A new survey from Applause, which specialises in digital quality, has revealed that 84 percent of organisations say that digital accessibility is a priority, but only one-third of respondents engage with disabled people in digital accessibility efforts.
Applause’s fifth annual ‘State of Digital Quality in Accessibility’ survey highlights growing awareness and adoption of inclusive design practices ahead of the European Accessibility Act (EAA) deadline in June, as well as interest in adopting AI’s accessibility-related capabilities. The majority of organisations are preparing for the EEA deadline by 28 June 2025.
Regardless, mistakes still slip into production. The top issues cited by users include videos lacking captions (32 percent), website incompatibility with screen readers (30 percent), and error alerts that are not descriptive (27 percent), Applause states.
The global survey of more than 1,500 developers and engineers, alongside quality assurance, user experience, and legal professionals, revealed that 80 percent of organisations have a person or group responsible for ensuring products are accessible – up from 52 percent in 2022. Meanwhile, over four-fifths are employing inclusive design principles at the planning stage.
However, the survey found gaps in relevant expertise and quality assurance processes that would help ensure optimal experiences for all users. Even with dedicated roles and teams overseeing accessibility efforts, 68 percent of respondents still reported that they lack the expertise and resources to test for accessibility independently on an ongoing basis.
48 percent do not have, or do not know if they have, processes in place to stop the release of inaccessible features into production. Only one-third of respondents said they directly engage with disabled people in digital accessibility efforts.
Despite this, there is excitement around AI-powered accessibility and automated tools. Nearly half of the respondents said AI currently provides significant value to accessibility testing, while another 37 percent 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 disabled people, contributing to biased results.
Looking forward, 40 percent of respondents plan to use AI to solve accessibility issues within their organisation, while under a third don’t know if they will use AI in this way. Similarly, 59 percent indicated that they use, or plan to use, automated tools, which can help identify up to 40 percent of accessibility issues, according to Applause.
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 disabled people. The EAA does not directly apply to the UK, but it significantly impacts UK businesses selling products or services in the EU, Applause underlines.
Besides EAA compliance, more than half of the respondents reported their company meets Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 standards.
Bob Farrell, Vice President, Solution Delivery & Accessibility, Applause, commented: “Our latest survey reveals an increasingly inclusive mindset among the software development community.
“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.”
Bob has previously written an exclusive article for AT Today about what businesses need to know about the European Accessibility Act.
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