ADA Compliance Specialist Job Description Template

Nikoloz Khotcholava

Last updated on April 3, 2025 | 15 min read

Job Description TemplateLegalTechRecruitment

Introduction

An ADA Compliance Specialist ensures organizations meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements and accessibility standards, creating equitable experiences for individuals with disabilities. This role requires understanding legal requirements and implementing accessibility principles across digital platforms, physical environments, and policies. The position demands attention to detail as non-compliance carries legal, financial, and reputational risks. Job postings should emphasize technical expertise and advocacy capabilities, showing how this knowledge creates inclusive environments while meeting legal obligations in an area where proactive compliance yields better outcomes than reactive fixes.

What does an ADA Compliance Specialist do

An ADA Compliance Specialist manages accessibility strategies, ensuring digital interfaces, physical spaces, and policies provide equitable access for individuals with disabilities. They develop accessibility frameworks, conduct audits, implement remediation plans, and guide the creation of accessible solutions. The role combines technical expertise with regulatory knowledge to build inclusive experiences across websites, facilities, and services while adapting to evolving standards and assistive technologies. They balance technical feasibility, user experience, and legal compliance to address the needs of individuals with various disabilities through solutions that enhance usability for everyone.

Typical duties and responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive accessibility policies and procedures that align with ADA requirements, Section 508 standards, and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
• Conduct thorough accessibility audits of digital properties, including websites, mobile applications, software interfaces, and electronic documents, using automated tools and manual testing methodologies
• Perform evaluations of physical environments, including entrances, pathways, signage, seating areas, restrooms, and service points to identify barriers for individuals with disabilities
• Create detailed remediation plans with specific recommendations, priority levels, and implementation timelines to address identified accessibility barriers
• Collaborate with development teams, designers, content creators, and facilities management to implement accessibility improvements across digital and physical environments
• Provide specialized training for staff on accessibility best practices, assistive technology considerations, and inclusive design principles appropriate to different organizational roles
• Stay current on evolving accessibility standards, legal interpretations, assistive technologies, and implementation techniques through ongoing professional development
• Establish monitoring processes that ensure continued compliance as systems evolve, content changes, and physical environments are modified over time

Required skills and experience

• Minimum of 3 years experience in accessibility compliance with demonstrated expertise applying ADA requirements, Section 508 standards, and WCAG guidelines in organizational contexts
• Thorough knowledge of assistive technologies, including screen readers (JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver), magnification tools, speech recognition software, and alternative input devices used by individuals with disabilities
• Proven experience conducting comprehensive accessibility audits of websites, applications, and documents using both automated testing tools and manual evaluation techniques
• Demonstrated ability to create detailed remediation plans that provide clear guidance on addressing accessibility barriers with appropriate prioritization and technical specifications
• Familiarity with accessible coding practices, including semantic HTML, ARIA attributes, keyboard navigation, and color contrast requirements for digital interface development
• Experience developing and delivering accessibility training programs tailored to different organizational roles, including developers, designers, content creators, and management teams
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain technical accessibility requirements in clear, actionable terms appropriate to various stakeholder audiences
• Understanding of legal frameworks governing accessibility, including ADA Title II and III requirements, Section 508 standards, and related state and local accessibility regulations

Nice to have/preferred skills and experience

• Professional accessibility certifications such as Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC), Web Accessibility Specialist (WAS), or Certified Professional in Web Accessibility (CPWA)
• Experience implementing accessibility in specialized contexts such as education platforms, healthcare systems, financial services, or government applications where sector-specific considerations apply
• Background in user experience design or development, providing deeper understanding of how accessibility integrates with broader usability principles and technical implementation approaches
• Experience with specialized accessibility evaluation tools beyond basic automated checkers, including advanced screen reader testing techniques and assistive technology compatibility verification
• Knowledge of procurement processes for accessible technology, including evaluation of vendor accessibility documentation, VPAT review, and accessibility requirements specification

Common challenges faced by ADA Compliance Specialists

• Technical ecosystem complexity

Managing accessibility across diverse technology stacks creates significant implementation challenges. Organizations typically maintain numerous digital properties developed using different technologies, frameworks, and platforms, each requiring specialized accessibility approaches. Successful ADA Compliance Specialists develop comprehensive technical knowledge across multiple environments, create modular accessibility guidance tailored to different technology contexts, implement evaluation approaches appropriate to various platforms, and build collaborative relationships with development teams working in different technical ecosystems to ensure consistent accessibility outcomes despite technological diversity.

