Definition:
The performative display of accessibility measures that exist primarily to signal inclusivity rather than to provide meaningful or usable access. Often focuses on optics, branding, or compliance language while leaving structural barriers intact.
Critical Note:
Accessibility theatre allows organisations to claim moral credit without doing the harder work of redesigning systems. It frequently shifts responsibility onto disabled individuals to navigate broken processes while presenting the system as already “inclusive enough”.
Related Terms:
Language Laundering, Bolt-On, Punitive Neutrality, Requirements Theatre, Consent Dilution