Accessibility Statement - Complete Guide
Overview
Your accessibility statement is one of the most important compliance tools for your website. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about creating, managing, and maintaining an effective accessibility statement with AllAccessible.
Who This Is For
New AllAccessible users setting up statements
Compliance officers managing accessibility
Anyone wanting a complete statement overview
What You'll Learn
Complete statement workflow from start to finish
How AllAccessible makes statements easy
Quick reference for common tasks
When to get help
Quick Start: 5-Minute Statement Setup
For users who want to get started immediately:
Open the editor (30 seconds)
Log in and select your site
Open the Accessibility Statement tab (Starter plan and above)
Write or paste (2 minutes)
Type your statement, or paste the ready-to-use starter template
Verify your organization name is correct
Check contact information
Customize (2 minutes, optional)
Add organization-specific details
List known limitations
Include a specific contact person
Preview and Save (30 seconds)
Click Preview to check it
Click Save Statement — it publishes to your widget
Done! Your accessibility statement is live.
Complete Workflow
Phase 1: Planning (Before Creating)
Gather Information:
Organization legal name
Accessibility contact email
Support phone number (if applicable)
Known accessibility limitations
Target compliance level (usually WCAG 2.2 AA)
Testing methods used
Accommodation request process
Research:
Review your industry's specific requirements
Check if your jurisdiction legally requires statements
Look at competitor statements for ideas
Consult legal team if high-risk industry
Time: 30-60 minutes (one-time)
Phase 2: Writing (Built-in Editor)
Use the rich-text editor and starter template:
Open the Accessibility Statement tab (Starter plan and above)
Type your statement, or paste the starter template
Fill in your organization details and contact info
Add the sections that apply to your site
Format for readability using the editor toolbar
What You Get:
✅ A starting structure aligned to WCAG 2.2 Level AA goals
✅ Full control over every word
✅ All the essential sections
✅ A live preview before publishing
Time: A few minutes (an AI-assisted drafting feature is in development)
Phase 3: Customization (Optional But Recommended)
Add Your Organization's Voice:
Essential Customizations:
Organization-specific commitment
Your accessibility values
Internal policies
Team responsible
Known limitations with timelines
Current barriers
Remediation plans
Expected resolution dates
Detailed contact information
Specific person or department
Multiple contact methods
Response timeline
Testing and assessment details
How you test
How often
Tools used
Time: 15-30 minutes
Phase 4: Publication (Automatic)
AllAccessible Handles Distribution:
Statement published to widget automatically
Appears in widget footer for all visitors
Caches for optimal performance
Updates propagate within 1 hour
Additional Steps (Optional):
Create dedicated statement page
Link from website footer
Include in help documentation
Add to customer onboarding
Time: Automatic (or 30 minutes for optional additions)
Phase 5: Maintenance (Ongoing)
Regular Review Schedule:
Quarterly (Every 3 Months):
Quick review of accuracy
Update if contact info changes
Note any new known issues
15 minutes per review
Semi-Annually (Every 6 Months):
Comprehensive review
Update conformance status
Add new features
Remove resolved issues
30-60 minutes per review
Annually:
Complete overhaul
Run new accessibility audit
Legal review
Update to latest standards
2-4 hours per review
AllAccessible Statement Features
What Makes Our Statements Special
1. Starter Template
No starting from a blank page
Covers the essential elements
Clear, professional wording to build on
Structure aligned to WCAG 2.2 Level AA goals
2. Rich Text Editor
Easy customization
No HTML knowledge needed
Preview before publishing
Formatting tools included
3. Automatic Distribution
Published to widget automatically
Always accessible to users
Mobile responsive
Screen reader compatible
4. Auto-Dating
"Last updated" stamps automatically
No manual date updates
Always current
5. Performance Optimized
Cached for fast loading
Global CDN delivery
Minimal impact on site speed
6. Accessibility Tested
Statement display is fully accessible
Proper ARIA labels
Keyboard navigation
High contrast
Statement Checklist
Before Publishing
Use this checklist to ensure your statement is complete:
Content Completeness:
Organization name and commitment
Specific conformance standard (WCAG 2.2 AA)
List of accessibility features
Known limitations (if any)
Contact information
Response timeline
Assessment methodology
Last updated date
Accuracy:
No false claims of compliance
Contact info is correct and monitored
Features listed actually exist on your site
Known issues are current
Timelines are realistic
Legal:
Honest about conformance level
No liability disclaimers
No excuses for barriers
Specific to your jurisdiction if needed
Accessibility:
Proper heading structure
Links are descriptive
Language is clear and simple
Easy to read and understand
Quick Reference Guide
Common Tasks
Create / Edit Statement:
Select site → Accessibility Statement tab → write in editor
Preview Changes:
Click Preview button → Review → Close
Save Updates:
Click Save Statement → Wait 60 min → Verify on site
Force Cache Update:
Email [email protected] with Account ID + reason
Check If Statement is Live:
Visit site → Open widget → Scroll to footer → Click statement link
Free vs. Paid Plans
Free Plan
Accessibility Statement:
❌ Not included
Widget available without statement
Alternative:
Create manual statement page
Use W3C statement generator
Add to website footer
Starter Plan ($10/month) and Above
Accessibility Statement:
✅ Rich-text (WYSIWYG) editor
✅ Ready-to-use starter template
✅ Appears in widget
✅ Unlimited updates
✅ Live preview before publishing
✅ Performance caching
Common Questions - All in One Place
Q: How long does it take to create a statement?
