2024 has been the year of AI, particularly generative AI, which has revolutionized industries by automating repetitive tasks, enhancing productivity, and supporting professionals in maintaining best practices. In fields like design, coding, and testing, AI has emerged as a valuable tool to accelerate workflows and elevate output quality.
However, AI has not—and likely will not—supplant human expertise, especially in complex and nuanced domains like web accessibility. The true power of AI lies in its ability to augment human capabilities, enabling professionals to achieve more precise and impactful outcomes.
With this context, here's how I envision the future of web accessibility evolving in 2025 and beyond:
1. AI Will Drive Accessibility Implementation in Design
From Plugins to Core Accessibility
Design platforms such as Figma rely on third-party plugins to assist designers in embedding accessibility into their workflows. However, these tools will likely become the platforms' core features as AI advances.
Platforms will integrate AI directly into design environments, guiding designers in ensuring accessibility from the start. Accessibility annotations, specifications for developers, and proactive guidance on best practices will become standard, ensuring that accessibility is "baked in" rather than treated as an afterthought.
Shift-Left Accessibility
The broader trend of shifting accessibility considerations earlier in the development lifecycle will gain momentum. This approach—"shift-left accessibility"—reduces the complexity and costs associated with retroactive fixes. It aligns with modern methodologies like Agile and DevOps, enabling teams to build inclusivity into their projects from day one.
Read more about shift-left accessibility.
2. AI Co-Pilots for Real-Time Guidance
For DevelopersAI will evolve into an indispensable developer assistant, offering real-time guidance directly within development environments. Tools like in-platform co-pilots will flag accessibility issues as developers write code, ensuring adherence to standards like WCAG and W3C without requiring extensive post-development testing.
Instant Feedback and Specifications
Rather than relying on separate tools to identify accessibility issues after coding, AI will deliver instant feedback. Developers will receive real-time suggestions to improve technical specifications, creating a seamless workflow that embeds accessibility as an integral part of coding practices.
Explore AI accessibility challenges from a blind user's perspective.
3. The Demand for Remediation Services will Intensify
Addressing Legacy Websites
While new tools will significantly improve proactive accessibility measures, they won't resolve existing website and application issues. Companies will continue to grapple with pre-existing accessibility barriers, creating a growing demand for remediation services to bring these platforms into compliance with accessibility standards.
AI's Role in Supporting Remediation
AI is transforming remediation workflows by enhancing efficiency and supporting developers. Here's how AI can help:
- Streamlined Tasks: Automates repetitive work like labeling images or analyzing code structures, saving time.
- Smart Suggestions: Generates text summaries and labels for international or multilingual sites, making remediation more efficient.
- Contextual Insights: Analyzes page content to define key elements like headings, link purposes, and navigation titles.
- Robust Fixes: Identifies coding structures to ensure compliant and resilient fixes.
While AI handles repetitive tasks, skilled developers remain essential for complex challenges. Combining AI with human expertise ensures nuanced, high-quality fixes that deliver functional and inclusive results.
If you’re unsure where to start with website remediation, take our quick Website Accessibility Remediation Quiz to identify your needs and get tailored guidance.
Characteristics of Effective Remediation Services
Companies seeking remediation should prioritize vendors that:
- Lead With Skilled Developers Supported by AI: Vendors should use AI to enhance productivity but rely on developers to address deeper issues.
- Prioritize Functional Accessibility: Beyond compliance, vendors should deliver seamless user experiences, ensuring users can accomplish key tasks on the site.
- Provide Verification and Indemnification: Vendors should back up their fixes with legal indemnification to protect businesses from lawsuits.
4. Legal Cases and New Laws to Continue Driving Change
The growing number of accessibility-related laws and the continued volume of legal cases highlight the critical importance of prioritizing accessibility. One significant development is the EU Accessibility Act, which is not only establishing accessibility standards across the European Union but also driving individual countries to adopt their national accessibility laws. This means businesses operating in Europe may face compliance requirements under up to 27 different national laws, making accessibility a global and urgent priority.
Beyond Europe, accessibility enforcement is gaining momentum worldwide, reflecting a universal commitment to ensuring that digital environments are inclusive for everyone. These laws increasingly emphasize human oversight's importance in accessibility efforts, especially as organizations incorporate tools like AI to support compliance.
While AI can play a valuable role in identifying accessibility issues, regulations—including those related to general AI usage—are making it clear that autonomous systems cannot replace the need for human judgment. For example, the EU AI Act and similar frameworks stress the necessity of human oversight to prevent AI from unintentionally creating or perpetuating barriers for people with disabilities. These standards reinforce the message that accessibility is a legal obligation and a moral imperative that requires thoughtful and intentional human involvement.
Organizations must adapt to these global trends, ensuring that accessibility remains at the forefront of their digital strategies—not only to comply with evolving laws but to foster inclusivity and avoid risks like litigation and reputational harm. Accessibility is essential for creating equitable digital experiences and thriving in a rapidly changing regulatory landscape.
5. Accessibility as a Core Business Strategy
Companies will integrate accessibility into their brand values, realizing that inclusivity drives broader market engagement and long-term ROI. By prioritizing accessibility, organizations meet legal and compliance requirements and unlock significant business opportunities. For example, inclusive websites improve the shopping experience for customers with disabilities, driving loyalty and increasing conversions.
Web accessibility also strengthens a brand's reputation, demonstrating social responsibility and aligning with the values of a broader audience. This strategy enables companies to stay competitive in a marketplace increasingly shaped by ethical consumerism.
With regulations like the European Accessibility Act (EAA) coming into force by June 2025, embedding accessibility into core business practices will be a legal requirement. The EAA emphasizes equal access across all digital platforms, presenting both a challenge and an opportunity for companies to lead in accessibility innovation. Read about the business imperative of web accessibility.
Prepare for 2025: Pre-Register for the End-of-Year Lawsuit Report
The data and insights from our end-of-year lawsuit report can help guide your accessibility initiatives in 2025. Stay ahead of trends, understand compliance risks, and discover actionable strategies to create a more inclusive digital experience. Pre-register for the report now.
