Accessibility Statement Template

This document provides a ready-to-use Accessibility Statement template. It helps you publicly communicate your commitment to digital accessibility, disclose the use of accessibility widgets or overlays, list the accessibility features available to users and offer clear ways for users to provide feedback or report issues. The guide includes step-by-step customisation instructions, explanations for each section, and best practices to ensure your statement is accurate, user-friendly and legally sound. Whether you're a business owner, web administrator or compliance manager, this guide will help you create a trustworthy and accessible experience for all users.

Before diving into the template, it’s essential to understand what an accessibility statement is, its importance and how to write one effectively. This helps ensure that the statement you publish is not only compliant but also meaningful, accurate and user-focused. The following sections break down each of these elements to support both compliance and communication goals.

An accessibility statement is more than just a legal safeguard; it's a public commitment to digital inclusion. Here's why providing one is important:

• Transparency: It clearly communicates to users what accessibility features and tools are available on your website and where limitations may still exist.
• Compliance support: While not always legally required, statements are recommended (and sometimes mandated) under regulations such as the WCAG, EAA, ADA (U.S.), EN 301 549 (EU) or Section 508.
• User trust: It shows that you’re actively working to accommodate people with disabilities, which builds credibility and inclusivity.
• Feedback loop: It opens a channel for users to report the barriers they face, providing you with insights to improve the user experience over time.
• Search engine and vendor requirements: Increasingly, search engines, procurement teams, and partners expect a clear commitment to accessibility.

Providing a statement aligns your brand with responsible and ethical digital practices, demonstrating to users that you value their experience.

A good accessibility statement should be clear, complete and tailored to your specific website setup. The following should be included:

1. Your commitment to accessibility: Briefly state your organisation’s dedication to making content accessible to all users.
2. Applicable compliance standards: Clearly state which standards your website conforms to, such as WCAG 2.1 Level AA. This builds trust and shows regulatory awareness.
3. Accessibility tools or technologies used: Mention any third-party widgets, overlays, or accessibility enhancements you’ve implemented (e.g., CookieYes Accessibility Widget).
4. Features supported by your accessibility solution: List capabilities like text resizing, high contrast mode, keyboard navigation or screen reader support.
5. Known accessibility limitations: Be honest about areas that may not yet meet accessibility standards, such as PDFs, legacy systems or third-party content.
6. Contact information for accessibility feedback: Provide a direct method for users to request assistance or report issues. Include multiple options if possible (email, phone, contact form).
7. Expected response time: Inform users of the anticipated wait time.
8. Date the statement was last updated: This shows that you’re actively maintaining your accessibility commitments.

Optional but recommended additions:

• Accessibility testing tools used
• Applicable compliance standards (e.g., WCAG 2.1 Level AA)
• Accessibility roles or contacts within your organisation

Writing an effective accessibility statement doesn’t require legal expertise, but it does require clarity, honesty, and structure. Follow these steps to create a user-friendly and credible statement:

• Use Plain Language: Keep your wording straightforward and easy to understand. Avoid legal or technical jargon unless absolutely necessary.
• Be Specific and Accurate: Only list the accessibility features your site actually supports. Avoid overpromising or making blanket compliance claims (such as being fully WCAG compliant) unless verified by expert audits.
• Structure It Logically: Organise your statement with clear headings or bullet points for easy readability. Use semantic HTML if publishing on a webpage (e.g., <h2>, <ul>).
• Make It Accessible: Ensure the page itself meets basic accessibility standards: keyboard navigability, sufficient contrast, and screen-reader compatibility.
• Keep It Up to Date: Review your statement annually or after major updates to your website. Update it if new tools are added or features change.

You should publish the Accessibility Statement as a dedicated page on your website and ensure it is easily accessible for users. The most common and user-friendly approach is to add a clearly labelled link, such as "Accessibility Statement", in your website’s footer. This ensures visibility across all pages. Additionally, you may choose to reference or link to the statement from related sections like your Privacy Policy, Legal or Help pages. Just as importantly, the statement page itself must be accessible: use proper heading structures, maintain sufficient colour contrast and ensure it supports keyboard navigation. This reinforces your commitment to accessibility, not just in content, but also in the overall experience.

