Written by Technical Team | Last updated 01.08.2025 | 7 minute read
Accessibility is no longer a “nice‑to‑have”. It is a fundamental principle in modern web app development, ensuring that every individual—whether living with permanent, temporary, or situational impairments—can seamlessly navigate and interact with digital platforms. This article explores why accessibility is non‑negotiable, the UK’s legal requirements, and how professional web app development companies build inclusivity into their work.
Accessibility is first and foremost a matter of equality. Excluding people from the digital world because of a disability, age‑related limitation, or situational barrier is not only unethical but also harmful to social inclusion. An app that is not accessible creates digital discrimination, restricting opportunities for employment, education, healthcare, and social participation. Businesses committed to fairness must embrace accessibility as part of their corporate responsibility.
In the UK, accessibility in digital products is also a legal obligation. The Equality Act 2010 prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities and requires “reasonable adjustments” to ensure fair access. Public‑sector organisations face additional duties under the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018, which mandate compliance with recognised standards such as WCAG 2.2 AA. These regulations compel public organisations to publish accessibility statements, conduct regular audits, and maintain accessible design. While private companies are not bound by the 2018 Regulations, they remain fully liable under the Equality Act if their services exclude disabled users.
There is also significant business incentive. In the UK, more than 16 million people identify as disabled, and when combined with older people and those facing situational limitations, the potential market expands dramatically. This so‑called “Purple Pound” represents an estimated £250 billion in spending power each year. Businesses that ignore accessibility effectively shut themselves out of this enormous market, while those that prioritise inclusivity see higher engagement, improved loyalty, and stronger reputations.
It’s important to note that accessibility improvements benefit everyone, not just people with disabilities. Features such as keyboard navigation, clear labelling, and well‑structured content make life easier for users in noisy environments, people accessing content on small screens, and those relying on voice control. In practice, good accessibility equates to good user experience for all.
Most UK web app development companies rely on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) as their foundation, with WCAG 2.2 AA serving as the current benchmark. Businesses with a presence in Europe also consider EN 301 549, which integrates WCAG principles into a binding ICT framework. Together, these ensure digital platforms are perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.
For interactive and dynamic content, developers make careful use of Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) attributes. These allow assistive technologies to interpret custom components such as sliders or modals, ensuring they function as intended for users with screen readers. However, ARIA is applied with care; semantic HTML is still preferred wherever possible to guarantee consistency.
Industry best practices complement these standards. This includes designing with high colour contrast, avoiding colour‑only cues, ensuring clear headings and labels, and providing captions or transcripts for all time‑based media. Collectively, these measures ensure compliance while delivering real usability benefits.
In addition, many UK organisations follow ISO 30071‑1, the international successor to the British Standard BS 8878. This framework guides organisations through embedding accessibility throughout the digital development lifecycle, from planning and procurement to testing and maintenance.
Leading companies treat accessibility as a core principle, integrated from the earliest design stage rather than retrofitted later. Prototypes incorporate scalable fonts, high‑contrast palettes, and predictable navigation patterns. By making accessibility part of the design system, businesses avoid costly adjustments after launch and create inclusive digital products by default.
Development teams embed accessibility into the code itself. Semantic HTML tags define structure and meaning; all functionality is accessible using a keyboard; multimedia content comes with captions and transcripts; and users are given control over auto‑playing elements or animations. Developers apply ARIA attributes only when native HTML cannot communicate a component’s role or state.
Testing is rigorous and multi‑layered. Automated tools flag common issues, but manual testing with screen readers such as NVDA, VoiceOver, and JAWS ensures deeper coverage. Just as importantly, companies involve people with disabilities in real usability sessions. These sessions often reveal barriers that automated tests miss, such as confusing focus order or inadequate descriptions of dynamic changes.
Governance underpins this process. Many organisations publish accessibility statements, maintain issue‑tracking for accessibility bugs, and create formal charters or policies to hold themselves accountable. Accessibility checks are built into quality assurance pipelines, ensuring they remain part of ongoing sprints rather than a one‑time activity.
Accessibility offers a powerful combination of legal protection and commercial gain. In the UK, the Equality Act 2010 provides grounds for individuals to bring claims if they cannot access a digital service. For public‑sector bodies, the 2018 Accessibility Regulations add stricter obligations and require transparency through published accessibility statements. Companies that fail to comply risk reputational harm, legal costs, and even regulatory enforcement.
On the other hand, the rewards for inclusive design are significant. The Purple Pound continues to grow, and businesses that cater to it benefit from greater reach and stronger brand loyalty. Accessible apps often reduce support queries, as intuitive interfaces are easier to navigate. They also enhance search engine optimisation: semantic structures, alt text, and transcripts not only assist users but improve content discoverability.
Accessibility is also a driver of innovation. Many features we now take for granted—voice assistants, predictive text, responsive layouts—originated as accessibility solutions. By prioritising inclusivity, companies position themselves at the forefront of digital innovation.
Web app development companies in the UK typically follow these core principles:
These practices ensure apps are accessible not only in principle but in everyday use.
Collaboration is key to success. Designers must select accessible colour palettes and typography; developers must implement semantic markup; QA testers must perform both automated and manual checks; product managers must prioritise accessibility in roadmaps; and people with disabilities must be involved in usability testing. When all stakeholders contribute, accessibility becomes embedded, not an afterthought.
Accessibility fits naturally into agile development when addressed continuously. During backlog grooming, user stories include acceptance criteria related to accessibility. Design reviews check prototypes for compliance before development begins. Code reviews incorporate accessibility checklists, and continuous integration pipelines run automated accessibility tests.
Assistive technology testing is carried out as part of sprint reviews, and feedback from users with disabilities is logged and acted upon in subsequent sprints. Post‑launch, accessibility is monitored in real‑world conditions to ensure apps remain inclusive as content and features evolve. This ensures accessibility is a living commitment, not a box ticked before release.
The UK is preparing for the wider impact of the European Accessibility Act in 2025, which will affect many digital products available in the single market. UK companies serving EU customers will need to ensure compliance to remain competitive. Meanwhile, advances in artificial intelligence are opening new opportunities: automatic captioning, AI‑generated alt text, and natural language voice controls are becoming more sophisticated and widely available.
These innovations, while not substitutes for thorough accessibility practices, offer powerful tools to enhance inclusivity. The most forward‑thinking UK web app developers are already exploring how to combine traditional accessibility principles with AI‑driven enhancements, ensuring their apps remain cutting‑edge while fully inclusive.
Accessibility in web app development is non‑negotiable. In the UK, it is mandated by law, demanded by ethics, and reinforced by strong business incentives. From the Equality Act 2010 to the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018, the legal framework ensures that digital products must be designed for all users.
Companies that embed accessibility from the earliest stages, test with real users, and view inclusivity as a cultural value deliver superior apps that are both compliant and competitive. Accessibility is not just a legal or technical requirement—it is the foundation of a digital experience that truly serves everyone.
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