We are still hearing about REALTORS^® receiving demand letters from law firms claiming that the REALTOR’S^® website is inaccessible to those with visual and hearing impairments. In a new twist, however, some of these letters request that the REALTOR^® call the law firm directly to discuss the problem. Your Virginia REALTORS^® Legal Team is here to remind you that if you ever receive a demand letter from anyone alleging that your website is in violation of fair housing because it is inaccessible to someone with a disability, you should contact your attorney immediately. Never speak to a plaintiff’s attorney without your attorney present!

For more information on these kinds of letters and how to manage your risk, see this flyer from Pearl E&O Insurance.

The Virginia Department of Education has a website that contains Accessibility Tools and Resources, where you can get find applicable guidance documents and several testing and evaluation tools.

Virginia REALTORS^® has also covered this topic and how to get compliant:

Blog Post: Is Your Website Accessible to Those With Disabilities? (7/18/19)

Podcast: Website Accessibility 2.0 (7/16/19)

Legal Live: Website & Tech Accessibility 7/18/19