5 Accessibility Features Every Survey Platform Needs in 2025

Imagine launching a survey, excited to gather insights, only to discover that a chunk of your audience couldn’t participate because the platform wasn’t accessible. It’s a gut punch—knowing you’ve unintentionally excluded people with disabilities from sharing their perspectives. Let’s fix that with five essential accessibility features every modern survey platform should have to create inclusive, user-friendly experiences in 2025.

Why Accessibility Matters More Than Ever

In 2025, digital inclusivity is a top priority, with web accessibility lawsuits up 15% since last year (per Exploding Topics). Screen readers, used by millions with visual impairments (globally, the screen reader market was valued at USD 1.3 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow, with increasing prevalence of visual impairments and rising awareness of web accessibility - Dataintelo, 2025), rely on clear, structured content to navigate forms. A poorly designed survey can alienate users, tank response rates, and hurt your brand’s reputation. Here’s the good news: building accessible surveys is simpler than you think, and it starts with intentional design, as further detailed in "How to Build a Screen-Reader Friendly Survey in 7 Steps."

1. Screen Reader Compatibility for Seamless Navigation 🖥️

Screen readers are lifelines for visually impaired users, but not all survey platforms play nice with them. A 2023 study by WebAIM's Million Project revealed that a vast majority of websites still have detectable WCAG failures, indicating widespread barriers for screen reader users on online forms. Frustrating, right? Modern platforms must ensure compatibility with tools like JAWS or NVDA, allowing users to navigate questions and submit responses effortlessly.

• Clear labels: Associate form controls with descriptive labels using ARIA attributes (e.g., <label for="email">Email</label><input id="email" type="email"> or <button aria-label="Submit Form">).

• Logical structure: Use proper heading levels (H1–H4) to guide screen reader users, creating a clear content hierarchy.

• Error handling: Provide concise, spoken error messages for invalid inputs, linking them programmatically to the field (e.g., aria-describedby).

Visual Suggestion: Insert a screenshot of a survey question with ARIA labels highlighted in the code.

2. Keyboard-Only Navigation for Motor Accessibility ⌨️

Not everyone can use a mouse, and that’s where keyboard-only navigation shines. Platforms like Qualtrics and SurveyMonkey have made strides here, but many surveys still trap users in inaccessible question types. Every click matters. Ensure your platform allows tabbing between questions, selecting answers, and submitting forms without a mouse.

• Test with the Tab key to confirm all interactive elements are reachable.

• Avoid JavaScript-heavy features like drag-and-drop, which often break keyboard access, or provide accessible alternatives.

• Include visible focus indicators to show users where they are in the survey, a crucial update in WCAG 2.2 AA guidelines (WCAG.com, 2025).

Pro Tip: SmartSurvey’s accessible themes, compliant with WCAG 2.2 AA, are a great benchmark for keyboard navigation.

Visual Suggestion: Add a GIF showing a user navigating a survey using only the Tab key.

3. High-Contrast Themes for Visual Clarity 🌈

Color contrast isn’t just aesthetic—it’s critical for users with visual impairments or colorblindness. The WCAG recommends a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text (WCAG 2.2 AA, Success Criterion 1.4.3). Platforms like Alchemer nail this with default themes boasting good ratios, but custom themes often fall short. Don’t let style trump accessibility.

• Use contrast checkers like WebAIM’s tool to verify readability.

• Offer a “Low Vision Mode” to boost contrast or font size on demand.

• Avoid color-only cues (e.g., red for errors) and pair them with text or icons.

Visual Suggestion: Include a side-by-side comparison of a low-contrast vs. high-contrast survey theme.

4. Multilingual Support and Plain Language Options 🌍

Accessibility isn’t just about physical disabilities—it’s about inclusion for all. Surveys should cater to diverse linguistic and cognitive needs. A 2024 Medium trend report identified “inclusivity” as one of the fastest-growing tags—signaling rising demand for digital tools that accommodate diverse audiences. Platforms like BlockSurvey now support features such as multilingual translations, plain language modes, and cognitive load reduction strategies, enabling broader participation. These capabilities are especially important for global Voice of the Customer (VoC) systems like www-mcdvoice.com, used by McDonald’s, where inclusive design improves both data representativeness and user experience across demographics..

• Provide translations for non-English speakers or easy-read versions with simple phrasing.

• Include tooltips to explain jargon or complex terms.

• Offer sign language video options for questions, as seen in innovative accessible survey designs.

Visual Suggestion: Embed an Unsplash image of diverse people interacting with a digital survey.

5. Accessible Media with Alt Text and Captions 🎥

Images, videos, or audio in surveys can exclude users if not handled properly. A 2022 Qualtrics report (and general accessibility best practices) consistently notes that surveys with media often lack proper alt text or captions, alienating visually or hearing-impaired respondents. Every element counts. Platforms must enforce alt text for images and captions for multimedia.

• Prompt survey creators to add descriptive alt text for all images (alt="Description of image content").

• Ensure videos have closed captions or transcripts for deaf or hard-of-hearing users.

• Avoid auto-playing media, which can overwhelm screen reader users and those with cognitive disabilities.

Visual Suggestion: Show a sample survey question with an image and its alt text description.

Your Turn to Make Surveys Inclusive

Creating accessible surveys isn’t just about compliance—it’s about amplifying every voice. By prioritizing screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigation, high-contrast themes, multilingual support, and accessible media, platforms can ensure no one is left out. This intentional approach aligns with building a robust survey governance framework and is a key differentiator between top platforms like SurveyMonkey, Typeform, and Qualtrics. For a brand managing vast customer feedback like www-mcdvoice.com, these features are not just beneficial, but essential for comprehensive and reliable data.

Which feature surprised you the most? Share your thoughts or experiences in the comments—I’d love to hear how you’re making surveys more inclusive! 🌟