An overwhelming 84% of respondents said that digital accessibility is a priority for their company. The vast majority (94%) are preparing for the EAA by the June 28, 2025 deadline versus only 58% in 2024.  

Regardless, mistakes still slip into production. The top issues cited by users include videos lacking captions (32%), website incompatibility with screen readers (30%) and error alerts that are not descriptive (27%).

The global survey of 1,500+ developers, engineers and QA, UX and legal professionals, revealed that 80% of organisations have a person or group responsible for ensuring products are accessible – up from 52% in 2022. Meanwhile, 86% are employing inclusive design principles at the planning stage.

However, the survey found gaps in relevant expertise and QA processes that would help ensure optimal experiences for all users. Even with dedicated roles and teams overseeing accessibility efforts, 68% of respondents still reported that they lack the expertise and resources to test for accessibility independently, on an ongoing basis. 48% do not have, or do not know, if they have processes in place to stop the release of inaccessible features into production. And only one-third of respondents said they directly engage with people with disabilities (PWD) in digital accessibility efforts.

Despite this, there is excitement around AI-powered accessibility and automated tools. 47% of respondents said AI currently provides significant value to accessibility testing, while another 37% believe it will in the next two years. However, half of organisations testing AI and Gen AI products do not include underrepresented viewpoints including those of PWD, contributing to biased results. Looking forward, 40% of respondents plan to use AI to solve accessibility issues within their organisation – while 31% don’t know if they’ll use AI in this way. Similarly, 59% indicated that they use, or plan to use, automated tools, which can help identify up to 40% of accessibility issues.

Fortunately, organisations are aligning with new and upcoming standards, including the EAA that mandates digital products and services, including websites and mobile apps, are accessible to PWD. The EAA does not directly apply to the UK, but it significantly impacts UK businesses selling products or services in the EU. Besides EAA compliance, 54% of respondents reported their company meets Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 standards – a 24% increase since 2022. 70% of respondents know their WCAG 2.2 status, versus 58% last year.

“Our latest survey reveals an increasingly inclusive mindset among the software development community,” said Bob Farrell, Vice President, Solution Delivery & Accessibility, Applause. “Organisations want to optimise digital experiences for all users – not just check the compliance box, though the upcoming EAA deadline is certainly on their radar. Organisations are creating dedicated teams to help ensure digital experiences are inclusive – but unless they have access to testing experts and end users with disabilities for feedback, it will be a significant challenge achieving this goal. Ultimately, they want to give all customers an amazing experience that lives up to their high standards for digital quality – ensuring usability for all.”

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