How do accessibility laws overlap with email (ADA, EN 301 549)?

While no law explicitly mandates email accessibility, legal precedents increasingly extend digital accessibility requirements to all customer communications. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has been interpreted by courts to cover websites and digital services; email as a digital communication channel falls within this scope. Companies have faced lawsuits for inaccessible digital communications under ADA Title III.

The European Accessibility Act and EN 301 549 standard explicitly cover electronic communications, including email sent by covered entities. Public sector organizations in many jurisdictions are required to meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards for all digital communications. Even where not explicitly required, accessibility failures create legal exposure and exclude customers with disabilities.

Practical compliance means: sufficient color contrast (4.5:1 minimum for text), meaningful alt text on all images, semantic HTML structure for screen reader navigation, legible font sizes (minimum 14px), and readable plain-text alternatives. Accessibility isn't just legal protection-it's quality design that improves the experience for all subscribers, including those reading in challenging conditions like bright sunlight or small screens.