What is an Accessibility Statement?
Overview
An accessibility statement is a public declaration of your website's commitment to digital accessibility. It informs visitors about your site's accessibility features, compliance efforts, and provides contact information for accessibility-related feedback.
Who This Is For
Website owners ensuring legal compliance
Businesses committed to inclusivity
Organizations needing to document accessibility efforts
Anyone wanting to communicate accessibility commitment
What You'll Learn
Why accessibility statements are important
What should be included in a statement
Legal requirements and best practices
How AllAccessible helps you create statements
Why Accessibility Statements Matter
1. Legal Compliance
Many accessibility laws and standards require or recommend accessibility statements:
United States:
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act): Not legally required, but strongly recommended
Section 508: Federal agencies must provide accessibility information
Settlement Agreements: Often require accessibility statements as part of lawsuit settlements
International:
WCAG 2.2: Level AAA guidelines include requirement for accessibility statements
European Accessibility Act (EN 301 549): Requires accessibility statements
UK Equality Act: Public sector bodies must publish statements
AODA (Ontario, Canada): Requires accessibility policies and statements
2. Demonstrates Good Faith
In legal disputes, an accessibility statement shows:
✅ You acknowledge accessibility as important
✅ You're actively working on improvements
✅ You provide ways for users to report issues
✅ You take accessibility seriously
Legal Perspective: Courts view accessibility statements favorably as evidence of commitment, even if your site isn't 100% compliant yet.
3. Improves User Experience
An accessibility statement tells users:
What accessibility features are available
How to use accessibility tools
Who to contact for help
Your organization's commitment to inclusion
4. Builds Trust and Brand Reputation
Publicly committing to accessibility:
Shows social responsibility
Demonstrates values alignment
Attracts accessibility-conscious customers
Differentiates your brand
What Should an Accessibility Statement Include?
Essential Elements
1. Commitment Statement
Your organization's pledge to accessibility
Example:
"We are committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone, and applying the relevant accessibility standards."
2. Compliance Status
What standards you aim to meet
Example:
"We strive to conform to WCAG 2.2 Level AA standards, which help make our website accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities."
3. Accessibility Features
Tools and features available to users
Example:
"Our website includes an accessibility widget that provides:"
Text sizing and spacing adjustments
Color contrast controls
Keyboard navigation
Screen reader compatibility
4. Known Limitations
Honest disclosure of current issues
Example:
"Despite our efforts, some content may not be fully accessible. We're actively working to address these limitations."
5. Feedback Mechanism
How users can report issues or request accommodations
Example:
"If you encounter accessibility barriers, please contact us at [email protected]"
6. Date and Testing Info
When the statement was last updated and how you test
Example:
"This statement was last reviewed on [Date]. We use automated testing tools and manual evaluation to assess accessibility."
Legal Requirements by Region
United States
Not Legally Required But:
Demonstrates good faith effort
Often required in settlement agreements
Best practice for ADA compliance
Recommended by DOJ and ADA.gov
Recommended Content:
Conformance level (WCAG 2.2 AA recommended)
Known limitations
Contact information for issues
Alternative formats available
European Union
LEGALLY REQUIRED under European Accessibility Act (EN 301 549):
Must Include:
Conformance status
Non-accessible content explanation
Feedback mechanism and response timeline
Link to enforcement procedure
Preparation date and review schedule
Applies To:
Public sector websites (mandatory)
Large private sector (recommended)
E-commerce platforms
United Kingdom
LEGALLY REQUIRED for public sector under Public Sector Bodies Regulations:
Must Include:
Compliance status
Non-compliant content
Disproportionate burden claims (if applicable)
Contact info for issues
Enforcement procedure
Preparation and review dates
Canada (AODA - Ontario)
Required for Organizations with 50+ Employees:
Must Include:
Accessibility policy summary
Training practices
Feedback process
Emergency procedure information
How AllAccessible Helps
Built-in Statement Editor
AllAccessible includes a rich-text (WYSIWYG) editor on the Accessibility Statement tab (Starter plan and above), so you can write and publish your statement without touching code. To make starting easier, there's a ready-to-use starter template you can paste in and customize. (An AI-assisted drafting feature is in development.)
📷 AllAccessible statement editor
Customization
You can edit the statement to include:
Your organization's specific commitments
Known issues unique to your site
Your preferred contact methods
Additional compliance information
Where It Appears
Your accessibility statement is accessible in the AllAccessible widget under the "Accessibility Statement" section.
