and universities. remediation can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and simple fixes like overlays or color adjustments often fail to satisfy legal standards. litigation, audits, and ongoing maintenance make website accessibility an ongoing responsibility, not a one‑time task.
Frequently Asked Questions
not in the original text, but courts interpret title iii to apply when a website is tied to a physical place of public accommodation.
wcag 2.1 level aa is the standard used in settlements, court cases, and doj guidance.
yes, title ii and the doj 2024 rule require wcag 2.1 aa for state, county, municipal, and public educational sites.
missing alt text, poor color contrast, unlabeled form fields, pdfs without text layers, keyboard-only navigation issues.
small sites: $5,000–$10,000; mid-size ecommerce: $12,000–$40,000; large portals: $50,000–$150,000+, depending on legacy content and PDFs.
plaintiffs can file federal lawsuits under title iii, state law claims under rsa 354‑a, demand injunctive relief, and recover attorney fees. settlements in new hampshire often exceed $30,000 for small business websites.
no, overlays may fix minor issues but courts focus on underlying barriers.
no, content updates, new features, and third-party plugins can introduce barriers. ongoing audits and maintenance are necessary.
online applications and employee portals must be accessible under title i of the ada for employers with 15+ employees.
no, public universities and colleges must follow title ii and wcag 2.1 aa standards for all digital systems connected to education, registration, or learning management.
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