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How We Score and Rank ADA-Compliant Web Design Agencies

Transparency is the foundation of this directory. Every agency listed here — including Grow Wild Agency, which maintains this directory — is evaluated using the same objective methodology. No agency can pay for a higher ranking.

Scoring Criteria

Each agency receives an overall score from 0-100, calculated as a weighted composite of four evaluation categories:

Accessibility Expertise

40% weight

The most heavily weighted category. We evaluate the WCAG version and conformance level an agency builds to, professional certifications held by named staff (CPACC, WAS), testing methodology — automated-only versus manual versus real user testing with people with disabilities — overlay stance, screen-reader testing practice, and Section 508 expertise.

Compliance Depth

25% weight

How thorough is the compliance process? Do they produce VPATs and conformance reports? Do they offer ongoing monitoring? Do they test against multiple assistive technologies? Agencies with deep, documented processes score highest.

Portfolio Quality

20% weight

We audit live client websites: semantic HTML structure, keyboard navigability, screen-reader compatibility, and overall implementation quality. An agency is judged on what it actually shipped, not what it says it can do.

Transparency

15% weight

Pricing clarity, process documentation, public case studies, and responsiveness to verification requests. Weighted more heavily than it once was, because it is the criterion a buyer can check most directly without taking anyone at their word.

A criterion we removed

This model previously included a Client Reviews category weighted at 20%. It scored a review corpus that did not exist, so it has been removed and its weight redistributed across the four criteria above. No listing on this site carries a star rating, and none will until we can trace one to a named, verifiable source.

What Disqualifies an Agency

  • Agencies that exclusively sell overlay widgets as their accessibility solution are not listed in this directory.
  • Agencies making false WCAG compliance claims that cannot be verified are removed.
  • Agencies with documented legal issues related to accessibility fraud or misrepresentation.
  • Agencies that use overlays as part of a broader remediation strategy may be listed but are flagged accordingly.

How Agencies Can Claim Their Listing

Any agency can claim their listing for free by verifying their business email. Claimed listings can update their information and provide additional documentation. Claiming a listing does not affect scoring, and no listing or position on this site can be purchased.

Update Frequency

Agency scores are recalculated when the underlying evidence changes — a credential verified or lapsed, a portfolio audit re-run, a documented change in an agency's testing practice. We do not publish a fixed refresh cadence we are not actually keeping to.

Transparency & Editorial Independence

adacompliantwebdesign.com is operated by Grow Wild Agency, a web design and digital marketing agency specializing in ADA-compliant builds — and Grow Wild is listed on it. We state that plainly rather than presenting this site as an independent rater.

Current state, stated honestly: this site is being rebuilt as a vendor-evaluation resource. Listings that could not be independently verified have been removed, and with them every star rating and review count on the site. What remains are the criteria above — apply them to any vendor you are considering, including us. Treat our assessment of our own work as a vendor describing itself, not as an independent rating.

We do not accept payment for higher rankings. Featured and sponsored placements are clearly labeled. If you believe a listing is inaccurate or have questions about our methodology, contact us.