This content originally appeared on TPGi and was authored by David Sloan
The accessibility conference season is in full swing, showcasing the creativity, commitment and enthusiasm that exists around improving accessibility of the digital world to people with disabilities. On the eve of the 40th annual edition of the annual CSUN Conference on Assistive Technology, this seems a good time to take a moment to reflect on the year so far and what lies ahead.
This year has started off with uncertainty in the digital accessibility world, following communications on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) issued by the new U.S. presidential administration. These communications have created ambiguity in the U.S. and wider afield on the future of digital accessibility. However, subsequent clarification from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has indicated that executive orders relating to ending federal DEI programs do not apply to disability accessibility programs mandated by law.
Regardless, the reasons for investing in digital accessibility are as strong as ever.
- The number of people who benefit from accessibility is large and, with an ageing population, continues to grow. First and foremost, this includes people with disabilities, estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to be over 61 million people in the U.S. alone, and by the World Health Organization to be over 1.3 billion people globally. There is also a huge and diverse secondary population of people who may not meet the definition of disabled but who also substantially benefit from digital accessibility. That may be due to temporary illness or impairment, or environmental or situational constraints.
- A focus on accessibility helps improve the quality of digital resources, imcreasing usability and utility. In turn, this supports public and private organizations improve the efficiency and the quality of the services, programs, products, and activities they provide.
- Accessible digital resources help people with disabilities and others with accessibility needs successfully contribute to society in the workplace, in education, and in community efforts.
- Technological advancements have expanded our dependence on digital interactions, from websites and mobile apps to self-service devices now common in grocery stores, airports, restaurants, medical facilities, and other public spaces.
Legislation remains in place in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world that mandates digital products and services are accessible to and usable by people with disabilities. Significantly:
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II rule on web content and mobile app accessibility, providing requirements for state and local governments, remains in place with a deadline for larger organizations to meet the rule’s requirements by April 24th 2026.
- The European Accessibility Act (EAA) defines accessibility requirements that must be met by specific products and services available to consumers in the European Union, regardless of where the product manufacturer or service provider is based. The first deadline for meeting requirements is June 28th 2025, with non-conformance creating potential consequences for access to the European market.
TPGi and Vispero are committed to supporting digital accessibility through providing:
- Quality consulting and support services and tools to help organizations in their digital accessibility efforts.
- Leading assistive technology to help people who are blind or have low vision independently and successfully access and use digital resources.
We encourage all creators of digital content and providers of digital accessibility solutions to continue their focus on making the digital world accessible. The economic and social benefits of these efforts are real. As the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)’s Web Accessibility Initiative puts it, accessibility is “essential for some and useful for all.”
The post Digital Accessibility in 2025 – looking back and looking forward appeared first on TPGi.
This content originally appeared on TPGi and was authored by David Sloan
David Sloan | Sciencx (2025-03-09T17:00:39+00:00) Digital Accessibility in 2025 – looking back and looking forward. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/03/09/digital-accessibility-in-2025-looking-back-and-looking-forward/
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