• Organizational resistance navigation

Overcoming resistance to accessibility implementation creates important change management challenges. Many stakeholders perceive accessibility as purely compliance-driven, costly, or limiting to design and functionality. Effective specialists develop compelling business cases highlighting accessibility benefits beyond compliance, create evidence-based demonstrations showing how accessibility enhances usability for all users, implement phased approaches that produce early wins while building toward comprehensive compliance, and identify executive sponsors who can advocate for accessibility investments and prioritization when organizational resistance emerges.

• Remediation prioritization balancing

Determining the appropriate sequence for addressing accessibility barriers creates significant strategic challenges. Most organizations face numerous accessibility issues across digital and physical environments with limited resources for simultaneous remediation. Professional ADA Compliance Specialists develop structured evaluation frameworks that consider legal risk exposure, user impact severity, technical complexity, and resource requirements, create clear remediation roadmaps with appropriate milestone sequencing, align prioritization with business cycles and planned refreshes, and establish transparent prioritization criteria that balance compliance requirements with practical implementation constraints.

• Continuous compliance maintenance

Sustaining accessibility throughout system evolution creates substantial monitoring challenges. Digital properties and physical environments change constantly through content updates, feature additions, renovations, and technology refreshers that can introduce new barriers. Successful specialists establish automated monitoring systems for digital properties, implement accessibility checkpoints within development and procurement processes, create governance structures that distribute compliance responsibility across teams, and develop training programs that build organizational capacity for maintaining accessibility without constant specialist intervention as environments continue to evolve.

• Technical knowledge integration

Maintaining expertise across rapidly evolving standards and technologies creates ongoing knowledge management challenges. Accessibility requirements, assistive technologies, evaluation tools, and implementation techniques change frequently, requiring continuous professional development. Effective ADA Compliance Specialists establish systematic learning routines, participate actively in accessibility professional communities, develop networks of specialized subject matter experts who can provide guidance in complex areas, create knowledge management systems to document evolving standards and practices, and implement consistent frameworks for translating technical accessibility requirements into actionable guidance despite the field’s technical complexity.

• Specialized testing coordination

Organizing evaluations with users of diverse assistive technologies creates important validation challenges. Accurate accessibility assessment requires testing with individuals who use various assistive technologies in different ways across multiple disability categories. Professional specialists develop relationships with disability advocacy organizations who can provide access to experienced assistive technology users, create structured testing protocols that provide consistent feedback across different user groups, establish compensated user testing programs that appropriately value lived experience, and develop practical approaches for integrating diverse user perspectives into accessibility validation within time and budget constraints.

• Legal interpretation application

Translating evolving legal standards into practical implementation creates significant compliance challenges. ADA requirements develop through court decisions, settlements, and regulatory guidance rather than detailed technical specifications. Successful ADA Compliance Specialists maintain current knowledge of legal developments shaping accessibility requirements, develop practical interpretation frameworks that balance technical constraints with legal obligations, consult with legal counsel on ambiguous compliance questions, create documentation demonstrating good faith efforts toward accessibility when technical limitations prevent perfect compliance, and establish appropriate risk management approaches for areas where legal requirements remain in flux.

Where do ADA Compliance Specialists work

ADA Compliance Specialists typically work in organizations with significant digital presence or physical facilities serving the public, including corporations, government agencies, educational institutions, healthcare providers, and financial institutions. Their professional settings range from dedicated accessibility teams in large enterprises to individual contributor roles within IT, compliance, or risk management departments, with many also working as external consultants providing specialized expertise to multiple clients on project or retainer bases.

