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Home Blog What is an Accessibility Statement?
Why Every Organization Needs One and How to Get It Right.
Clay Deanhardt
June 8, 2026
As businesses become increasingly digital, the need for accessible and inclusive design has never been greater. But, your commitment to accessibility shouldn’t remain hidden behind the scenes, and that’s where an accessibility statement becomes essential.
An accessibility statement is a public declaration of how accessible your digital products, services, and environments are for disabled people. Far more than a compliance checkbox, it serves as an important trust-building tool that demonstrates your commitment to inclusion, transparency, and continuous improvement.
An accessibility statement functions as both a promise and a progress report, telling users where you stand today, what barriers may still exist, and how you’re actively working to improve.
Most effective accessibility statements include:
Remember: Accessibility statements aren’t limited to websites. They’re equally valuable for mobile apps, customer service platforms, product documentation, and internal tools such as intranets.
Today’s landscape treats accessibility as a moral responsibility, legal requirement, and competitive advantage simultaneously. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) now both require companies to provide equal access to covered products, services, and digital experiences for people with disabilities, and a well-crafted accessibility statement can help organizations demonstrate accountability, mitigate risks, and build lasting trust.
The EAA now requires covered service providers (including US-based companies that provide covered services in the EU) to explain how their services meet applicable accessibility requirements in written and oral public statements that are themselves accessible. These requirements apply across a range of sectors including:
Properly constructed accessibility statements help fit that bill, and failing to meet the requirements may lead to enforcement actions under Member State laws, potentially including fines, lawsuits, and restricted market access.
Like the EAA, the ADA requires covered entities to ensure that communications with people with disabilities are accessible and as effective as communications with others. And even though the ADA does not directly mandate public accessibility documentation for all businesses, official federal policy requires such documentation for federal agencies, while it is recommended – and often mandated by DOJ and private litigation settlements – for businesses.
Acknowledging existing roadblocks while outlining improvement plans demonstrates to regulators and users that you’re proactively addressing accessibility gaps rather than ignoring them. This transparency can significantly reduce the risk of complaints and litigation.
Modern consumers increasingly align their purchasing decisions with their values.
75% of consumers say that a brand’s diversity and inclusion reputation influences their purchase decisions.
An accessibility statement signals your organization’s integrity and commitment to inclusivity, strengthening loyalty among people with disabilities and their broader communities.
Creating an impactful accessibility statement doesn’t require starting from scratch. The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) provides helpful guidance, and most organizations benefit from following this practical framework:
Share your organization’s overarching commitment to accessibility with concrete language:
“We are committed to ensuring digital accessibility for our disabled consumers. We continually improve the user experience for everyone by applying relevant accessibility standards and actively seeking user feedback.”
Specify which accessibility standards guide your work, such as:
Clearly define what your statement covers, i.e. main website, mobile apps, customer platforms, or all digital touchpoints.
Transparency builds trust. Acknowledge areas needing improvement and provide realistic timelines for addressing them when possible.
Make it easy for users to report issues or request support through multiple channels:
Commit to updating your statement regularly and specify your review timeline to maintain accuracy and relevance.
An accessibility statement isn’t something you publish once and forget. Just like your products and services, it should grow and adapt over time. Treat it as a living document that reflects both your current accessibility posture and your ongoing journey toward improvement.
The most effective accessibility statements evolve continuously alongside your products, services, and user feedback. When updating your statement, remember to consider:
As artificial intelligence becomes more embedded in customer experiences, it’s increasingly important to communicate not just what’s accessible today, but how new technologies will impact accessibility moving forward.
An exceptional accessibility statement communicates three essential messages:
Invest the time to create a comprehensive, honest accessibility statement. Your customers, team members, and organization’s future will benefit from this commitment to transparency and inclusion.
Ready to move beyond compliance and build accessibility into every layer of your customer experience?
Request your demo today.
