Accessibility in the metaverse: Still a work in progress

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• January 17, 2024

Insight highlights

The metaverse, designed with inclusivity in mind, is set to enhance accessibility for individuals with disabilities, offering immersive, adaptable experiences. It facilitates participation in various activities and sectors, from education to mental health. This innovation promises not only greater social inclusion and economic growth but also advancements in assistive technologies, potentially leading to improved well-being and more inclusive policies.

Accessibility in the metaverse context

The idea of virtual mobility has been employed to illustrate how the internet can offer a more accessible option for activities that typically require physical movement. During the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual mobility gained momentum as work, leisure, and socializing transitioned to online platforms. The metaverse, representing the internet's next evolutionary stage driven by virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), promises to advance virtual mobility to unprecedented levels.

However, the internet has historically fallen short as a communications medium for people of all abilities, primarily due to accessibility being treated as an afterthought. For instance, web accessibility company Deque revealed in 2021 that 70 percent of websites in specific industries remain inaccessible to the visually impaired. Though the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) have been developed since their introduction in 1999, legal standards have lagged, failing to adequately address the needs of diverse users.

Not only is it crucial to make digital platforms accessible from a compliance standpoint, but embracing inclusivity is also a moral imperative. As the metaverse evolves, technology companies and their partners now have greater opportunities to prioritize accessibility as a default feature within user experiences. For example, Meta is working on a 'raise view' feature that would bring users up to eye level with their peers. It is also making hardware more accessible to different body types.

Disruptive impact

When designed thoughtfully, social spaces within the metaverse can closely mimic real-life social interactions. This aspect enables individuals with disabilities to engage with others without facing the social, bias, or stigma barriers they might encounter in the physical world. For example, the developers of Forza Horizon 5, Playground Games, offer support for American and British Sign Language in cinematics, a color blindness mode, and controller remapping.

Moreover, the metaverse's immersive technologies offer an engaging method for remote learning. As a result, it has the potential to enhance education delivery pathways for users with disabilities and for those seeking to pursue late-life learning. By tailoring educational experiences to individual needs and preferences, the metaverse can ensure that learning opportunities are accessible to all. 

The metaverse can also facilitate remote access to mental health resources, diagnostics, and therapies for individuals with disabilities and those living in rural areas. By bridging geographical gaps and overcoming logistical challenges, the metaverse can make essential services more widely available, ensuring that users can receive the support and care they need without physically traveling to specialized facilities. 

Furthermore, immersive tourism, enabled by the metaverse, can finally become a reality for people with limited mobility. This innovative approach allows them to "travel" through unique digital experiences, opening up new possibilities for exploration and cultural exchange. By eliminating physical constraints, the metaverse can empower individuals with limited mobility to enjoy previously inaccessible experiences.

Implications of accessibility in the metaverse

Wider implications of accessibility in the metaverse may include: 

• Greater social inclusion for people with disabilities, senior citizens, and marginalized communities, enabling them to engage in social interactions, participate in events, and access resources more effectively.


• Increased economic activity, as more users engage with digital services and virtual goods, driving innovation and creating new business opportunities.


• A wider range of individuals participating in political discussions and decision-making processes, leading to more representative and inclusive political systems.


• More advancements in assistive technologies, such as haptic feedback systems, speech-to-text transcription, and VR hardware tailored to users with disabilities.


• New job opportunities for those who develop, implement, and maintain accessibility features, as well as for those who offer specialized services, such as virtual assistance, training, and support for users with disabilities.


• More effective platforms for learning and skills development, enabling people with disabilities and other marginalized groups to access education and training opportunities.


• Positive effects on users' mental and emotional well-being, as they experience increased social connection and a sense of belonging in the metaverse. Additionally, accessible virtual environments can offer therapeutic and rehabilitative benefits for users with physical and mental health challenges.


• The development of new laws, regulations, and policies to ensure equal access, protect users' rights, and prevent discrimination based on disability or other factors.

Questions to consider

• What are some ways that virtual experiences can become more accessible and comfortable for you?


• What else can tech companies do to ensure their platforms are accessible to everyone?