Many operate within digital experience teams responsible for websites and applications, collaborating closely with developers, designers, and content creators to integrate accessibility into digital properties. Others focus on physical accessibility within facilities management, architectural services, or construction firms, ensuring buildings and spaces meet ADA requirements. The role frequently bridges these domains, recognizing that accessibility requires coordinated approaches across both digital and physical environments.

As accessibility awareness increases, these specialists increasingly serve in strategic advisory capacities, helping organizations develop comprehensive accessibility programs encompassing policy development, staff training, procurement guidelines, and monitoring frameworks. With growing legal requirements and increasing recognition of accessibility’s business benefits, the role continues expanding across sectors, creating diverse career paths for specialists who combine technical expertise with effective advocacy skills.

How to be a Good ADA Compliance Specialist

Success as an ADA Compliance Specialist requires balancing technical expertise with effective advocacy skills while maintaining a genuine commitment to accessibility as both a legal obligation and an ethical imperative. Develop comprehensive knowledge across relevant standards, including ADA requirements, Section 508 regulations, and WCAG guidelines, while building practical experience with assistive technologies to understand how accessibility barriers impact real users. Cultivate strong communication abilities to translate technical requirements into actionable guidance for various stakeholders, adapting your approach to effectively engage developers, designers, executives, and facilities staff.

Remember that effective compliance work combines rigorous technical assessment with collaborative problem-solving, helping organizations identify pragmatic solutions that satisfy legal requirements while enhancing user experience for everyone. Position yourself as both a technical expert and a strategic partner, demonstrating how accessibility creates business advantages through expanded market reach, enhanced user satisfaction, and reduced legal exposure while improving experiences for individuals with disabilities.

Mistakes to Avoid as ADA Compliance Specialist

• Missing to verify accessibility with actual assistive technology users rather than relying solely on automated testing tools.
• Overlooking the importance of ongoing monitoring after initial remediation efforts are completed.
• Focusing exclusively on technical compliance without considering the real-world usability for individuals with different disabilities.
• Neglecting to thoroughly document accessibility evaluation methodologies, findings, and remediation recommendations.
• Undervaluing the importance of clear, accessible language when explaining technical requirements to non-specialist stakeholders.
• Rushing accessibility assessments without considering the diverse needs of users with visual, auditory, motor, cognitive, and neurological disabilities.
• Failing to create prioritized remediation plans that balance legal risk, user impact, and implementation complexity.
• Underestimating the importance of building organizational capacity through training and knowledge transfer rather than serving as the sole accessibility resource.

What we offer

• Extensive health and wellness coverage.
• Work-from-home options and flexible hours.
• Paid time off for vacations, holidays, and sick leave.

Here are a few more benefits that, according to Forbes, are valued by employees:

• Retirement savings plans with employer matching, such as 401(k) plans, are significant to employees.
• Early leave on Fridays.
• 4-day work week.
• Private dental insurance.

About us

We recommend including general information about the company, such as its mission, values, and industry focus. For instance, you could say:

“DevsData LLC is an IT recruitment agency that connects top tech talent with leading companies to drive innovation and success. Their diverse team of US specialists brings unique viewpoints and cultural insights, boosting their capacity to meet client demands and build inclusive work cultures. Over the past 8 years, DevsData LLC has successfully completed more than 80 projects for startups and corporate clients in the US and Europe.”

Explore sample resumes

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Contact DevsData LLC

If you’re looking to hire a qualified ADA compliance specialist, reach out to DevsData LLC at general@devsdata.com or visit www.devsdata.com. The company’s recruitment process is thorough and efficient, utilizing a vast database of over 65000 professionals.

They are renowned for their rigorous 90-minute interviews to assess candidates’ technical skills and problem-solving abilities.

Additionally, DevsData LLC holds a government-approved recruitment license, ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations.