Accessibility resources for UX designers
Accessibility is a legal requirement in the UK and a core UX skill. These resources cover WCAG guidelines, testing tools, UK legislation, and where to go deeper.
UK accessibility law
Accessibility isn't optional in the UK. Three pieces of legislation are relevant to UX designers working on digital products.
Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018 (PSBAR)
Requires UK public sector websites and apps to meet WCAG 2.1 AA and publish an accessibility statement.
GOV.UK guidance →European Accessibility Act (EAA) — coming into UK law 2025
Extends mandatory accessibility requirements to private-sector services: e-commerce, banking, transport and more.
Equality Act 2010
Requires reasonable adjustments so disabled people aren't disadvantaged. Inaccessible digital services can constitute unlawful discrimination.
WCAG guidelines
WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) are published by the W3C and form the global foundation for digital accessibility standards. WCAG 2.1 AA is the current UK legal standard for public sector. WCAG 2.2 (October 2023) adds nine new criteria on top of 2.1 — including improved focus visibility, minimum target size, and alternatives to dragging interactions.
WCAG 2.1
UK legal standardRequired under PSBAR 2018 and the benchmark most UK organisations target. Four principles (POUR).
W3C WCAG overview →WCAG 2.2
Oct 2023Adds nine new success criteria to WCAG 2.1, covering focus, dragging and target size.
Accessibility testing tools
No single tool catches everything. Combine automated checking with manual keyboard and screen reader testing for a meaningful audit. We also built our own free, no-signup Accessibility Checker -- paste in a URL for an instant scan.
axe DevTools
Browser extension
The most widely used automated checker, as a Chrome or Firefox extension. A good first pass.
WAVE (WebAIM)
Browser extension
Overlays indicators on the page to flag missing alt text and structure issues. Complements axe.
Colour Contrast Analyser (TPGi)
Desktop app
Free desktop app that samples any on-screen colour and checks it against WCAG AA and AAA.
Stark (Figma plugin)
Figma plugin
Checks contrast, simulates colour blindness and surfaces WCAG issues inside Figma. Free tier available.
NVDA
Screen reader (Windows)
The most widely used free Windows screen reader. Essential for manual accessibility testing.
VoiceOver
Screen reader (Mac / iOS)
Built into every Mac, iPhone and iPad; the standard screen reader for testing Apple products.
Learning resources
The best accessibility resources for UX designers — from quick references to structured learning.
The A11y Project
Community hub of WCAG techniques and accessible component examples; its checklist is a practical starting point.
WebAIM
Authoritative plain-English WCAG explanations, plus the essential annual WebAIM Million accessibility report.
Deque University -- Free Introduction
A respected free introductory course covering digital accessibility fundamentals; from the makers of axe DevTools.
GOV.UK Design System -- Accessibility Guidance
How the UK government approaches accessibility; among the best-documented guidance in the industry.
"Accessibility for Everyone" -- Laura Kalbag
A Book Apart introduction to web accessibility, covering disability, content, code and evaluation in under 200 pages.
Accessibility communities
The accessibility community is active and generous with knowledge. Ask questions, stay current, and find specialists here.
A11y Slack (web-a11y)
The largest accessibility-focused Slack community, covering WCAG, ARIA, screen readers and testing.
AbilityNet
UK charity supporting disabled people with technology; practical guides, webinars and assessments.
RNIB Digital Resources
RNIB guidance on making digital content accessible for people with sight loss.
UK Government Accessibility Community
Community of practice for UK government accessibility work; open to anyone with a public sector email.
Answered directly.
What's WCAG and which level do I need?
WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is the internationally recognised standard for digital accessibility. There are three conformance levels: A (minimum), AA (standard), and AAA (enhanced). WCAG 2.1 AA is the UK legal standard for public sector websites under the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018, and is the benchmark most organisations aim for. WCAG 2.2 (released October 2023) adds nine new success criteria on top of 2.1 — the most significant additions cover focus appearance, dragging movements, and target size.
Is accessibility required by law in the UK?
Yes. Three pieces of legislation are relevant. The Equality Act 2010 requires organisations to make reasonable adjustments so disabled people aren't put at a substantial disadvantage — this applies to digital products and services. The Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018 (PSBAR) requires all public sector websites and apps to meet WCAG 2.1 AA and publish an accessibility statement. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) comes into UK law in 2025 and extends mandatory accessibility requirements to a much wider range of private sector products and services, including banking, e-commerce, and transport.
How do I test a design for accessibility?
A thorough accessibility audit uses three methods in combination. Automated tools (axe DevTools, WAVE) can catch around 30–40% of issues quickly — they're a starting point, not a complete audit. Manual testing covers what automation misses: keyboard-only navigation (can you reach every interactive element without a mouse?), screen reader testing with NVDA on Windows or VoiceOver on Mac/iOS, and checking colour contrast ratios with a tool like the TPGi Colour Contrast Analyser. The most valuable method is user testing with disabled people — which surfaces real-world friction that automated and manual checks consistently miss.
Learn to build this in.
Accessibility is built into every UX Academy course, with a dedicated Accessibility for UX track. Cohort 1 starts 14 October 2026.
More resources: the UX career toolkit, or browse the full UX Academy resources hub.