Table of Contents
- What Is Digital Accessibility?
- Why Are Accessibility Laws Shifting in 2025?
- Accessibility Law Updates in Key APAC Countries
- Accessibility Law Updates in Key Latin American Countries
- Why Select Tx for Accessibility Testing Services?
- Summary
“Accessibility is not a bolt-on. It’s something that must be built into every product from the very beginning.” – Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft.
Since 2019, WebAIM (Website Accessibility in Mind) has used its WAVE scanner to examine the overall state of web accessibility on the top one million websites. The numbers are shocking: Over 94.8% of pages still have at least one WCAG 2 A/AA failure. Homepages’ complexities are still growing with an average of 1,173 elements/page in 2024 to 1,227 elements/page in 2025. And now, with new regulations taking effect globally, failing to comply with new accessibility standards will only make things difficult for decision-makers.
Inclusive design, easy-to-read text, seamless user experience (UX), and compatibility with assistive technologies have become necessities for compliance, user retention, and brand reputation today. This blog will discuss how accessibility laws are evolving in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) and Latin American regions.
What Is Digital Accessibility?
Digital accessibility is about designing and developing websites, mobile applications, technology, and other digital content accessible to all, including people with disabilities. Everyone should be able to interpret, understand, navigate, and interact with the product they are using. It helps businesses ensure inclusive digital experiences, including making digital content accessible to users with visual, auditory, cognitive, and motor impairments. They must also ensure their products are compatible with assistive technologies. Its key concepts include:
• Assistive technologies like screen readers, screen zoom-in/zoom-out, voice recognition, and alternate input devices should work effectively with digital content.
• Digital accessibility should follow the principles of Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR).
• Laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) mandate digital services/content accessibility standards.
Why Are Accessibility Laws Shifting in 2025?
Evolving technology trends, stricter regulations, and increased awareness are some of the reasons for the shift in accessibility laws worldwide. In addition to being a legal requirement, accessibility is crucial to UX, ethical design, and business success. Here’s a quick review of the few laws updates made or to be made in 2025:
• The deadline for the European Accessibility Act (EAA) is June 28, 2025, which is just around the corner now.
• The grace period of HB21-1110 in Colorado ends on July 1, 2025. After that, all the government entity websites should comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA.
• On May 1, 2025, the Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA) went into immediate effect for all private sector, small municipalities, and non-profit organizations.
• AI-enabled interfaces like chatbots and voice assistants should be accessible by default in 2025. Many governments are already working on this.
• Non-compliance now carries a greater risk of reputational damage, lawsuits, and fines.
Governments worldwide are demanding that businesses design their products (software and hardware) to be accessible and inclusive for all. For enterprises looking for innovative ways to create scalable and user-centric digital products, accessibility testing, design, and compliance should be non-negotiable elements of their digital strategy.
Accessibility Law Updates in Key APAC Countries
Several Asia-Pacific (APAC) countries have made drastic changes over the years in enacting and updating accessibility standards across sectors like public, private, and employment. Let’s take a quick look at some updates in their accessibility laws:
| Country Name | Governing Law/Policy | Accessibility Standard | Status/Enforcement (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | Right of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, GIGW 3.0 | WCAG 2.1 + mobile and app coverage | Legally mandated for public digital services. GIGW 3.0 rollout expands scope to mobile apps and APIs. |
| Australia | Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), Digital Service Standard | WCAG 2.2 Level AA | Mandates government services to adopt WCAG 2.2 standards for public sector sites. |
| Japan | JIS X 8341-3:2016 (aligned with WCAG 2.0 Level AA) | WCAG 2.0/2.1 equivalent | Voluntary compliance, but public sector is advised to meet JIS Level AA. No direct penalties; part of audit metrics. |
| South Korea | Act on Welfare of Persons with Disabilities | KWCAG 2.1 (WCAG-based) | Strictly enforced. Non-compliance (public and private) can result in fines up to 5 million Won. |
| Singapore | Smart Nation Initiative, IMDA Guidelines | WCAG 2.0/ evolving towards 2.1 | Partially mandated, strongly implemented in public sector. Growing pressure on private services via procurement. |
| China | Law on Protection of Persons with Disabilities, IASPD | WCAG-inspired standards | Government digital platforms must comply. Private sector: growing enforcement, regional fines possible. |
Accessibility Law Updates in Key Latin American Countries
