Building accessible consultation tools: more than just compliance

When we talk about accessibility in software, the conversation often starts and ends with WCAG compliance. Tick the boxes, pass the audit, move on. But in public consultation, accessibility is not a compliance exercise — it is a fundamental question of fairness.

If someone cannot use the consultation platform, they cannot participate. And if they cannot participate, the consultation is not representative. It is that simple.

Why accessibility matters more in consultation

Most software serves a self-selecting audience. If an e-commerce site is difficult to use, the customer goes elsewhere. But a planning consultation is different. There is no alternative. If your council is consulting on a new housing development and the consultation website is inaccessible, the people who most need to have their say — older residents, people with disabilities, those without strong digital skills — are simply excluded.