Some key findings we took away were:

1. Officially, automated accessibility scanners claim to find 20-30% of accessibility issues, but realistically they may only flag 10-15% of errors that impact users, so real-world user testing is the only way to fully test accessibility.

2. Individual users don’t care about labels and buzzwords (universal, inclusive, equitable etc), they care if a website is functional and works for them.

3. There are enough Australians with digital accessibility needs to cover the entire population of Melbourne! So, no matter what people tell you about it being a fringe benefit, it’s not an insignificant number of users.

While not surprising findings, it underlines the need for inclusive web development that reflects real-world user experiences, not just checking off a list and calling it a day! Web developers and marketers at large need to engage with those who will be using the digital space, understand their needs and action real, impactful functionality.