How We Build Accessible Design for the Loop
Loop engagements typically involve more complex digital ecosystems than single-site businesses. A law firm may have a public marketing site, a client portal, an intranet, and external document libraries. A financial services firm may have multiple product-specific sites alongside a corporate presence. A professional association headquartered near Michigan Avenue may have a member portal, event registration systems, and publications. We scope each project to address the full environment, not just the flagship site.
Every project begins with a comprehensive audit. Automated tools including Axe, Lighthouse, and WAVE identify common structural failures efficiently. Manual testing addresses what automation cannot: full keyboard navigation through every interactive flow, screen reader compatibility testing using NVDA on Windows and VoiceOver on macOS and iOS, and review of complex UI components like modal dialogs, data tables, and dynamic filtering. Law firm and financial services sites frequently have document libraries, PDF resources, and downloadable forms that require separate accessibility evaluation.
The audit produces a prioritized remediation report. Issues are classified by WCAG criterion, severity, and the specific population of users affected. For Loop law firms that have received demand letters, we can expedite audit delivery and help develop a documented good-faith remediation plan for legal purposes. Remediation is done at the code level: HTML, CSS, ARIA markup, and JavaScript. We do not use overlay tools that create legal and reputational risk without providing genuine accessibility.
For Loop clients building new digital experiences, we integrate accessibility from the earliest design review. Color systems, typography scale, interactive component states, and information architecture all receive accessibility consideration before a single line of code is written. Building accessible from the start costs the same as building inaccessible and then remediating later.
Industries We Serve in the Loop
Law firms and legal services along LaSalle Street and in buildings throughout the Loop need WCAG-compliant public websites, client portals, and document management systems. Legal professionals understand compliance obligations intuitively, and inaccessible websites expose firms to exactly the kind of claims they routinely handle for other clients. We scope projects to cover public sites, client-facing portals, and downloadable legal resources.
Banks and financial services firms operating in the Loop's towers along State Street and Wacker Drive serve clients and employees who rely on accessible digital interfaces for account access, financial planning tools, and internal applications. Regulatory requirements in the financial sector layer additional accessibility obligations on top of ADA, and many financial institution digital teams are under increasing pressure to demonstrate WCAG compliance across all customer-facing properties.
Consulting firms and professional associations headquartered near Michigan Avenue and the Chicago Cultural Center need accessible marketing sites, event registration systems, and member portals. Firms that serve federal government clients or hold government contracts face Section 508 procurement requirements. Professional associations whose membership includes people with disabilities have both legal and professional obligations to serve those members through accessible digital tools.
Hotels and hospitality businesses operating near the Chicago Theatre and in the Loop's growing residential and tourism corridor need accessible booking systems, event pages, and guest-facing digital tools. ADA claims against hotel websites, particularly targeting reservation and accessibility feature description requirements, have been among the most active categories of ADA litigation nationally.
Cultural institutions and theaters along Randolph Street and on Michigan Avenue serve audiences that include people with visual, motor, and cognitive disabilities at higher rates than general commercial websites. The Art Institute of Chicago draws visitors from across the world; accessible digital planning tools, including site navigation, exhibition information, and event ticketing, are part of serving that audience fully.
Commercial real estate and property management firms working in the Loop's dense office market need accessible investor portals, tenant-facing applications, and marketing sites. Commercial real estate is among the sectors with growing ADA litigation exposure as digital leasing and building management tools multiply.
What to Expect Working With Us
1. Discovery and scope definition. We review your full digital environment: public-facing websites, client and member portals, intranet tools, and downloadable documents. Loop clients often have layered ecosystems, and accurate scoping prevents cost surprises later. You receive a written scope and timeline before work begins.
2. Comprehensive audit and prioritized report. Automated and manual testing across your scoped properties produces a detailed findings report. Every issue is documented with its location, the WCAG criterion it violates, severity classification, and the specific remediation required. For clients with legal exposure, we deliver a summary suitable for outside counsel within an expedited window.
3. Code-level remediation. We fix actual HTML, CSS, ARIA, and JavaScript issues. Every fix is verified before being marked complete. We do not use overlay tools. A post-remediation verification confirms all documented issues are resolved and no regressions have been introduced.
4. Ongoing compliance monitoring. After initial remediation, we offer monthly automated scanning to catch regressions and quarterly manual reviews for properties that change frequently. Loop clients whose sites are updated regularly by marketing or communications teams benefit from monitoring programs that prevent accessibility debt from accumulating between review cycles.