Accessible SDLC: Why Digital Accessibility in SDLC Matters?

Digital accessibility is crucial for creating inclusive, legally compliant products that meet diverse user needs. Integrating accessibility in SDLC is necessary to make sure that it is not just an afterthought but a fundamental aspect of the development process. With accessible SDLC in place at every stage of development, you end up with a cost-effective, higher-quality product.

This article will guide you through adopting an accessible SDLC, from the planning stage to product maintenance.

What is digital accessibility in the context of SDLC?

Digital accessibility in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) refers to designing, developing, and testing software applications and websites to ensure they are usable by all individuals, including those with permanent, temporary, and even situational disabilities.

Adopting an accessible SDLC ensures that accessibility standards like WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) are seamlessly integrated at every stage of the SDLC. This approach helps create an inclusive user experience and highlights what accessibility means in the software development process.

Examples of how lack of accessibility impacts business

1. Legal risks: Non-compliance with accessibility regulations, such as the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) or the European Accessibility Act, can result in costly lawsuits, government fines, and even reputational damage.
2. Reduced customer base: Excluding individuals with disabilities limits the reach of your product, as nearly 15% of the global population experiences some form of disability.
3. Decreased customer loyalty: A non-inclusive platform frustrates users who cannot access your services. Emphasizing accessibility in software development is critical to retaining users and enhancing loyalty.

SDLC stages with digital accessibility integration

Digital accessibility in SDLC is integrated at every stage, from planning to maintenance and ongoing support. Let's look at every stage in more detail to track the entire accessible Software Development Life Cycle.

Planning

Integrating accessibility requirements in the planning phase

Integrating accessibility in SDLC this early is cost-effective. If you do it early, you do not have to fix costly bugs down the line. Business analysts and project managers play a critical role in embedding accessibility into the SDLC during the planning stage. They should:

• Collaborate with stakeholders to define accessibility goals, referencing standards like WCAG or regional laws (e.g., ADA, EAA).
• Allocate resources for accessibility, including time, tools, and expertise.
• Emphasize that considering accessibility early reduces costly changes in later stages.
• For example, a clear plan to support screen readers can prevent redesigning interfaces post-launch.
• Ensure a linear and consistent site structure is outlined during planning to simplify user navigation. This includes clear HTML markup and a logical structure for headings and sections (refer to WCAG 1.3.1 Info and Relationships).

Requirements

Defining accessibility requirements in project specifications

Explicit accessibility requirements in specifications ensure compliance and usability for all users. Examples include:

• Ensuring all interactive elements are keyboard-navigable.
• Implementing alternative text for all images.
• Providing captioning for multimedia content.
• These requirements should be documented in functional specifications to guide design and development teams.
• Specifying the need for predictable content that remains readable and logical even when CSS is disabled.
• Including requirements for meaningful tags, such as proper use of H1 to H6 headings and programmatic relationships in tables, lists, and sections for assistive technology compatibility.

Design

Applying accessible design principles

Design teams should adhere to principles of inclusive design to create an accessible software development life cycle:

• Using color schemes with high contrast and avoiding reliance on color alone to convey information.
• Ensuring the interface is systematic and predictable. Avoid animations that cannot be paused or closed to prevent discomfort for users with photosensitivity.
• Selecting legible fonts and appropriate sizes.
• Incorporating accessible prototyping tools to simulate experiences for users with disabilities.
• Including people with disabilities in UX testing ensures designs are practical and effective for diverse user groups.

Common issues in the design phase include:

• WCAG 1.4.3 – Contrast (Minimum): Designs often fail to provide sufficient contrast between text and background, making content hard to read for visually impaired users. For example, light gray text on a white background doesn't meet contrast ratio requirements (4.5:1 for normal text).
• WCAG 3.2.4 – Consistent identification: Inconsistent labeling or design patterns confuse users. For example, buttons performing the same action across different pages should look and function consistently to avoid accessibility issues.
• WCAG 1.4.1 – Use of color: Relying solely on color to convey information (e.g., red for errors or green for success) excludes colorblind users. Supplemental cues, such as icons or text, are needed.
• WCAG 2.3.1 – Three flashes or below threshold: Designs with flashing elements that exceed the threshold (more than three flashes per second) can trigger seizures in users with photosensitive epilepsy.
• WCAG 2.2.2 – Pause, stop, hide: Elements like carousels or videos often lack controls to pause, stop, or hide animations. This can overwhelm or distract users.

Development

Embedding accessibility during development

Developers should follow coding best practices to integrate accessibility in SDLC. Examples include:

• Adding ARIA labels to improve screen reader navigation. Example: html < button aria-label="Submit your application" >Submit < /button >
• Writing semantic HTML to enhance accessibility by default.
• Ensuring linear structure and correct semantics in the HTML markup to allow clear identification of site components for assistive technologies.
• Using code analyzers, like Axe or Pa11y, to identify accessibility gaps during development.
• Clear development guidelines and tools reduce the likelihood of introducing barriers.

Testing

Conducting сomprehensive accessibility testing

Accessibility testing in SDLC should occur at all testing levels, from unit tests to user acceptance tests. Tools to consider:

• Automated tools: Axe, Lighthouse, or Wave to detect basic issues.
• AI-powered solutions: Leverage AI-driven accessibility tools to identify complex issues, such as ensuring proper ARIA roles or simulating user interactions for broader coverage.
• Manual testing: Ensuring keyboard navigation works seamlessly and testing with assistive technologies like screen readers (e.g., NVDA, JAWS).
• User testing: Involving users with disabilities to validate the product's usability.

