The Future of Accessibility Leadership

Flattening Organizations, Multi-Faceted Leaders

Mantis & Co. Predicts: As organizations continue to flatten, leaders are wearing multiple hats. The idea of a people leader that exclusively manages performance is uncommon. In 2025, we predict that design leaders will increasingly be tasked with leading accessibility teams.

Design Leaders Step Up

Mantis & Co. Predicts: Design will lead the conversation on accessibility in 2025 in a few key ways:

1. Design leaders will need to step into roles where they lead accessibility for the organization, which means supporting their education and offering tools and services to enable better decision-making.
2. Experience designers will take on additional and more formalized accessibility responsibilities. Accessibility experience on the resume of a design leader or practitioner will be a sought-after commodity in 2025.
3. Because of these trends, we predict a boost in new and innovative ways to present the business case for accessibility through out-of-the-box means and creative storytelling.

Poll: As accessibility becomes a bigger focus in 2025, what will be the biggest challenge for design leaders in taking on more formalized accessibility responsibilities?

Access to tools and education to make informed decisionsBuilding the business case of accessibility through innovative story-tellingBalancing accessibility leadership with other design prioritiesFinding and hiring designers with accessibility experienceSomething else

Please select an optionYour response will remain anonymous.

Shrinking Budget, Scaling Needs

Mantis & Co. Predicts: Accessibility budgets will continue to be tight in the US in 2025, with market growth just below 5%. However, we predict an increase in the number of organizations seeking digital accessibility services from small and mid-size firms. This trend will emphasize the need for innovation in tooling and deep learning.

Team Geography

Mantis & Co. Predicts: In 2025, we expect an increasing number of solutions to be found offshore, and this trend will likely continue. Additionally, near-shoring is an emerging option, with companies in South America and Mexico offering growing cost-effective solutions.

Data-Driven Design Accessibility

Mantis & Co. Predicts: Design accessibility teams will take a more data-driven approach to showcase their impact, inform priorities, and track progress across initiatives. By analyzing metrics tied to training completion rates, the adoption of accessibility annotations, and the incorporation of accessibility principles into workflows, teams will effectively demonstrate their contributions to creating inclusive digital experiences. Training programs will be refined based on performance data, while annotations will become a crucial tool for embedding accessibility into design processes. This data-centric strategy will enable teams to secure leadership buy-in, allocate resources strategically, and drive meaningful, measurable progress in accessibility.

Spotlight: Walmart’s Data-Driven Accessibility Strategy

Don’t miss Walmart’s session at Axe-Con 2025: “Upgrade Your Training Program: A Data-Driven Approach.” Presented by Giovani Camara, Carrie Farber, and Nhi Nguyen, this session will explore how data can refine accessibility training, measure success, and scale efforts effectively.

It’s a valuable opportunity for anyone looking to integrate data into their accessibility strategies.

Discover more about this session

The Right Expertise at the Right Time

Mantis & Co. Predicts: An increasing need for different specialties at different times will drive innovative approaches to staffing and accessibility program management. This trend may also support freelancer growth and create opportunities for accessibility services companies to thrive.