Insights · 4 min read
How to write a website accessibility statement
By Austin Hunter ·
An accessibility statement is a short page, usually linked from your site footer, that explains your commitment to accessibility, how well the site currently meets it, and how people can get help if something doesn't work for them. It doesn't make a site accessible by itself, but an honest one builds trust and gives visitors a way to reach you.
What to include
- Your commitment: a sentence or two saying you want the site to be usable by everyone, including people who use assistive technology.
- The standard you aim for, usually WCAG 2.1 or 2.2 Level AA.
- Where you are now: fully, partially or not yet conformant, in honest terms.
- Known limitations: specific parts that don't meet the standard yet (for example, older PDFs or a third-party booking widget), and what you're doing about them.
- How to get help: an email address and phone number, what information to include, and how quickly you aim to respond.
- Other formats: how someone can request content in another form, such as a phone call or an accessible document.
- The date the statement was last reviewed.
Keep it honest
Don't claim full conformance unless the site has actually been tested against the standard, by people as well as automated tools. Saying "partially conformant" and listing the known gaps is better than an over-promise that a visitor discovers in the first minute. Avoid phrases like "100% compliant" or "ADA certified"; there's no official certification for websites.
A free template
The W3C's Web Accessibility Initiative publishes guidance and a free accessibility statement generator. Search for "W3C generate an accessibility statement." It walks you through each section and produces a page you can edit.
Keep it up to date
Review the statement when the site changes in a big way and at least once a year. Update the known-limitations list as you fix things, and make sure the contact address actually reaches someone.
We can help
We build and maintain accessible websites, run accessibility reviews, and fix what they find. If you need a statement you can stand behind, we can test the site first and write it with you.