Accessibility issues
Disproportionate burden
- Last reviewed
- 14 September 2026
- Owner
- DesignOps
Find out when the disproportionate burden exception can apply and why DfE does not consider it appropriate for its digital services.
What is disproportionate burden?
The accessibility regulations allow an organisation to claim a disproportionate burden exception if meeting an accessibility requirement would place too much of a burden on it. The exception is more likely to apply to small organisations, such as parish councils run mainly by volunteers.
Before claiming the exception, an organisation must assess whether meeting the accessibility requirement would place a disproportionate burden on it.
The assessment must consider the organisation’s circumstances, including the cost and resources needed to fix the accessibility issue.
Does disproportionate burden apply to DfE?
DfE does not consider the disproportionate burden exception appropriate for its digital services.
DfE has the funding and resources to address accessibility issues. Teams should consider accessibility from the start of a project and throughout development. They should not rely on the exception when fixing issues becomes difficult or expensive.
Claiming disproportionate burden can also:
- create additional governance and internal work
- expose DfE to scrutiny if people request and publicise the evidence behind its decision
- slow the wider adoption of accessibility requirements
The disproportionate burden test
When assessing whether an accessibility requirement would place a disproportionate burden on an organisation, consider:
- the cost of making the product or service accessible
- the people and resources needed to fix the issue
- the benefits of fixing the issue for users with access needs and disabilities
- how often people use the product or service
- how long people spend interacting with it
You must also:
- explain the claim in your accessibility statement
- publish your evidence and assessment findings