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The internet is no longer optional; it is where we shop, work, learn, and connect. Yet millions of people are left behind by poor digital design. This gap is known as the digital divide, and for disabled people it is often created not by lack of technology, but by websites and apps that are simply inaccessible.
When accessibility is overlooked, people with disabilities are shut out of essential services, and businesses lose valuable customers. Closing this divide is both the right thing to do and a smart business decision.
In this blog we will cover what the digital divide means for disabled people, the barriers that create it, the scale of digital exclusion in the UK, and how organisations can take practical steps to build accessible digital experiences.
What is the Digital Divide for Disabled People?
The term ‘digital divide’ refers to the gap between individuals who have access to digital technologies and those who do not. For disabled people, this divide often results from inaccessible digital design rather than a lack of willingness to engage.
For example, a person who is blind may rely on a screen reader to navigate websites. If a website does not include alt text on images or has menus that cannot be read by assistive technology, the individual is effectively blocked from using it. Similarly, a Deaf person may struggle to understand video content without captions. In both cases, the exclusion is not caused by the disability itself but by poor design choices.
These examples show how the digital divide and accessibility are directly linked. Inaccessible design becomes a digital barrier that prevents equal participation. Addressing this requires businesses and public organisations to move beyond minimum compliance and actively consider accessibility requirements in their digital strategies.
What are the 5 Barriers of the Digital Divide?
While the digital divide can affect many groups, disabled people face unique challenges shaped by several barriers:
Technological barriers: Inaccessible websites, mobile apps, and online services often fail to work with assistive technologies such as screen readers, voice recognition software, or switch devices. For example, a form that cannot be navigated without a mouse immediately locks out keyboard users.
Design barriers: Poor choices in layout, colour contrast, or navigation create unnecessary hurdles. A common example is grey text on a white background, which may look modern but is unreadable for users with low vision or colour blindness.
Economic barriers: Many disabled people require specialist software or equipment, such as refreshable braille displays or hearing aids compatible with digital devices. These tools can be expensive, and when combined with the rising costs of broadband or smartphones, affordability becomes a serious concern.
Educational barriers: Digital skills training is often designed without considering accessibility needs. A person with dyslexia may require tailored support and accessible resources to develop confidence with online platforms.
Attitudinal barriers: Perhaps the most overlooked barrier is mindset. Some organisations assume disabled people are not a significant part of their customer base and therefore deprioritise accessibility. In reality, over one billion people globally live with some form of disability, representing a substantial portion of the market.
Each of these barriers contributes to the digital divide, and addressing them requires a holistic approach that combines technology, design, affordability, training, and cultural change.
Want to understand how to overcome these barriers in your own organisation? Learn how to stay accessible with practical support and guidance from Arc Inclusion.
How Many People are Digitally Excluded in the UK?
According to GOV.UK, around 7.9 million adults across the UK lack the basic digital skills needed for everyday life. Within this group, disabled people are disproportionately represented. In fact, approximately 16.1 million people in the UK live with a disability, about one in four of the population.
Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that over one billion people live with a disability. When digital platforms fail to meet accessibility requirements, these individuals are effectively excluded from the digital economy, healthcare information, government services, and even social interaction.
For businesses, the cost of exclusion is significant. An online store that cannot be navigated by keyboard users is not just a poor design choice; it is a direct barrier to revenue and customer trust.
Why Should We Reduce the Digital Divide?
Reducing the digital divide is essential for several reasons.
Economic: Inclusive design opens doors to millions of customers who may otherwise be unable to access products or services.
Social: The internet is now a gateway to education, employment, healthcare, and community. Disabled people who are digitally excluded face additional disadvantages in areas where equal participation should be possible.
Ethical and legal: Equal access to digital services is a fundamental right in an inclusive society. In the UK, the Equality Act 2010 requires organisations to make reasonable adjustments. The European Accessibility Act is also in force, setting higher expectations for inclusive digital experiences across the EU. Meeting accessibility requirements is not optional; it is part of treating all customers fairly.
Reducing the digital divide for disabled people strengthens equality of opportunity, builds trust in digital services, and ensures no one is excluded from modern life.
What are the Benefits of Accessible Digital Design?
When accessibility is built into design, the advantages reach far beyond disabled users.
Captions created for Deaf users support non-native speakers and people watching videos in noisy environments. High-contrast text helps those with low vision while also making websites easier to read outdoors on mobile devices. These improvements raise usability for everyone, not just those with specific access needs.
Accessibility contributes directly to search engine optimisation. Clear headings, logical structures, and descriptive alt text provide stronger signals to search engines, improving visibility in search results. Our article on how accessibility impacts SEO explores this connection in more detail. Accessibility requirements are not an optional extra; they are an essential part of good digital practice.
Practical Steps to Bridge the Digital Divide
Businesses and organisations can take meaningful steps to address the digital divide:
Conduct accessibility audits: Tools such as automated accessibility checkers highlight issues, but combining them with manual testing ensures a comprehensive review.
Train staff: Developers, designers, and content creators need awareness of accessibility requirements to integrate them into everyday workflows.
Adopt universal design principles: Designing for the broadest range of users from the outset prevents exclusion.
Test with real users: Involving people with disabilities in testing reveals practical barriers that automated tools may miss.
These actions not only improve compliance but also position organisations as leaders in inclusivity. For organisations looking for hands-on support, our audits and inclusive user testing solutions provide a structured way to uncover barriers and improve accessibility.
Final Thoughts
The digital divide remains one of the most pressing issues in today’s connected world. For disabled people, the divide is not caused by lack of ability but by inaccessible digital design that creates unnecessary barriers.
Businesses and organisations that fail to meet accessibility requirements risk losing millions of potential customers while also contributing to wider social inequality. On the other hand, those who invest in accessible digital experiences build stronger brands, improve customer loyalty, and contribute positively to society.
Now is the time to act. Test your site today with our Accessibility Scanner Tool and see exactly where barriers may be blocking your customers.