New Contentsquare Foundation report shows that only 7 percent of websites score highly for digital accessibility

Barometer highlights continued disparity between public and private sectors, exposes accountability gap 

The Contentsquare Foundation, an organisation that champions digital accessibility, driving progress through education, advocacy, and support for research has released its second Digital Accessibility Barometer. The report provides a snapshot of the current state of digital accessibility compliance in six countries.

Using the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2) to assess levels of compliance across 17 accessibility criteria, the Barometer evaluates a total of 100 of the most visited websites across six countries – France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the US. The websites audited span various sectors, including public services, banking, media, and e-commerce.

Among the key findings:

• Only 7 percent of websites score 9/10 or higher, with 71 percent of those high scorers coming from public sector organisations. Among 100 websites audited, only one banking site and one e-commerce site achieved top scores.
• 56 percent of websites audited lack accessibility statements, highlighting a significant gap in transparency and accountability in digital accessibility. Notably, websites with accessibility statements achieve higher average scores (6.9/10) compared to those without (6.0/10).
• Public sector websites outperform the private sector overall, with an average score of 7.8, compared to 6.4 across all sectors audited. 
• Across Europe, public sector websites outperform private sector sites by 44 percent, highlighting the need for stronger enforcement mechanisms. In contrast, in the U.S., public sector websites score just 11 percent higher, as private sector websites are more heavily regulated under the ADA and face a significant rise in accessibility-related lawsuits.
• E-commerce and Media scored the lowest out of all sectors audited, with scores of 5.4/10 and 5.8/10, respectively.
• The US emerges as the top performer, with sites scoring an average of 7/10. This slight lead can be partly attributed to robust legal frameworks like the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), strong enforcement mechanisms, and an increase in high-profile class action lawsuits.

“The Barometer’s findings underscore the pressing need for organizations to prioritize accessibility — not just to meet regulatory deadlines, but to deliver inclusive experiences for everyone,” said Marion Ranvier, Executive Director of the Contentsquare Foundation. “With 1.3 Billion people in the world living with a disability, digital inclusion should be a focus for organizations of all types, both in the private and public sectors.”

One of the biggest obstacles to digital accessibility is a lack of awareness and expertise within organisations, as well as resistance to change. Many companies underestimate the importance of accessibility or view it as a compliance burden rather than a critical component of user experience and inclusivity. Many of the most common online accessibility barriers can serve as valuable starting points for improving accessibility. Among them:

• Media and moving content: Ensure videos and animations include captions and transcripts and provide controls to pause or stop autoplay content to support users with disabilities or sensitivities.
• Colour and text adaptability: Improve colour contrast for better readability and offer options to adjust text size, spacing, and contrast to support users with visual impairments.
• Images: Add descriptive alt-text to images so that screen reader users can access important visual information.
• Keyboard navigation: Ensure all interactive elements, such as menus and forms, are fully operable using a keyboard to accommodate users without mouse control.

“Bridging the accessibility gap requires proactive measures, including investing in training programs to build internal expertise and fostering a culture of accessibility. You really need everyone on board — starting with your leadership team,” said Marion Ranvier.

To view the full 2024 Digital Accessibility Barometer, please visit this link.

Image courtesy of Pexels. Photo credit: Tima Miroshnichenko.