An annual survey by Applause, a provider of testing and quality digital services, found that less than a quarter of European websites meet digital accessibility standards.
The recently completed Accessibility and Inclusive Design Survey of more than 1,300 respondents (805 in Europe), including software testers, product engineers, legal professionals, software developers, quality assurance and UX professionals, examines how companies prioritize accessibility when developing their digital experiences and how the respondents evaluate their level of knowledge regarding accessibility.
According to the survey, digital accessibility is a top priority for a third of European organizations despite a lack of developer skills and compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 standards.
The WCAG 2.1 standards specify how web content can be made more accessible for people with disabilities.
Results showed that less than a quarter of European websites meet WCAG 2.1 digital accessibility standards and a third of European organizations have very basic digital accessibility skills.
In addition, it was found that only 15 percent of European product developers always write code with accessibility in mind, while 40 percent of European product developers do not integrate accessibility into their design plans.
Overall, the study revealed a disconnect between prioritizing accessibility and adhering to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 standards to make web and mobile content more accessible for people with disabilities.
Bob Farrell, VP of Solution Delivery and CX Practices at Applause, said: “With the upcoming update of WCAG standards this summer and the implementation of the EU Accessibility Act in June 2025, companies must commit to increasing their focus on accessibility and inclusivity to judge.” for their digital products and experiences.
“Advancing accessibility often requires education and cultural change within organizations. When there’s a disconnect between prioritizing accessibility and actually taking the steps necessary to make it a reality, it’s difficult to make progress.”
In the survey, a third said accessibility was a “top priority” for their organizations, although 14 percent said accessibility was either not a priority at all or a low priority.
62 percent of respondents said digital accessibility was a higher priority for their organizations than last year, up nearly 20 percent.
Despite this, only 21 percent said their website conformed to WCAG 2.1 standards, two-tenths said it didn’t, while more than half said they didn’t know.
When asked if there is a group or individual responsible for making digital products accessible, 21 percent said no and 22 percent said they didn’t know.
A third said they had a very basic knowledge of digital accessibility, while less than a tenth said they had none.
Of the engineers surveyed, 36 percent said they rarely write code with accessibility in mind, 38 percent said they sometimes do, but only 15 percent said they always do.
Even more encouragingly, three-fifths of product developers surveyed said they built accessibility into their design plans from the earliest stages.
Bob continued, “The survey shows that we haven’t seen much progress over the past three years, and there’s even a growing trend that product developers are less likely to incorporate accessibility into their design plans.
“Digital accessibility requires an ongoing commitment to creating inclusive experiences, designing products and writing code with accessibility in mind, and then testing digital properties for accessibility throughout the development process.”
Train operator Greater Anglia has recently updated its website to allow visitors to access online content and services more easily and in a way that best suits their needs.
https://thiis.co.uk/global-survey-reveals-less-than-a-quarter-of-european-websites-meet-digital-accessibility-standards/https://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/healthcare-technology.jpghttps://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/healthcare-technology-150×150.jpgnewsroomReports & ResearchIndustry NewsAccessibility, accessibility survey, accessible product design, accessible websites, inclusive design, website accessibilityAn annual survey by Applause, a provider of testing and quality digital services, found that less than a quarter of European websites meet digital accessibility standards. The recently completed Accessibility and Inclusive Design survey of more than 1,300 respondents (805 in Europe), including software testers, product engineers, legal professionals…Millie Yorkmillie
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