Emerging Survey Findings Suggest Overwhelming Support for a New UK Accessibility Act

Emerging findings reveal that 87% of individual respondents report regularly encountering accessibility barriers, and that an overwhelming majority (97%) of all respondents, would support a proposal for new comprehensive accessibility law. Background In the Summer of 2025, Fazilet Hadi (Head of Policy at Disability Rights UK) set up a small Working Group to spearhead the launch of a campaign for a New UK Accessibility Act. Our initial ideas regarding what a new piece of accessibility legislation for the UK might look like can be read on the DR UK Accessibility Act webpage . We suggest that any new Act should sit alongside and compliment the current Equality Act 2010 (in England, Scotland and Wales) and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (in Northern Ireland). It would seek to drive systemic change by improving accessibility measures, imposing standards and enhancing enforcement powers across sectors, including for transport, the built environment, housing, technology, employment, communication and the manufacture and supply of goods and services. Last November DR UK, with the support of its Accessibility Act Working Group, launched an online survey to better understand: the kinds of accessibility barrier Disabled people encounter in everyday life; the views of Disabled people and their organisations about how well equality law works to ensure accessibility; and the views of Disabled people and their organisations about the need for a new Accessibility Act. Findings from this survey will inform our thinking about what potential new legislation should look like and about next steps for a campaign. We received over 500 responses from more than 480 individuals and over 20 organisations. The Persistence of Accessibility-Based Exclusion Although we are still in the early stages of data analysis, the headline findings are striking. 87% of individual respondents told us that they regularly come across accessibility barriers. These respondents include Disabled people, those with long-term health conditions, supporters, carers, allies and others. We asked all survey respondents to tell us about the three main types of accessibility barrier they encounter. Key themes that emerged include: Communication and information barriers – including those caused by remote access services, web or telephone only access, inaccessible software applications, and a lack of information in accessible or alternative formats such as BSL, Easy Read, and Braille. Systemic shortages of accessible housing – both in the rental and sales markets and the continued failure to ensure that enough new build homes are properly accessible. Inaccessible product development and a lack of universal design – particularly in relation to white goods and household items such as touchscreen washing machines. Lack of accessibility in work environments. Inaccessibility in the public realm – including buildings and designs such as floating bus stops and a lack of accessible toilets. Challenges with public transport – including inadequate wheelchair and step-free access on buses and trains, and inaccessible travel information. Barriers to basic healthcare – such as GP appointments caused by inaccessible booking systems, challenges with hospital access and signage etc. Accessibility barriers in financial spaces – such as banking, and problems caused by inaccessible touchscreens, payment terminals and self-service machines. People also told us about the harm and exclusion which flow from these sorts of accessibility barriers, and the toll taken on Disabled people’s health, opportunities, wellbeing and self-esteem. Some reported feeling exhausted by the additional demands of negotiating these types of accessibility barrier and constantly having to check and plan ahead. They also spoke of how navigating accessibility barriers often entails increased financial burdens. Thoughts About the Current Law Almost two-thirds of all the respondents (64%) told us they had used current equality laws to try and persuade people or organisations to remove accessibility barriers. They reported that entering a dialogue which highlights the need to comply with equality law had been successful in various instances, particularly in obtaining changes which are relatively straightforward to implement. Respondents reported using references to the law, in this way, to obtain adjustments and clarify policies but felt that these strategies only went so far. Their value in persuading others to adopt more accessible practices was often limited by the pliability of reasonable adjustment requirements and the well-known risks and barriers associated with bringing cases. Only 13% of all respondents reported ever having brought a claim under the Equality Act or the Disability Discrimination Act, with many noting that the process was often ineffective and very burdensome. While there were key isolated successes, most respondents felt that equality law lacked sufficient enforcement strength. The adversarial nature of the system undermined any potential for collaboration and future working relationships. Difficulties in finding specialist legal advice, coupled with limited eligibility for legal aid, were also major factors deterring them from bringing cases. The 6-month time limit for bringing discrimination claims was also identified as a problem. Many respondents noted the high financial burden associated with bringing a claim, as well as the energy, time, stress, and wellbeing costs of doing so. These factors sometimes meant that people shied away from enforcing the law, even when they felt they probably had a strong case. Thoughts About the Possibility of a New UK Accessibility Act In light of the findings outlined above, it is not surprising that 97% of all respondents support the broad idea of a new Accessibility Act. 94% of all the responses revealed a potential willingness to campaign for a new UK Accessibility Act, with 61% of respondents immediately willing to campaign, and a further 33% potentially willing to campaign provided they had sufficient resources and support to do so. Over two-thirds (68%) of all the respondents highlighted elements of the Accessibility Act proposals which they liked. They were particularly positive about pushing for more systemic change through clear legal obligations to comply with proactive accessibility standards, and the creation of monitoring and oversight bodies with responsibility for bringing enforcement action and handling individual complaints. They also stressed the importance of ensuring that complaints and enforcement procedures should be available at zero, or very low cost for Disabled people and that Disabled people should be involved in developing any potential new legislation. Keeping in Touch Full analysis of the survey data is now underway and will be published in late summer. To stay up to date with campaign developments and next steps, please sign up to the DR UK newsletter or visit the Accessibility Act campaign webpage here . News Equality & Rights Participation Approved