Accessible design and development

For apps, websites, and digital products

Accessible digital experiences are lovable digital experiences

ArcTouch helps companies create lovable apps and websites to reach the widest possible audience, including users with disabilities. Whether you are building a new digital product or want to improve the accessibility of an existing one, we can help.

“ArcTouch’s commitment to building accessible software aligns perfectly with our values. They’ve been a tremendous partner and created an app that provides an inclusive and enjoyable experience for everyone.”

— Ellen Pack, President of Common Sense Media

Benefits of accessible apps and websites

Building accessible apps, websites, and digital products isn’t just the right thing to do. It’s the smart thing to do — for your customers and your business.

Reach more people: An estimated 1.3 billion people live with some form of significant disability, and the global disability market influences over $13 trillion in annual disposable income.
Better user experience: Accessible design benefits everyone. An app or website that’s easy to use for people with disabilities offers a better experience to all users.
Improve compliance and reduce legal risk: Accessibility legislation and associated case precedents are rapidly evolving. These include the ADA, Section 504, Section 508, HB21-1110, the California Unruh Act, the AODA, ACA, EN 301 549, and the European Accessibility Act, among many others. Meanwhile, costly lawsuits and enforcement actions are on the rise for companies that don’t prioritize accessibility in their apps and websites.
Boost your brand: Showcasing a commitment to inclusivity makes brands stand out. Consumers increasingly prefer to buy from socially responsible companies. Additionally, disabled users and their friends and family are often vocal about brands that serve them well (and those that don’t).

Featured accessibility work

Common Sense Media

Trusted reviews of family-friendly movies, apps, games and more
McCormick

The Flavor Maker app: Inspiration from your spice rack
Magellan Rx

The Magellan Rx app: Your pharmacy benefits demystified

Our process for accessible design and development

We take an accessibility-first approach to app and web design and development.

Accessibility experts at every step: We incorporate accessibility best practices into our entire design and development process. We provide tools and training to all team members to ensure accessibility is top of mind at every step.
Accessibility testing: We use automated and manual tests to verify functionality with assistive technologies. Most importantly, we test products with real users, including those with various disabilities.
Accessibility audit and verification: We work with third-party auditors to verify conformance with the international WCAG 2.2 AA standards. An accessibility audit offers companies peace of mind and a report of their product’s accessibility.

Whether you have an existing app or website you need to make more accessible (known as remediation) or are starting from the beginning, we can help. We’ll make a plan that meets your business priorities to deliver more accessible experiences for everyone. Download our free app accessibility checklist to learn more about what we do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Aren’t people with disabilities a small minority of an app’s users?

The CDC estimates that nearly 25% of people in the U.S. have some form of disability, including age-related disabilities like low vision or less severe mobility issues. Globally, there are 1.3 billion people with disabilities, according to WHO, representing the largest under-served minority group in the world.

What if people with disabilities aren’t our target market?

The person buying or downloading your app may not be the same as the person using it. Parents and caregivers may purchase or download an app on behalf of loved ones with physical, mental, and age-related disabilities. Additionally, some disabilities are not obvious and extremely common (such as color blindness or dyslexia), which means it’s likely that many users in your target market would benefit from a more accessible product. Additionally, the number of people who benefit from accessibility is far greater than the population of people with significant disabilities. Finally, your users today may have disabilities in the future — and accessibility ensures you retain them as their needs change.

Does it cost more to make my app or website accessible?

It does require a bit more time upfront to design and develop accessible digital products. But, the benefits outweigh the costs. Accessible products reach more users, offer a better user experience for all users, and help companies avoid costly lawsuits or enforcement actions from regulatory organizations.

Will designing an accessible product constrain the user interface?

No. In fact, our team has shown that you can design accessible apps that are also beautiful apps. We have designed interfaces that are both lovable and accessible for clients like McCormick, Common Sense Media, and Magellan Rx.

Can I check for accessibility using automated tools and scanners?

That’s a good place to start — and ArcTouch can help with that. However, only 20-30% of accessibility issues can be discovered by automated tools. Most issues require manual testing and human interpretation.

Why is digital accessibility so important now?

Digital technology is relied upon by the majority of our global population — which makes accessibility more important than ever. We shouldn’t deny anyone the benefits of the tools and products we build — including those with physical and mental disabilities.

Our accessibility experts can help get your company on the path to delivering accessible products.