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Designing for everyone: Why digital access is now a must-have

There’s a great divide.

And it’s one that’s often overlooked; unnoticed in the frantic flurry of everyday life. 

While technology keeps advancing at a rapid pace, we might not always think of those left behind: not everyone can access or use technology equally. 

This is the digital divide. 

With the digital world being woven into nearly every part of modern life – from education and healthcare to banking, shopping, and government services – it’s a divide that can accelerate the growth of other forms of inequality.  

That’s where digital access comes in.

Digital access means ensuring everyone, regardless of ability or circumstance, has equal opportunity to use digital tools, websites, and services. It’s about removing barriers that prevent people from participating in online life – whether it’s because of disability, age, device limitations, or other reasons.

Digital access is something that many organizations overlook. But those that embrace it only stand to benefit, especially with governments around the world encouraging its adoption.

By the end of this post, you’ll know the ins and outs of digital access, how you can get your business closer to compliance, and how you can help contribute to closing the digital divide.

Why digital access matters in today’s world

So much of everyday life relies on the digital world. We register for healthcare appointments, apply for jobs, pay bills, study, shop and connect with others – all through digital platforms. 

But not everyone can do these things easily. When websites or apps aren’t designed with digital access in mind, they effectively shut out billions of people.

It’s true: 2.6 billion people around the world don’t have digital access. That means they don’t enjoy the same opportunities and conveniences as the rest of the population.  

That’s why digital access is so important. It ensures no one, regardless of circumstance or disability, is left behind. 

Key barriers to digital access

Even with the best intentions, many digital experiences still leave people behind. Here are some of the most common barriers:

  • Design that doesn’t consider diverse needs: Complex layouts, low-contrast colors, missing alt text, and inaccessible forms make it hard – or impossible – for users with visual, cognitive, or motor impairments to navigate content.
  • Lack of assistive technology support: Some websites and apps aren’t compatible with screen readers, keyboard navigation, or other assistive tools that many users rely on every day.
  • Language and literacy challenges: Complicated language, lack of translations and inaccessible documentation can alienate users who speak different languages or have lower literacy levels.
  • Device and connectivity limitations: Many people rely on mobile devices or slower internet connections. If a site is slow to load or not mobile-responsive, it instantly becomes unusable for a significant number of users.
  • Unclear or inconsistent UX: Confusing navigation, missing labels, and inconsistent layouts can create frustrating experiences – especially for users with cognitive or neurological conditions.

The role of web accessibility in digital access

Web accessibility is a cornerstone of digital access. It ensures that websites, apps, and digital tools are designed in a way so that everyone can perceive, navigate, and interact with them effectively.

At its core, web accessibility is built around four key principles: content should be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust – often referred to as the POUR principles. These are the foundation of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and the EU’s accessibility standards.

Accessible design is about creating digital spaces that work for different needs, contexts, and abilities. That means:

  • Providing text alternatives for images and multimedia
  • Ensuring keyboard-only navigation is possible
  • Using sufficient contrast and readable font sizes
  • Structuring content clearly with headings and labels
  • Making sure interactive elements (like buttons and forms) are compatible with assistive technology

When done right, web accessibility enhances digital experiences for all users, not just those with permanent disabilities. It supports aging populations, users in noisy environments, or people dealing with temporary impairments – ensuring everyone has equal digital access, no matter their ability or circumstance.  

Digital access and inclusive technology

Inclusive technology is a powerful enabler of digital access. It ensures people can independently access information, complete tasks and participate in digital spaces without needing help or workarounds – the essence of digital access.

Inclusive technology involves tools, platforms, and systems that adapt to people, such as:

  • Screen readers and text-to-speech software for people with vision impairments
  • Speech recognition tools for those who can’t use a keyboard or mouse
  • Keyboard-only navigation and voice assistants for users with motor disabilities
  • Transcripts, captions, and sign language interpretation for users who are deaf and hard-of-hearing
  • Simplified, distraction-free interfaces for people with cognitive or neurological conditions
  • Customizable visual settings (like text size, color contrast, or dark mode) for better readability
  • Responsive, lightweight design that supports low-bandwidth connections or mobile-only users

By embracing inclusive technology, organizations can reduce friction, reach more users, and create digital experiences that welcome everyone.

How governments and organizations promote digital access

Around the world, governments and organizations are stepping up with legislation  and strategic initiatives to close the digital divide:

Americans with Disabilities Act

In the US, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has long recognized accessibility as a civil right – and that increasingly includes digital spaces. 