As digital transformation accelerates across Latin America (LATAM), countries recognize the urgency of inclusive and accessible digital experiences. Although progress is slow or varies by country, governments are updating their legal frameworks to align with global standards like WCAG and the UN CRPD. Let’s take a quick look at the updates in LATAM accessibility laws country-wise:
| Country Name | Governing Law/Policy | Accessibility Standard | Status/Enforcement (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil |
Brazilian Inclusive Law (Law 13.146/2015), Decree 9.296 |
WCAG-based | Legally enforced and applies to public and private entities. It is one of the strongest accessibility frameworks in LATAM. Non-compliance will lead to civil penalties. |
| Mexico | General Law for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities | No official WCAG adoption, although some WCAG 2.0 guidelines are referenced. | The framework exists, but enforcement is weak. The public sector is encouraged to adopt accessibility, but few audits or penalties are reported. |
| Argentina | National Accessibility Plan (updated 2019), Digital Country Strategy | WCAG 2.0 is partially aligned. | Government portals or websites are required to comply. The private sector is majorly unregulated, but inclusion is growing. |
| Colombia | Law 1346 (CRPD ratification), ICT Ministry Guidelines | WCAG-aligned accessibility strategy | Accessibility is improving under national policy. The focus is on digital gov services, as enforcement mechanisms are still limited. |
| Chile | Law No. 20.422 and Digital Transformation Law | WCAG-aligned standards (not formally adopted) | Legal backing exists, but implementation is inconsistent. Recent digital transformation laws aim to improve government compliance. |
How Does AI-Powered Accessibility Testing Ensure Compliance and User Inclusion?
AI-powered Accessibility testing helps businesses detect and mitigate the common barriers and intricate challenges faced by users with disabilities. Using AI-powered algorithms, accessibility testing surpasses traditional QA practices and offers more profound insights into digital accessibility. AI analyzes vast datasets of accessibility issues and highlights the patterns and complexities that may escape traditional testing practices. It also supports dynamic adaptability in accessibility testing and ensures continuous coverage across web and mobile app interfaces.
Machine Learning, along with AI-driven accessibility testing, becomes scalable and can identify and mitigate issues proactively in real time. AI ensures compliance by continuously monitoring digital properties against established accessibility standards such as WCAG, ADA, EAA, and Section 508. It automatically flags violations and provides actionable recommendations, reducing non-compliance risk.
For user inclusion, AI enhances the experience of users with disabilities by simulating diverse user interactions, such as those of screen reader users or individuals with motor impairments. It ensures that interfaces are usable and accessible to everyone. This proactive, data-driven approach enables inclusivity and helps enterprises to design with empathy, ultimately creating digital environments that are welcoming to all users.
Why Select Tx for Accessibility Testing Services?
At Tx, we use advanced tools with expert-driven insights to assist you in identifying accessibility gaps across your web and mobile apps. We ensure your compliance with WCAG, ADA, EAA, and Section 508 standards and cover the EU AI Act to enhance user experiences. Our comprehensive AI-powered accessibility testing services ensure you offer inclusive digital experiences and equal access to all users. Here’s what Tx can provide you with:
AI-Driven Capability:
We integrate advanced AI and ML technologies to detect accessibility issues faster and more accurately than traditional methods. This ensures real-time, scalable, proactive accessibility evaluations across your web and mobile platforms.
End-to-End Compliance Support:
We offer thorough audits aligned with global standards such as WCAG, ADA, and Section 508, gaining actionable insights and remediation plans to help you stay fully compliant.
Continuous Monitoring & Reporting:
We know accessibility testing isn’t a one-time task. Our continuous monitoring practices allow you to identify new issues as they arise, ensuring long-term accessibility and minimizing legal risk.
Seamless Integration:
We integrate accessibility testing tools with your existing development and QA workflows, enabling smooth adoption without disrupting timelines.
Future-Proof Accessibility:
We help enterprises like yours stay ahead of regulatory changes and user expectations, promoting digital equity in an increasingly diverse AI-driven environment.
Summary
Accessibility is a strategic priority for staying competitive in today’s AI-driven business world. With global regulations getting stricter and digital complexity increasing, enterprises can no longer afford to delay compliance. The risk of legal action, reputational harm, and user exclusion is growing fast. Organizations that invest in AI-powered accessibility testing and inclusive design will lead in innovation, trust, and market reach. Tx, with its AI-driven accessibility testing, offers real-user validation and end-to-end compliance support. We help you identify issues early, scale remediation, and deliver truly inclusive digital products. Contact our experts now to learn how we can assist you in staying compliant, inclusive, and competitive.
The post Digital Accessibility Is Rising: Here’s How APAC and LATAM Are Leading the Shift first appeared on TestingXperts.
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