Listen to this articleBelow is our recent interview with Daryn Harpaz, Founder and CEO at ZenythGroup:
Q: Could you provide our readers with a brief introduction to ZenythGroup?
A: Did you know that the Americans with Disabilities Act now applies to websites? Over 60 million Americans have a disability and possess a combined spending power estimated to be over $490B. If these consumers can not access your website, they are unable to engage you for your services.
ZenythGroup is a leading technology company with a deep expertise in ADA website accessibility and WCAG 2.0/2.1 AA compliance. We help companies identify, remedy and support their accessible digital platforms. We are ADA website accessibility experts and believe that technology should be inclusive for people of all abilities.
Q: Can you give us insights into your services?
A: ZenythGroup builds powerful websites and mobile applications with a focus on accessibility best practices. Our team of disability experts work in partnership with our clients to help organizations achieve WCAG 2.0/2.1 AA compliance.
Our services include the following:
IDENTIFY
# Digital Accessibility Consulting
# Automated WCAG Testing
# Manual Audits of Sites & Apps
# WCAG 2.0 / 2.1 AA Violations
REMEDY
# Accessible Web & Mobile Development
# Code Remediation
# Document Remediation
# Video Closed Captioning
SUPPORT
# Quarterly Compliance Reviews
# Annual Audits & User Testing
# Accessibility Certification
# Accessibility Training
Recommended: Q: Are there any ADA legal standards to follow for website accessibility in the US?
A: The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life. Legal precedent is changing and ADA compliance related lawsuits are becoming more successful as Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act now pertains to business websites in the private sector.
The W3C, the main international standards organization for the World Wide Web, has created the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) that serve as the standards that website developers need to follow to ensure that websites are accessible to people of all abilities.
The number of website accessibility lawsuits filed in federal court under Title III of the ADA exploded with a 181% increase in 2018 over 2017. In 2017, there were 814 cases. In 2018, 2285 lawsuits were filed. 2019 is already seeing record numbers.
Q: Why is web accessibility important these days?
A: One in four U.S. adults—over 61 million Americans—have a disability that impacts major life activities with approximately 40 percent of adults age 65 and up having one or more disabilities. By 2035, there will be 78 million adults over 65, or approximately 20 percent of the U.S. population. People with disabilities spend a colossal half-trillion dollars annually, a number that should bring every business to sharp attention.
Despite these compelling figures, 73% of disabled users are unable to complete basic transactions on the websites they visit. Perhaps most important, 82 percent say they would return often and spend more with a company that provides an accessible online experience.
It’s important to realize that by spending money now on accessibility, you’ll not only save money later in costly legal expenses but ward off those emergency design upgrades. Companies can reap the rewards of dedicated business from customers with brand loyalty because of your dedication to their community.
Remember, lawsuits are expensive and cost companies between $15,000 and $100,000, which does not begin to include internal costs to actually fix the problem.
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Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: ZenythGroup has developed an ADA compliant customer service ChatBot application that we’re currently launching. In addition, we’re seeking capital to expand operations, hire additional staff, and continue developing our technology platform for the accessibility market.
The “accessible” future is very exciting. By leveraging artificial intelligence, machine learning and predictive logic, we’re working on ways to identify a users specific disability during a browsing session, and deliver a unique user-experience that caters to that individuals specific disability.
Additionally, we’re ideating about the continuity of user experiences across all devices, regardless of your ability.
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