Applause Global Accessibility Survey: Organizations Prioritize Inclusive Design More Than Ever but Lack the Resources to Make Fu
BOSTON , May 08 /Businesswire/ - Applause, the world leader in testing and digital quality, today announced the results of its fourth annual Accessibility and Inclusive Design Survey ahead of Global Accessibility Awareness Day on May 16, 2024. The recently completed survey of more than 3,500 software testers, product engineers, software developers, QA and UX professionals, and legal professionals across the globe, examines how companies prioritize accessibility when developing their digital experiences and how respondents rate their knowledge level regarding accessibility.
As part of the survey, respondents were asked to rate their organizations’ level of conformance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, a set of international standards for making web and mobile content more accessible to people with disabilities (PWD). Respondents also shared their level of readiness for the EU Accessibility Act, a piece of legislation with global reach coming into force in June 2025.
Key findings
The survey showed that companies are prioritizing accessibility and inclusive design more than ever. When asked about the level of importance accessibility plays in their business:
In addition to focusing more on accessibility, developers are also gaining expertise in the area, testing for accessibility earlier in the design process and employing inclusive design principles. When asked about their level of accessibility knowledge:
However, the survey suggests a disconnect between making accessibility a priority and investments in internal resources. When asked how well-equipped they are to test for accessibility on an ongoing basis:
Other findings
WCAG conformance increases, but companies are behind on preparations for the 2025 EU Accessibility Act.
Automation and AI usage is on the rise in accessibility testing.
“Accessibility is an increasingly important focus area for companies. Growing awareness of the importance of employing inclusive design principles and writing code with accessibility in mind is not just driving value for people with disabilities, but helps deliver great digital experiences for all users,” said Bob Farrell, Vice President of Solution Delivery and CX Practices for Applause. “However, prioritizing accessibility needs to come with the right investments. While automation can be a valuable tool when used as part of a mature accessibility testing strategy, it should bolster, not replace, internal resources,” said Farrell. “Many accessibility issues are simply not machine-detectable, and though AI is already improving issue discoverability, it too is still not a stand-in for real human perspectives.”
The Digital Accessibility Survey is part of the State of Digital Quality content series from Applause. In May 2023, the company released its second annual State of Digital Quality Report, which analyzes a representative sample of its testing data and reports on the most common flaws in digital experiences in several industries, including retail, finance, media and telecommunications, and travel and hospitality.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS
Blog Post: Digital Accessibility in 2024: Some Progress, Some Plateaus
About Applause
Applause is a world leader in testing and digital quality. Brands today win or lose customers through digital interactions, and Applause delivers authentic feedback on the quality of digital assets and experiences, provided by real users in real-world settings. Our disruptive approach harnesses the power of the Applause platform and leverages the uTest community of more than one million independent digital testers worldwide. Unlike traditional testing methods (including lab-based and offshoring), Applause responds with the speed, scale and flexibility that digital-focused brands require and expect. Applause provides insightful, actionable testing results that can directly inform go/no go release decisions, helping development teams build better and faster, and release with confidence. Digital-first brands rely on Applause as a best practice to deliver the digital experiences their customers love.
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