Getting Off The Ground

What Is Digital Accessibility?

Digital accessibility means making websites and apps easy for people with disabilities.

Accessibility and usability are not the same.

Accessibility checks if people with disabilities can access content at all

Usability looks at how smooth the experience is for everyone

Both matter. But accessibility often means doing a basic need. It makes sure disabled people can reach the same content and features as others.

Who Are People With Disabilities

Disabled people are part of every community. Though often seen as a minority, over 16 million people in the UK live with a disability.

1 in 4

people are disabled. That is more than the population of London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow combined.

Cognitive disabilities are more common and often invisible. Other types, like vision or movement loss, can be temporary or situational. They may be caused by injury, illness, age or environment.

Why It Matters

Many people with disabilities can take part in society, but barriers in technology and design often get in the way. Just like stairs can block access to a building, poor digital design can exclude people who would otherwise be able to join in.

Customers Leave When Access Fails

UK businesses lose £2 billion a month
Brands lose reputation
Excluding disabled people risks legal action

How It Happens

Tight deadlines, complex designs, and limited training often leave disabled users out. Without lived experience or an accessibility expert on hand, teams tend to design for abled users by default.

Accessibility only gets attention when legal or trade requirements force a rethink. That’s how successful companies end up with serious gaps.

Regulatory Compliance

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are referenced throughout accessibility laws and trade requirements.

Legal

Under the Equality Act 2010 businesses are strongly encouraged to meet WCAG Level AA compliance.

Trade

Public sector websites in the UK must meet WCAG 2.2 Level AA, as required by the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Businesses working with the UK government must comply with the EN 301 549 standard, which sets WCAG as the minimum requirement. Those trading with the EU must meet the European Accessibility Act, which builds on WCAG principles and goes further.

What’s the First Step in Accessibility?

We understand that businesses want to avoid jargon, high costs, and overwhelming fixes. That is why we created the Accessibility Quick Check. It helps you take a small, simple first step in understanding your platform’s accessibility.