📷 Widget showing accessibility statement button
For Paid Users:
Statement appears automatically in widget
Users can view with one click
No separate page needed (though you can add one)
Best Practices
1. Be Honest
Don't claim full compliance if issues exist. Honesty builds trust and shows good faith.
Good:
"We aim for WCAG 2.2 AA compliance and are actively addressing known issues."
Bad:
"Our site is 100% accessible and compliant with all standards."
2. Be Specific
General statements are less useful than specific information.
Good:
"Our website includes: keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, high contrast mode, and text resizing up to 200%."
Bad:
"We have made our website accessible."
3. Keep It Updated
Review and update your statement regularly.
Recommended Review Schedule:
Major site changes: Update immediately
Regular review: Every 6 months
Minimum: Annually
4. Make It Easy to Find
Your statement should be accessible from every page.
Options:
In the accessibility widget (AllAccessible does this automatically)
Footer link on every page
Help/Support section
Site navigation menu
5. Provide Clear Contact Info
Make it easy for users to report issues.
Include:
Email address (e.g., [email protected])
Response timeline (e.g., "We respond within 2 business days")
Alternative contact methods (phone, form)
Specific person/department responsible
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Vague Language
"We care about accessibility" doesn't tell users anything useful.
❌ Overclaiming
Don't claim 100% compliance unless professionally audited.
❌ No Contact Info
Users need a way to report issues.
❌ Outdated Statements
A statement from 2018 suggests you're not actively maintaining accessibility.
❌ Hidden Statements
Burying it deep in your site defeats the purpose.
❌ No Known Issues
Every site has some issues. Acknowledging them shows awareness.
Sample Accessibility Statement
Here's a complete example:
Accessibility Statement for YourCompany.com
Commitment to Accessibility
YourCompany is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone and applying the relevant accessibility standards.
Conformance Status
We strive to conform to WCAG 2.2 Level AA standards. These guidelines explain how to make web content more accessible for people with disabilities and improve usability for all users.
Accessibility Features
Our website includes the following accessibility features:
Adjustable text size and spacing
Color contrast controls including dark mode
Keyboard navigation support
Screen reader compatibility
Dyslexia-friendly font options
Reading guides and focus indicators
Alternative text for images
These features are provided through our AllAccessible widget, available on every page via the accessibility button.
Known Limitations
We acknowledge that some areas of our website may not be fully accessible:
Certain PDF documents may not be fully tagged
Some embedded videos lack captions
Legacy content is being updated for compliance
We are actively working to address these issues and improve overall accessibility.
Feedback and Contact Information
We welcome feedback on the accessibility of YourCompany.com. If you encounter accessibility barriers, please contact us:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (555) 123-4567
Response Time: We respond to accessibility feedback within 2 business days
Assessment and Testing
This accessibility statement was created on [Date] and last reviewed on [Date].
We assess accessibility through:
Automated testing with AllAccessible scanning
Manual testing with assistive technologies
User feedback and reports
Technology and Tools
Our website is powered by AllAccessible, which provides real-time accessibility enhancements and monitoring.
Common Questions
Q: Is an accessibility statement legally required?
A: It depends on your location and sector. Required in EU and UK public sector, strongly recommended everywhere else.
Q: Can I just use AllAccessible's starter template?
A: It's a solid starting point that covers the essential elements. Customize it with your organization's details and known limitations so it honestly reflects your site.
Q: Should I mention known accessibility issues?
A: Yes. Disclosing known issues demonstrates awareness and good faith, which courts view favorably.
Q: How often should I update my statement?
A: Review every 6 months or whenever you make significant site changes.
Q: Do I need a lawyer to write my accessibility statement?
A: No, but you may want legal review if you're in a high-risk industry or have received complaints.
Q: Can my accessibility statement protect me from lawsuits?
A: It doesn't provide legal immunity, but it demonstrates good faith effort and can help in legal proceedings.
Next Steps
Ready to create your accessibility statement?
Create and Publish Your Statement - Write and publish with the built-in editor
Edit Your Statement - Customize with your organization's info
Statement Best Practices - Legal and compliance guidance
Where Statement Appears - How users find it
Related Articles
Creating and Publishing Your Accessibility Statement - Getting started
Editing Your Accessibility Statement - Customization guide
Statement Best Practices - Legal compliance tips
Understanding WCAG Compliance - Standards overview
Additional Resources
Legal Guidance:
Compliance Standards:
Last Updated: October 2025
Legal Disclaimer: This article provides general information, not legal advice. Consult an accessibility attorney for specific legal guidance.