Blog How the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPWD) impacts digital accessibility in India
Being inclusive to your customers isn't the only reason why your business needs to be digitally accessible—it's also the law.
Creating inclusive digital experiences across APAC (Asia Pacific)
Making your digital platforms accessible so they serve everyone and meet local laws and global standards requires the right tools, training, and services. Deque helps organizations across the Asia Pacific region simplify digital accessibility to get and stay compliant.
Why does digital accessibility matter?
Build brand reputation
In today’s socially conscious world, customers value brands that prioritize inclusivity. By making your digital platforms accessible, you show your commitment to equality. This strengthens your brand’s reputation, builds trust, and fosters customer loyalty.
Gain market share
Over 700 million people in APAC have a disability. That’s a massive and underserved market. Digital accessibility helps you reach this community, grow your market share, and stay ahead of competitors who overlook this opportunity.
Reduce legal risks
Non-compliance with accessibility laws can lead to costly lawsuits and damage your brand’s credibility. By proactively addressing accessibility, you minimize legal risks and ensure your business operates smoothly across regions. Whether your business is based in the APAC region or you are selling to the EU, US, or beyond, digital accessibility laws like the European Accessibility Act (EAA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Australia’s Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), or India’s Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD) Act apply.
Improve user experience for everyone
Accessible design doesn’t just benefit people with disabilities—it enhances usability for all users. Features like clear navigation, readable fonts, and keyboard-friendly interfaces create a better experience for everyone, increasing customer satisfaction and engagement.
Overview of digital accessibility laws and regulations across APAC
Countries in the APAC region are setting strong standards for inclusive digital experiences. These laws are part of a global shift toward prioritizing accessibility. Understanding them is the first step to building a digital presence that is both compliant and inclusive for the long term.
India
Over 120 million Indians with disabilities lack digital access, underscoring the urgency for inclusive platforms. The RPwD Act enforces accessibility standards like BIS 17802 and GIGW 3.0 to bridge this gap.
Learn More about India lawsAustralia
1992’s Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) ensures accessibility across public and private sectors and is enforced by the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC).
Learn More about Australia lawsChina
China is making strides in digital accessibility with initiatives like the Web Accessibility Evaluation Standard and efforts from tech giants such as Alibaba and Tencent.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s Disability Discrimination Ordinance (DDO) ensures accessibility in public services, and the government aligns with WCAG standards, encouraging wider adoption of accessible design.
Japan
Japan’s 2013 anti-discrimination law ensures accessibility in public and private sectors, supported by JIS X 8341-3 for digital inclusion. These measures highlight Japan’s commitment to accessibility and its aging society.
Singapore
The Enabling Masterplan addresses web accessibility in Singapore and focuses on accessibility in public services, education, and employment, driving progress toward a more inclusive society.
South Korea
South Korea’s disability welfare law and ICT framework mandate inclusive digital access. KWCAG 2.1 standards, required by 2025, further advance accessibility efforts.
Meet local accessibility requirements with Deque
By working with Deque’s industry experts now, you can build a plan to achieve your digital accessibility goals in every target geography.
Regional experts
Deque has offices and employees in India and worldwide with deep knowledge of local guidelines.
Strategic consulting
Our Principal Strategy Consultants help build, run and improve the world’s largest digital accessibility programs.
Trusted and proven tools
Our axe accessibility testing tools are the defacto global standard with 875,000+ installs
APAC standards and applicable laws
| Country | Applicable law | Business type | Conformance standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPWD) | Public and private sectors | Compliance is mandatory for digital services |
| Australia | Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) | Public and private sectors | Continuous reporting as per WCAG 2.1 standards |
| China | Protection of Persons with Disabilities (1990)) and the Information Accessibility Standards for Persons with Disabilities | Public and private sectors | Continuous monitoring to align with national standards |
| Japan | Act on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities | Public and private sectors | Voluntary but increasingly adopting WCAG 2.1 |
| Hong Kong | Disability Discrimination Ordinance (DDO) | Public and private sectors | Encouraged to align with WCAG 2.1 standards |
| Singapore | Digital Service Standards (DSS) | Government agencies (mandatory); private sector (voluntary) | WCAG 2.1 Level AA (mandatory for government digital services) |
| South Korea | Act on the Prohibition of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities, Remedy Against Infringement of their Rights, Etc. | Public and private sectors | Korean Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (KWCAG) 2.1 (based on WCAG 2.0 Level A) |
Helpful resources
Blog Navigating Australia’s Disability Discrimination Act for a digitally accessible business
Learn about Australia's Disability Discrimination Act—what it is, why it matters, and how compliance helps create seamless experiences for all users.
Blog Insight into the current state of digital accessibility in the Indian banking sector
With over 2.7 crore people with disabilities in India, the need for digital accessibility in banking is both a legal requirement and a moral imperative.
Frequently asked questions
Digital accessibility is mandatory in many APAC countries, with specific laws and regulations in place. For example, Australia has the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), and India has the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD). These laws require businesses to ensure their digital platforms are accessible to people with disabilities.
If your business serves customers in regions such as the US or the EU, you may need to comply with their accessibility laws, such as the ADA (US), EAA (EU), or Section 508, in addition to APAC regulations. This ensures your digital platforms are accessible to all users, regardless of location, and helps you avoid legal risks while expanding your global reach.
Start with an accessibility audit to identify gaps and areas for improvement. From there, create a roadmap based on WCAG guidelines, train your team, and consider partnering with experts such as Deque to ensure your solutions are inclusive and compliant for the long term.
Accessibility testing tools are designed to make compliance easier and more efficient. They can be seamlessly integrated into your development process, helping your team catch and fix accessibility issues early on. This saves time and ensures that your digital products are inclusive from the start.