Digital accessibility drives business growth as AI adoption accelerates

Level Access released research on November 13, 2025, showing digital accessibility has emerged as a quantifiable driver of business growth rather than merely a compliance exercise. The State of Digital Accessibility Report 2025-2026 surveyed more than 1,600 professionals across the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe during July and August 2025, revealing widespread recognition that accessibility improvements deliver measurable business outcomes.

The findings demonstrate a maturation of corporate attitudes toward digital accessibility. According to the research, 91% of respondents reported that accessibility enhanced user experience. Customer satisfaction improved for 90% of organizations prioritizing accessibility, while 88% saw brand reputation benefits. Revenue gains appeared among 75% of respondents who treated accessibility as strategic priority rather than regulatory burden.

"Businesses now see accessibility as much more than a compliance box-checking exercise," said Tresilian Segal, Chief Marketing Officer at Level Access. "There is a recognition that accessibility, when treated as a strategic priority, has the potential to drive innovation, enhance brand perception, and deliver tangible financial returns."

The report identified three core elements distinguishing mature accessibility programs from less developed initiatives: formal digital accessibility policies, designated accountability structures within organizations, and dedicated budgets. Most organizations (77%) now maintain all three components, suggesting significant progress since Level Access began tracking industry metrics in 2019 through its partnership with the Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs and the International Association of Accessibility Professionals.

Budget commitments appear sustainable. The research found that 68% of organizations plan to increase or maintain current spending levels on digital accessibility over the coming year. This financial commitment reflects executive recognition of accessibility's strategic value rather than temporary regulatory response.

Artificial intelligence integration represents the most significant technological shift documented in the report. More than eight in ten respondents (82%) indicated their organizations now incorporate AI tools into accessibility strategies. Organizations with mature accessibility programs—defined by the presence of policy, accountability, and budget structures—proved 57% more likely to deploy AI capabilities than organizations lacking these foundational elements.

The correlation between program maturity and AI adoption suggests sophisticated organizations view artificial intelligence as force multiplier for accessibility initiatives rather than replacement for human expertise. AI agents have transformed advertising workflows across multiple platforms throughout 2025, with similar automation capabilities extending to accessibility testing and remediation.

Despite progress indicators, significant maturity gaps persist in how organizations approach accessibility throughout development processes. Only 28% of respondents address accessibility during planning stages for digital assets, while just 27% incorporate accessibility considerations during design phases. This downstream approach contradicts best practices that emphasize early-stage integration.

"Executives are committed to accessibility, at a strategic level, yet many teams remain stuck solving technical issues downstream," says Corbb O'Connor, Director of Accessibility Advocacy at Level Access. "They still lack the time, tools, and guidance to innovate with disabled users in mind. Accessibility must be prioritized at the start of the digital development life cycle—not just to reduce risk, but to unlock inclusive innovation and ensure organizations can deliver on their promises."

The consequences of late-stage accessibility implementation extend beyond inefficiency. Organizations addressing accessibility after development completion face substantially higher remediation costs compared to those integrating accessibility from project inception. The reactive approach also increases legal exposure during the period between product launch and accessibility compliance.

Legal risk perceptions vary significantly by sector and geography. Overall, 59% of respondents felt their organizations face exposure to legal or regulatory action during the coming year. However, this concern intensifies dramatically within specific sectors. Among U.S. public sector organizations, 80% of respondents anticipated legal risk—a 21-percentage-point gap compared to the broader sample.

The heightened concern among public sector respondents reflects both regulatory reality and procurement requirements. Government entities operate under stricter accessibility mandates than most private sector organizations, with Section 508 requirements in the United States establishing comprehensive technical standards. Almost half (49%) of respondents citing legal vulnerability identified insufficient processes supporting digital accessibility as the primary risk factor.

European Accessibility Act compliance presents additional challenges. While 76% of respondents acknowledged the legislation applies to their organizations, only 37% reported full compliance status. The discrepancy suggests many organizations remain exposed to regulatory action as EAA enforcement commenced in 2025. Privacy regulations continue proliferating across jurisdictions, creating parallel compliance burdens for digital properties.

Leadership support emerged as critical differentiator in accessibility program outcomes. Respondents at organizations with highly supportive leadership teams were nearly seven times more likely to report that digital accessibility contributes to improved revenue compared to respondents lacking executive backing. Leadership commitment also reduced perceived legal risk by 25% compared to organizations without strong executive support.

