Digital accessibility platforms help organizations ensure that digital interfaces, like websites, apps, software, etc., are compliant with digital accessibility regulations. Digital accessibility platforms act as a one-stop shop for digital accessibility needs. The purpose of these platforms is to ensure that those with disabilities are able to access and use websites and other software applications properly.
Digital accessibility platforms are used primarily by development teams to ensure that the interfaces they create are accessible and compliant. Some companies utilize digital accessibility experts who monitor compliance and progress using such platforms. Digital accessibility platforms are often broken up into different modules that address specific parts of the digital accessibility process, from testing to fixing errors to monitoring compliance. Modules may include tools to help development teams and QA teams to detect accessibility errors during design, coding, and pre-release stages.
Content and marketing teams use these platforms to ensure website text, images, and multimedia meet accessibility standards. Compliance and accessibility operations teams monitor live websites for regressions, generate accessibility reports, and track organizational progress toward Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) or Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance. Companies selling digital accessibility software often also offer custom fixes and expert-driven remediation services alongside their software solutions.
Digital accessibility platforms provide all the essential features for ensuring accessibility-compliant digital interfaces. However, they may integrate with media & document accessibility and standalone digital accessibility tools for advanced functionality.
To qualify for inclusion in the Digital Accessibility Platforms category, a product must:
Automatically scan for and identify accessibility issues based on WCAG
Offer remediation guidance and monitoring capabilities
Include onboarding guides, checklists, interactive workflows, educational resources, and role-based training or certification
Generate reports on accessibility issues
Provide dashboards, analytics, compliance tracking, and insights to help manage and improve digital accessibility across assets