A: A few minutes if you start from the starter template; 15-30 minutes if you customize thoroughly.
Q: When do updates appear on my live site?
A: Up to 1 hour for server cache propagation. Up to 24 hours for all browser caches.
Q: Where do visitors see my statement?
A: In the AllAccessible widget footer. Optionally on a dedicated page if you create one.
Q: Can I edit my statement after publishing?
A: Yes! You have full editing control with the rich-text editor.
Q: Is my statement legally sufficient?
A: AllAccessible statements meet WCAG 2.2 requirements and follow legal best practices. For specific legal advice, consult an attorney.
Q: How often should I update my statement?
A: Minimum annually. Recommended every 6 months. Immediately after major site changes.
Q: What if I need urgent updates?
A: Email [email protected] for emergency cache purge (critical updates only).
Q: Can I export my statement for other uses?
A: Yes! Copy the HTML from the editor for use in PDFs, printed materials, or other pages.
Getting Help
Self-Service Resources
Documentation:
What is an Accessibility Statement? - Basics and importance
Creating and Publishing Your Accessibility Statement - Getting started
Editing Your Statement - Customization
Where Statement Appears - Display locations
Updating Your Statement - Maintenance
Statement Caching - Technical details
Video Tutorials:
Support Channels
For Questions:
📧 Email: [email protected]
💬 Chat: Available on our website
📚 Help Center: Complete documentation
For Urgent Issues:
Emergency cache purge requests
Critical error corrections
Technical troubleshooting
For Legal Guidance:
We provide technical compliance
Consult accessibility attorney for legal advice
We can recommend attorneys if needed
Success Stories
Small Business Example
Before AllAccessible:
No accessibility statement
Uncertain about legal requirements
Didn't know what to include
After AllAccessible:
Professional statement generated in 30 seconds
Customized with business details in 15 minutes
Automatically displayed in widget
Peace of mind about compliance
Time Saved: 6-8 hours of research and writing
Enterprise Example
Before AllAccessible:
Outsourced statement writing ($500)
Needed legal review ($750)
Created dedicated page manually
Rarely updated (once created)
After AllAccessible:
Built-in editor and starter template (included in plan)
Customized for enterprise requirements
Easy quarterly updates
Simple to keep current
Cost Saved: $1,250 initially, plus easier ongoing maintenance
Statement Evolution
Typical Statement Lifecycle
Month 1: Launch
Write your statement (start from the template)
Basic customization
Publish to widget
Create dedicated page
Months 2-6: Initial Maintenance
Minor contact updates
Add new features as enabled
Document user feedback
First quarterly review
Months 7-12: Maturity
Run first comprehensive audit
Update known limitations
Show improvement progress
Complete annual review
Year 2+: Continuous Improvement
Regular quarterly updates
Track compliance improvements
Update based on user feedback
Maintain current best practices
Next Steps
New Users:
Start Here:
Create and Publish Your Statement → a few minutes
Edit and Customize → 15 minutes
Verify It's Visible → 5 minutes
Done!
Existing Users:
Regular Maintenance:
Update Your Statement → Every 6 months
Review Best Practices → Stay current
Check for New Features → Enhance as you grow
Advanced Users:
Optimization:
Create dedicated statement page
Add to multiple site locations
Get legal review
Set up maintenance schedule
Track improvements over time
Related Articles
What is an Accessibility Statement? - Purpose and importance
Creating and Publishing Your Accessibility Statement - Getting started
Editing Your Statement - Customization guide
Where Statement Appears - Display options
Updating Your Statement - Maintenance
Statement Caching - Technical details
Last Updated: October 2025
Comprehensive Guide: All statement topics in one place