Accessibility Statement: Legal & User Importance

An accessibility statement is a dedicated page or section where your organization publicly declares its commitment to digital accessibility, describes what you've done to meet accessibility standards, and explains how users can report accessibility barriers. Think of it as a contract between your organization and your users: "We care about accessibility, here's what we've implemented, and here's how to reach us if something isn't working."

An accessibility statement serves as documented evidence of your good faith accessibility efforts. While this alone doesn't guarantee legal protection, it matters significantly in litigation. In accessibility-related lawsuits, courts examine whether organizations have made reasonable efforts to ensure accessibility. An accessibility statement demonstrates several things to a court: 1. Awareness of Accessibility Standards By publicly stating you follow WCAG guidelines or ADA requirements, you demonstrate knowledge of applicable standards. This prevents the "we didn't know" defense and shows your organization takes accessibility seriously. 2. Documented Commitment A statement creates a paper trail. If accessibility is central to your values, that commitment should be public. If it's only internal, judges may question how serious your efforts truly are. 3. Ongoing Remediation Process An accessibility statement that includes a feedback mechanism and known issues section shows you're actively working to fix problems, not ignoring them. Courts have noted this in recent decisions. 4. Transparency About Limitations Being upfront about known issues (and timelines to fix them) is better than having those issues discovered by plaintiffs' attorneys later. Transparency reduces the appearance of negligence. Many accessibility settlement agreements require organizations to maintain public accessibility statements that are regularly updated. A well-maintained statement demonstrates compliance with those agreements and prevents future litigation.

Beyond legal considerations, accessibility statements serve users directly. People with disabilities visit your site and need to know: "Can I use this? If I run into problems, what's my recourse?" A person using a screen reader might wonder: "Did this organization deliberately make their site accessible, or is it just coincidence?" An accessibility statement answers that question. It signals that accessibility wasn't an afterthought. Different users need different accessibility features. An accessibility statement tells users what's available: keyboard shortcuts, screen reader compatibility, captions, transcripts, adjustable fonts, and high-contrast modes. Users can then determine if your site meets their specific needs. Even the most carefully built websites have accessibility barriers. An accessibility statement provides users with a clear way to report problems. This email address or contact form becomes a lifeline for users who hit a barrier. A regularly updated accessibility statement shows users that accessibility isn't a "set it and forget it" initiative. It's an ongoing conversation. Users are more likely to report issues if they trust the organization is listening and acting on feedback.

Placement matters. An accessibility statement buried three clicks deep from your homepage won't serve users or demonstrate good faith to a court. Here's where it belongs: Your accessibility statement should always be linked in the footer. This is the industry standard. Users expect to find accessibility, privacy, and legal information in the footer. Make it easy: "Accessibility Statement" in the footer link area, clearly visible and easy to find.

An effective accessibility statement has clear structure and specific content. Here's what to include: Start with a clear, genuine commitment to accessibility. Example: "[Organization Name] 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." Explicitly state which standards you follow: Example: "This website aims to comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards." Describe what you've actually done. Be specific: Don't just list them—explain what each feature does for users. Transparency about limitations builds trust and can actually protect you legally. Include: Example: "Some embedded third-party videos lack captions. We are working with vendors to add captions by Q1 2026. In the meantime, transcripts are available upon request." Make it easy for users to report problems: If you've had third-party accessibility audits, include: This demonstrates external verification of your commitment. If your site includes embedded content (YouTube, social media, third-party widgets), clarify your responsibility: "Some content hosted by third parties (such as embedded YouTube videos) may not be fully accessible. We are not responsible for the accessibility of third-party content and recommend contacting those providers directly for accessibility support." Include this legal qualifier: "Despite our efforts to ensure accessibility, some content or features may be difficult for people with certain disabilities to use. If you encounter accessibility barriers, please contact us so we can work to find a solution."

An outdated accessibility statement is worse than no statement at all. Update it when: Include a "Last Updated" date on your statement so users know it's current. Your accessibility statement must be accessible! This means: Avoid jargon. Your accessibility statement isn't a legal document—it's communication with users. Replace "conformance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA" with "we follow accessibility best practices that work well for screen readers and keyboard users." Don't claim WCAG Level AAA compliance if you haven't tested thoroughly. Courts and users value honesty. It's better to say "We aim for WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance" than to overstate your efforts. Not every user can fill out a web form or send an email. Offer: The accessibility statement only works if you act on it. When someone reports an accessibility barrier:

Use this as a starting point for your organization: Our Commitment [Organization Name] is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We continually improve the user experience for everyone and apply accessibility standards to our website. Standards We Follow This website is designed to comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Accessibility Features Our website includes the following accessibility features: Known Issues We strive for complete accessibility, but recognize some barriers may still exist. Known issues include: Report an Accessibility Barrier If you encounter an accessibility barrier on our website, please contact us: We respond to all accessibility reports within 2 business days and will work with you to find a solution. Third-Party Content Some content on this website is hosted by third parties and may not meet our accessibility standards. We are not responsible for third-party accessibility but encourage you to contact those providers directly. Last Updated This accessibility statement was last reviewed and updated on [Date].

Ready to audit your website's accessibility and ensure your statement reflects reality? Get a comprehensive WCAG compliance scan today.