As digital services become embedded in nearly every aspect of life – from healthcare and education to employment and welfare – accessibility must be treated as a core part of national infrastructure. If systems are not accessible, they are not complete. If people cannot use a digital service, it cannot be considered successful.
The legal obligation is clear. The Equality Act 2010 requires providers to make reasonable adjustments, including in digital environments. Nevertheless, accessibility audits continue to show failures across the public sector. Inaccessible websites and platforms limit not only who can use a service, but also who can benefit from it.
This is not just a matter of fairness. It is also a matter of public value. The combined spending power of disabled people and their households in the UK is estimated at £274 billion per year. When digital services are inaccessible, providers are not only failing their legal duty – they are excluding millions from participation and undermining their own reach and relevance.
“Accessibility is not a technical feature – it is a public good. If we treat it as infrastructure, we build systems that are stronger, fairer, and future-proof,” says Joel Tiller, Head of External Affairs at the Digital Poverty Alliance.
Building a digital UK for everyone means ensuring accessibility is built in from the start. It should not rely on goodwill, workarounds, or retrofitting. It must be a baseline expectation, supported by national policy, cross-sector collaboration, and cultural change.
Join us in our mission to end digital poverty
If you have an unused laptop or tablet at home, consider donating it to the DPA. Your old device could open new opportunities for someone in your community – helping them access education, find work, or simply stay connected.