Implementation

Verifying accessibility before product launch

Before deployment, conduct final checks to confirm compliance with accessibility standards:

• Run a full audit using tools like Siteimprove Accessibility Checker.
• Validate that all accessibility features function as intended across supported devices and platforms.
• This final review prevents inaccessible features from reaching users.

Support and Improvement

Maintaining accessibility post-launch

Accessibility is not a one-time effort. Establish procedures for:

• Regular audits to ensure continued compliance as standards evolve.
• Addressing accessibility-related bugs reported by users promptly.
• Training teams to consider accessibility in updates and new features.
• Proactive updates and user feedback loops ensure the product remains inclusive and compliant over time.

Common design issues in the maintenance phase include:

• WCAG 1.1.1 – Non-text content: Images, videos, and icons often lack alternative text, excluding users relying on screen readers from understanding the content.
• WCAG 1.4.5 – Images of text: Using images to convey text instead of styled HTML text makes content inaccessible to users who zoom, use text-to-speech tools, or require customization like changing font sizes or colors.
• WCAG 1.2.5 – Audio description (Pre-recorded): Pre-recorded videos may lack audio descriptions, excluding users with visual impairments from understanding the visual context or actions in the video.
• WCAG 1.2.2 – Captions (pre-recorded): Videos without captions make content inaccessible for users who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• WCAG 2.4.2 – Page titled: Missing or unclear page titles make it difficult for users to identify the content or purpose of a web page when navigating via assistive technologies.
• WCAG 2.4.4 – Link purpose (in context): Links with vague text like "Click here" or "Read more" do not clearly convey their purpose, confusing users who rely on screen readers.
• WCAG 2.4.6 – Headings and labels: Inconsistent or missing headings and labels impair navigation and understanding of content hierarchy, particularly for users with screen readers.

The benefits of integrating web accessibility in SDLC

Adopting an accessible SDLC brings several benefits:

Improved user experience and inclusivity

By integrating accessibility testing in SDLC, you create products that are usable by everyone, including people with disabilities. This leads to:

• Better navigation and interaction for all users, regardless of their abilities.
• Enhanced usability through features like clear navigation, captions, and alternative text, which benefit users in diverse scenarios (e.g., noisy environments or slow internet connections).
• A reputation for inclusivity fosters positive brand perception.

Legal compliance and risk mitigation

Ensuring compliance with accessibility standards reduces legal risks and fines. Benefits include:

• Meeting regulatory requirements like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and the European Accessibility Act (EAA).
• Avoiding lawsuits related to inaccessible websites can lead to financial losses and reputational harm.
• Proactive compliance demonstrates corporate responsibility.

Enhanced competitiveness and user loyalty

Accessibility broadens your potential audience and strengthens customer relationships by:

• Reaching nearly 15% of the global population with disabilities, increasing market share. This does not even include 30-40% of people experiencing some form of temporary disability in their lifetime or situational disabilities like using devices in bright sunlight, which happens to literally everyone.
• Encouraging loyalty from users who value inclusivity and reliability.
• Standing out in competitive markets where accessibility is often overlooked.
• By prioritizing accessibility, businesses position themselves as forward-thinking and user-centric.
• Search engines like Google Search prioritize accessible websites when ranking, so creating accessible websites leads to higher rankings.
• Accessible software and websites are more future-proof and adaptable to new technologies.

Integrating web accessibility into SDLC meets legal and ethical obligations and drives business success by creating better, more inclusive digital products.

Our approach to digital accessibility

At Binariks, we integrate digital accessibility into every stage of the SDLC to ensure our products meet the needs of all users, including those with disabilities.

1. Planning phase: Our project managers collaborate with stakeholders to establish accessibility goals early. This proactive approach reduces costs and ensures compliance from the outset. By defining accessibility requirements early, we prevent costly redesigns later and create user-centered solutions from day one.
2. Design phase: Our design team prioritizes accessibility by adopting user-friendly layouts and high-contrast color schemes. We also involve individuals with disabilities in UX testing to ensure our solutions work seamlessly for diverse audiences.
3. Development phase: Developers at Binariks follow accessibility coding standards, including ARIA attributes and semantic HTML, to make products compatible with assistive technologies. We also leverage tools like Axe and Lighthouse to identify and fix potential issues during development.
4. Testing phase: Accessibility testing is integrated into our QA processes. We use automated tools and manual testing to validate compliance with WCAG standards.
5. Ongoing support: Post-launch, we perform regular audits and updates to maintain compliance with evolving accessibility standards.

At Binariks, digital accessibility is more than compliance; it's a commitment to creating inclusive, high-quality digital experiences. We empower businesses to reach broader audiences while meeting the needs of every user.

Conclusion

Ensuring accessibility throughout the Software Development Life Cycle is about building digital products that are functional, intuitive, and usable for all. By integrating accessibility from the earliest planning stages through development, testing, and deployment, teams can avoid costly rework, enhance user satisfaction, and expand market reach.

At Binariks, we apply a structured, proactive approach to accessibility, embedding best practices into every development phase. Whether you need to refine existing products or build accessible solutions from the ground up, our experts are here to help. Contact us to create software that works for everyone—right from the start.