While the ADA was originally written with physical accessibility in mind, courts have repeatedly interpreted its provisions to apply to websites, mobile apps, and other digital services. This has led to a growing number of lawsuits and settlements involving organizations whose digital platforms failed to accommodate users with disabilities. 

UK Accessibility legislation

In the UK, the Equality Act 2010 legally requires organizations to make reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities – including in digital contexts. But the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No.2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 go a step further, mandating that all UK public sector websites and apps meet the WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA standards, publish an accessibility statement, and maintain accessibility as they update their content.

The European Accessibility Act

In the EU, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a major milestone. It’s an EU directive that aims to improve access to key products and services for people with disabilities. It comes into force on June 28th 2025 and applies to businesses offering digital services or products to EU consumers.

The EAA requires these products and services to follow core accessibility principles and to be compatible with assistive technology. Businesses must also provide an accessibility statement explaining how their services meet the requirements.

While microenterprises are exempt, they’re encouraged to comply. Exemptions also apply to legacy systems, third-party content, and archived materials.

Beyond legislation, many organizations are weaving digital access into broader diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategies. This includes building inclusive design into any digital products they develop, ensuring their websites and apps meet accessibility guidelines, and training staff in accessibility best practices. 

And you can see, ensuring digital access is quickly becoming the norm across the world. Businesses that commit to improving accessibility by adhering to best practice will spare themselves the legal repercussions and penalties that come from non-compliance. 

Best practices for improving digital access

Improving digital access doesn’t have to be difficult. Small changes can make a big difference. Here are some best practices to build more inclusive digital experiences:

  • Start with accessibility in mind: Building digital access into your design and development processes from day one makes things easier – and it can be more affordable in the long run. 
  • Follow established standards: Use frameworks like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1 or higher) or, if applicable, the standards set in legislation such as the European Accessibility Act. These provide clear technical benchmarks for making content more accessible.
  • Make your content inclusive: Use clear, plain language. Structure pages with headings. Include alt text for images, captions for videos, and labels for form fields. Provide alternatives to flashing or moving content that can be distracting or harmful to certain users. 
  • Ensure keyboard navigation works: Many users rely on keyboards or assistive technologies to navigate. Make sure every interactive element can be accessed without a mouse.
  • Test with real users: Include users with disabilities in your testing processes to uncover barriers that tools might miss.
  • Be transparent: Publish an accessibility statement that outlines what you’re doing well and where you’re improving. 
  • Train your teams: Educate your designers, developers, content creators and marketers on accessibility principles and how they apply to their work.
  • Maintain accessibility over time: Accessibility isn’t a one-off task. As you add or update content, audit your platform regularly to ensure you’re not introducing new barriers.

As well as following these best practices, there are simple tools that can help you improve digital access with minimal setup

Digital access in education and the workplace

Digital access has become a non-negotiable in both classrooms and offices. As more learning and work shift online, ensuring inclusive access to tools and content is essential for legal compliance and equal opportunity.

In education

From online classes to digital textbooks, students now rely heavily on digital platforms. But when those platforms aren’t accessible, entire groups of learners are left at a disadvantage.

For example:

  • Course materials that don’t work with screen readers can prevent students from learning
  • Videos without captions exclude deaf or hard-of-hearing learners
  • Timed online tests without accommodations can be impossible for students with processing difficulties

Accessible digital education empowers all students to participate fully. By adopting inclusive platforms, training educators in accessibility best practices, and providing accessible materials, schools can ensure greater digital access for their students. 

In the workplace

Digital systems are now the foundation of today’s work environments – from onboarding processes to internal communications and productivity tools. 

If digital tools in the workplace aren’t accessible, they create barriers to productivity, inclusion and even hiring.

An inaccessible intranet, for example, can prevent employees from accessing HR resources. A virtual meeting platform without captions can exclude deaf and hard-of-hearing team members. Even inaccessible job application forms can filter out qualified candidates before they get a chance.

Accessible workplace tech supports diversity, equity, and inclusion and helps attract and retain talent from all backgrounds. It also improves collaboration, since accessible design often results in clearer communication and more user-friendly interfaces for everyone.

A win-win for people and business

Digital access is no longer optional. As more services, interactions, and systems move online, ensuring everyone can use them is both a legal obligation and a practical necessity.

Addressing the barriers to digital access in your products and services isn’t just the right thing to do. It reduces legal risk, improves user experience, and extends your reach to a wider customer base. 

Ensuring digital access is a win-win – and with our Accessibility Solution, you can start with just a couple of clicks.