An accessibility statement is a public statement of your organization’s commitment to digital accessibility.
A website accessibility statement serves two primary purposes:
- Commitment: It informs your audience that you are committed to accessibility.
- Contact: It provides at least one method of contact for people who need help with a question or want to provide feedback.
Our Accessibility Statement Template
Our free and customizable template simplifies the process of drafting a statement. Our generalized template is intended to be used as a basic starting point that your organization can customize to reflect your policy and values.
Our Website Accessibility Statement Template Features
- Customization Guide: We include a detailed, but easy guide to help you build a website accessibility statement according to your organization’s policy and current state of accessibility.
- Comprehensive Content: Our template includes the most common sections of a strong statement.
- Available in Multiple Formats: Our template is available in Microsoft Word and PDF formats for ease of use.
Accessibility Policy vs. Website Accessibility Statement
An accessibility statement is a public-facing document stating your commitment to accessibility. Conversely, an accessibility policy is an internal document that outlines and guides your organization’s efforts on digital accessibility. A policy usually includes roles and responsibilities, objectives, and deadlines.
If you are looking for an accessibility policy template, please visit our dedicated page for more information and download options.
How to Use Our Accessibility Statement Template
Using our website accessibility statement template is mercifully straightforward. Just follow these steps to implement it on your website effectively:
- Download the Website Accessibility Statement Template: Choose either the Microsoft Word or PDF format above, depending on your preferred document type.
- Customize the Statement: Using our customization guide, customize the text to match your specific accessibility goals, ongoing efforts, and organization structure.
- Publish on Your Website: Place the accessibility statement template in an easily accessible location, such as your website’s footer.
Website Accessibility Statement | FAQ
- Why should I have a website accessibility statement? It helps users understand your stance on accessibility and provides contact information should someone need assistance on accessibility or want to help let you know if they’ve come across an issue.
- Can I use the accessibility statement template without modifying it? The template needs to be reviewed and edited before use.
- Can I get sued for not having an accessibility statement? We have seen a lack of a statement noted in some complaints. However, the complaints have always listed several accessibility issues and added the missing statement as an additional grievance rather than the primary reason for the complaint. Read our ADA lawsuit settlement amounts write-up to learn more about website accessibility lawsuits.
- Should my accessibility statement include a section on WCAG? This is a matter of preference and it certainly doesn’t have to. Remember that the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a reference for entities covered under Title III, but this is a voluntary technical standard.
Help
Contact us directly for more details on drafting a website accessibility statement or policy. We offer a full range of resources and services to help organizations follow best practices for ADA compliance.
