The tools that power accessibility are changing fast, but not always in the ways you’d expect. We sit down with Forrester analyst Gina Bhwalkar to unpack the new Wave on digital accessibility platforms and translate its findings into practical guidance for leaders who need results, not buzzwords. Gina walks us through what the Wave actually measures—quality of capabilities, forward-looking strategy, and real outcomes—and why it’s more than a feature checklist. If you’re choosing a platform to manage risk, drive adoption, and support thousands of properties, this is your map.

We dig into a growing split in the market. Some vendors are all-in on prevention inside the software development lifecycle, embedding checks in design systems and CI pipelines. Others focus on compliance monitoring and executive reporting because legal exposure is still the main driver. Geography has become decisive: buyers want local language support and fluency in country-specific laws across Europe and North America, from the EAA to nuanced national requirements. Partner ecosystems now influence delivery quality as much as core features.

AI is everywhere—issue detection, tailored remediation suggestions, org-level summaries, even chat-based education for designers and developers. But compliance is unforgiving. Hallucinated Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates and shaky claims create risk, so we argue for a “human at the helm” approach: use AI to scale, keep experts in control, and center people with disabilities in testing and decision-making. We also surface underserved areas buyers care about, including native mobile app testing and faster, more affordable audit models.

The most surprising insight: customers’ top request isn’t more AI; it’s usability. Platforms that speak only to engineers stall adoption. Clear dashboards, role-based workflows, and localization are what unlock scale across product, design, and business teams. If you’re evaluating vendors, focus on fit: does it meet your legal landscape, integrate with your pipeline, and deliver insights leaders trust? Listen, then share your biggest challenge in scaling accessibility—and don’t forget to follow, rate, and review to help others find the show.

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