- Since January, 56% of assistive tech (AT) users have hit inaccessible apps
- 44% of AT users are highly likely to abandon apps with poor accessibility
- 60% of brands use AI coding tools to address accessibility issues
- But 53% express concerns about the accuracy of AI tools
Applause, the global leader in managed software testing services and digital quality, released the results of its sixth annual State of Digital Quality in Accessibility. While 78% of organizations use AI to improve digital accessibility in their websites and applications, 56% of assistive technology (AT) users have regularly encountered inaccessible apps since January 1, 2026. Most organizations validate automated results with manual testing, but without engaging the disability community in review, issues are missed.
The report is based on Applause’s 2026 survey of more than 500 development and QA professionals and over 1,000 people who use AT such as screen readers, captioning, font magnification and alt navigation. 66% of respondents find it difficult or impossible to interact with digital technology without AT. 92% of AT users are likely to abandon experiences with poor accessibility.
AT users are consistently blocked by accessibility issues when using apps, to the extent that they are unable to complete basic tasks. This year, 28% of users have experienced issues monthly and 17% weekly. This trend impacts business, as 44% of users said they are highly likely to abandon apps with poor accessibility. But there is an incentive to get it right, as 97% of AT users are loyal to brands that offer accessible experiences — 62% of them are “extremely loyal.”
In response, brands are using AI to address accessibility throughout development: using AI coding tools to address/remediate accessibility issues (60%), and coding agents to generate accessible code on new features (58%). Another 56% deliver AI-powered features, while 47% scan sites or apps for accessibility issues, and 45% generate captions or subtitles for audio or video.
There is growing confidence that AI can eliminate accessibility concerns — 22% of respondents believe their AI-powered auditing tools accurately identify 75% or more of accessibility issues. Conversely, 53% of AI accessibility scanning tool users expressed concerns about tool accuracy, 24% reported their tools flag false issues, while another 13% said their tools miss issues altogether. Fortunately, when it comes to accessibility testing, humans are still in the loop, with only 10% of organizations relying on AI-powered accessibility tools alone. 90% validate automated test results with some sort of manual testing.
“More teams are incorporating AI-powered accessibility testing tools into the development process, even at the coding stage,” said Bob Farrell, VP of Solutions Delivery & Accessibility, Applause. “However, these tools miss up to 80% of meaningful accessibility issues that are not machine discoverable. The majority of organizations incorporate some form of manual testing to complement AI-powered accessibility checks. What could make these checks more effective is having users with disabilities involved, and generally, testers with expertise in accessibility and inclusive design. That expertise includes knowledge of the latest WCAG and EAA requirements, and more.”
“Working with the Applause team — and its global community of real users, including people with disabilities — has helped us decrease accessibility defects by more than 60% year over year,” said Ivan Ereiz, Senior Director of Product Design & Research, ShareFile.
“Being able to demonstrate that we’re prioritizing accessibility has helped us both retain existing customers and attract new ones, as compliance with regulations can be a crucial factor in the procurement process,” added John McCartney, Senior Manager of User Experience, ShareFile. “As we continue to work with Applause to shift left and move toward a culture of inclusive design, we expect to see even greater impact on the business.”