Accessibility Statement

[Your Company Name] is committed to making our website accessible to people with disabilities. We are actively working to enhance the user experience and implement relevant accessibility standards.

Measures to Support Accessibility

[Your Company Name] takes the following measures to ensure accessibility of [Website Name]:

• Includes accessibility as part of our internal policies and processes
• Assign clear accessibility targets and responsibilities
• Provides continual accessibility training for staff
• Employs formal accessibility quality assurance methods
• Utilizes an accessibility widget ([Name of Widget/Provider]) to support user needs

Conformance Status

The [Your Company Name] website is partially conformant with [WCAG 2.1 / 2.2], Level [A / AA / AAA]. Partially conformant means that some parts of the content do not fully conform to the accessibility standard.

Accessibility Features

We use an accessibility widget provided by AccessiYes to support users with diverse needs. The widget includes the following features:

• Text resizing
• High contrast and dark mode
• Screen reader enhancements
• Pause or disable animations
• Highlight links and title

You can open the accessibility menu by clicking the icon in the [bottom-right/bottom-left] corner of any page.

Known Limitations

Some older files, third-party content, or embedded media may not fully meet accessibility standards. We are working on updates and encourage users to notify us if they face any issues.

Feedback and Contact

If you need assistance or wish to report an accessibility issue, please contact us:

• Email: [[email protected]]
• Phone: [Optional phone number]
• Contact Form: [URL to feedback form, if available]

We aim to respond within [X business days] and will do our best to address any issues.

Compatibility with Browsers and Assistive Technologies

This website is designed to be compatible with:

• The latest versions of major browsers (e.g., Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox)
• Assistive technologies such as screen readers (e.g., NVDA, VoiceOver, JAWS)
• Mobile accessibility tools (e.g., TalkBack, iOS VoiceOver)

Technical Specifications

This website relies on the following technologies to function as intended and support accessibility:

• HTML
• WAI-ARIA
• CSS
• JavaScript

These technologies are relied upon for conformance with accessibility standards.

Assessment Approach

[Your Company Name] assessed the accessibility of this website using the following approach:

• Self-evaluation based on WCAG guidelines
• Manual and automated testing using tools such as [axe, WAVE, Lighthouse]
• Periodic review and testing after major updates

Last updated: [Insert date]

Replace all bracketed placeholders before publishing:

When creating or publishing your Accessibility Statement, following these best practices will ensure it’s clear, credible and user-focused:

• Start by using clear, jargon-free language: Avoid overly technical or legal terms that may confuse non-expert readers. Your statement should be easy to understand for all users, including those with cognitive or learning disabilities. Clarity supports inclusivity.
• Be transparent about known limitations on your website: If certain areas or content types, such as older PDFs, embedded videos, or third-party tools, are not yet fully accessible, state this openly. Acknowledging limitations doesn’t weaken your message; it builds trust by showing that you're honest and proactive.
• Include multiple contact options for accessibility-related feedback: Providing more than one method (such as email, phone or a contact form) gives users the flexibility to reach you in a way that works best for them and increases the likelihood that they’ll report issues or share suggestions.
• Regular review and update your statement: Make it a point to review and update your statement regularly, especially after significant changes to your website or accessibility improvements. An outdated statement can imply that accessibility is not a current priority, whereas an up-to-date one shows your ongoing commitment.

Finally, ensure that the statement page itself is fully accessible. This includes using semantic HTML, proper heading levels, sufficient contrast, and full keyboard operability. Publishing an accessibility statement that isn’t accessible ironically undermines the very message you're trying to convey and can damage credibility.

Creating and maintaining an Accessibility Statement is not just a compliance task—it’s a reflection of your organisation’s values and a key part of inclusive digital practice. By using the template and guidance provided in this document, you can craft a statement that is honest, user-centred, and aligned with current accessibility standards.

An effective Accessibility Statement communicates your commitment, informs users about the tools and features available, and invites feedback to drive continual improvement. When kept up to date and presented in an accessible manner, it becomes a powerful tool for building trust, demonstrating accountability, and providing a better experience for all users.

Make accessibility part of your ongoing website strategy, not a one-time checkbox and ensure your Accessibility Statement grows and evolves along with your digital presence.