Training effectiveness showed similarly dramatic impact on program results. Organizations with highly effective accessibility training were more than 2.5 times as likely to approach accessibility proactively rather than reactively. This finding suggests that knowledge gaps rather than resource constraints often limit accessibility progress.

"This year's findings reinforce what we've observed across the global business community: organizations that prioritize empowering their workforce with accessibility knowledge and skills unlock measurable business benefits, including improved customer experience," said Christopher M. Lee, CEO of G3ict. "We hope organizations use this data as added motivation to embed accessibility into their cultural practices and business strategy in 2026."

The research methodology provides confidence in findings. Independent market research firm Vanson Bourne conducted the quantitative analysis, surveying 1,622 professionals during a two-month period. The sample concentrated among large organizations, with 90% of respondents working at companies employing more than 1,000 people. Senior management or executive-level professionals comprised 81% of participants, while 42% held top-level management positions.

Geographic distribution spanned major markets. U.S.-based respondents represented 53% of the sample, while European and U.K. participants accounted for 45%. The concentration among enterprise organizations and senior leadership positions suggests findings reflect strategic perspectives rather than operational-level implementation challenges.

Private sector organizations dominated the sample at 74%, with public sector entities comprising the remaining 25%. This distribution enables meaningful comparison between sectors while maintaining sufficient public sector representation to identify sector-specific patterns like the elevated legal risk perceptions documented in the findings.

The report identifies reduced legal risk (86%), competitive advantage (89%), and improved revenue (75%) as key benefits organizations associate with digital accessibility investments. These perceptions align with broader market trends showing AI adoption accelerating across marketing operations while organizations seek efficiency gains through automation.

For marketing professionals, the accessibility findings carry particular significance given increasing regulatory scrutiny of digital properties. Compliance requirements continue expanding across privacy and consumer protection domains, creating compounding obligations for digital asset owners. Organizations treating accessibility as isolated compliance function rather than integrated business practice face mounting challenges as regulatory frameworks mature.

The disconnect between accessibility awareness and implementation timing presents opportunities for forward-thinking organizations. Companies integrating accessibility from project inception gain cost advantages while reducing legal exposure compared to competitors addressing accessibility reactively. This competitive dynamic may accelerate adoption among organizations recognizing strategic value beyond compliance requirements.

The report positions 2026 as critical year for embedding accessibility into organizational culture and business strategy. Organizations maintaining current investment levels while improving implementation practices can achieve significant progress without proportional budget increases. However, success requires shifting accessibility considerations earlier in development processes rather than treating accessibility as final-stage checklist item.

Timeline

• July-August 2025: Vanson Bourne conducted survey of 1,622 digital experience professionals across U.S., U.K., and Europe
• November 13, 2025: Level Access released State of Digital Accessibility Report 2025-2026
• Throughout 2025: AI agent adoption accelerated across advertising platforms with automation extending to accessibility testing
• 2019-2025: Level Access produced annual accessibility reports tracking industry maturity progression
• Ongoing: Organizations implementing AI-powered marketing tools incorporating accessibility considerations

Summary

Who: Level Access, in partnership with Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs (G3ict) and International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP), surveyed 1,622 digital experience professionals at organizations with 1,000+ employees across private and public sectors.

What: Research revealed 77% of organizations now maintain mature accessibility programs with policy, budget, and accountability structures in place. However, only 28% address accessibility during planning stages and 27% during design phases. AI adoption reached 82% among respondents' accessibility strategies, while 75% reported accessibility contributing to improved revenue.

When: Survey conducted during July and August 2025. Results released November 13, 2025, marking the seventh annual State of Digital Accessibility Report since 2019.

Where: Research covered organizations across United States (53% of respondents), United Kingdom, and Europe (45% of respondents), with findings applicable globally to organizations serving users with disabilities.

Why: Digital accessibility affects 1.3 billion people with disabilities globally who control more than $15 trillion in spending power alongside friends and family. Organizations prioritizing accessibility reduce legal risk (86% of respondents), gain competitive advantage (89%), and improve customer satisfaction (90%) while addressing compliance requirements including Americans with Disabilities Act and European Accessibility Act.