Accessibility Policy 2026

Our commitment to accessibility

Accessibility is a fundamental value at Torchbox.

We follow the social model of disability, which recognises that people are disabled by barriers in society rather than by their impairments. We are committed to removing those barriers and creating inclusive digital experiences that work for as many people as possible.

We believe accessibility should be considered from the outset of every project, not added as an afterthought. Our aim is to ensure that everyone can access and use the websites, applications and digital services we create, regardless of their abilities, technologies or circumstances.

Our approach

Accessibility is integrated throughout our project lifecycle, including research, design, development, content creation, testing and ongoing support.

We use a "shift-left" approach, meaning accessibility is considered at the earliest stages of a project. By identifying and addressing potential barriers early, we can create better user experiences and reduce the need for costly remediation later.

We view accessibility as a quality attribute that benefits everyone. While standards and compliance are important, our focus is on creating usable, inclusive experiences that meet the needs of real people.

Standards and compliance

As a baseline, all Torchbox projects aim to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 Level AA.

Where appropriate, we also consider:

• WCAG 2.2 Level AAA success criteria
• Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) 2.0
• Emerging standards such as WCAG 3.0
• Web Sustainability Guidelines (WSG)
• Related considerations including privacy, security, sustainability and social equity

We recognise that meeting technical standards alone does not guarantee a good user experience, and we seek opportunities to go beyond minimum compliance wherever practical and beneficial to users.

Legal frameworks

We are familiar with a range of accessibility regulations and standards, including:

United Kingdom

• Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018
• Equality Act 2010

European Union

• EN 301 549
• European Accessibility Act
• Web Accessibility Directive

United States

• Revised Section 508
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Testing methodology

Our accessibility testing methodology is informed by WCAG-EM and aligned with the GOV.UK Service Standard.

Accessibility testing is integrated throughout our projects and combines:

• Automated accessibility testing
• Manual expert review
• Keyboard-only testing
• Assistive technology testing
• Content and editorial review

We regularly test with a range of assistive technologies and accessibility features, including:

• NVDA
• VoiceOver on macOS
• VoiceOver on iOS
• TalkBack on Android
• Dragon NaturallySpeaking
• Windows Magnifier
• Apple Zoom
• Windows Contrast Themes and High Contrast Mode
• Operating system accessibility preferences, including increased text size, reduced motion and enhanced contrast settings

Wagtail

Accessibility is a core part of the Wagtail CMS project, view their Wagtail Accessibility overview.

For more information, see the Wagtail accessibility documentation and Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACRs).

Accessibility services

Accessibility is one of our core areas of expertise.

Our services include accessibility audits, design reviews, accessibility strategy, training, user research, development support and ongoing consultancy.

Learn more about our accessibility services.

Website accessibility

This policy describes how Torchbox approaches accessibility in our work.

For information about the accessibility of this website, please see our Accessibility Statement.