Businesses operating in Wyoming are subject to the access requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a federal law passed on July 26, 1990. The statute originally focused on physical locations such as restaurants, hotels, and retail stores. As more services moved online, courts began applying the same access rules to websites connected to those businesses. If a customer cannot book a hotel room, schedule an appointment, or purchase a product because the website does not work with assistive technology like screen readers or keyboard navigation, that barrier can lead to an ADA accessibility claim.
Because the ADA never included technical rules for website design, courts and settlement agreements usually reference the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines developed by the World Wide Web Consortium. The most common benchmark in legal disputes is WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Wyoming does not have a detailed state statute regulating website accessibility for private businesses, so most legal claims rely on the federal ADA. Guidance published in March 2022 by the U.S. Department of Justice confirmed that companies must provide accessible access to services offered online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Businesses in Wyoming that qualify as public accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act may need to make their websites accessible if those websites allow customers to access services such as reservations, appointments, or purchases.
Most ADA website lawsuits reference the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines created by the World Wide Web Consortium. Courts often reference WCAG 2.1 Level AA when businesses agree to remediation plans.
Wyoming does not have a specific state law that outlines technical website accessibility requirements for private businesses. Most accessibility claims rely on the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.
The U.S. Department of Justice enforces Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Individuals can also file private lawsuits in federal court if they encounter accessibility barriers.
Estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau suggest that roughly 14 to 15 percent of residents in Wyoming live with a disability affecting mobility, hearing, vision, or cognitive processing.
Common issues include images without alternative text, navigation menus that do not work with keyboard controls, forms without proper labels, low color contrast, and videos that lack captions.
Healthcare providers, hotels, restaurants, and ecommerce retailers appear frequently in ADA website litigation because their websites often contain appointment systems, booking platforms, or checkout pages.
Costs depend on the size and complexity of the website. Small business websites may cost a few thousand dollars to remediate, while larger ecommerce websites can require significantly more development work.
Overlay widgets claim to improve accessibility automatically, but many disability organizations argue they do not correct underlying coding barriers and cannot replace proper website remediation.
Accessible websites often contain clearer page structure, descriptive links, and labeled images. These elements can make it easier for search engines to interpret the content of a webpage.
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