Why Every Website Needs an Accessibility Statement (Even If It’s Not Perfect)

Here’s something I’ve learned after 20 years working with WordPress sites: too many organizations think they need a perfectly accessible website before they can publish an accessibility statement. That’s backwards.

The truth is, an accessibility statement isn’t a trophy you display after achieving perfection. It’s a roadmap that shows where you are, where you’re going, and how people can get help right now.

What Is an Accessibility Statement?

An accessibility statement is a dedicated page on your website that openly communicates your commitment to digital accessibility, documents your current accessibility status, and provides clear pathways for users who encounter barriers.

Think of it as both a transparency document and a support resource. It tells visitors what accessibility features your site includes, acknowledges any known limitations, and most importantly, gives people who experience issues a direct way to reach you.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) don’t technically require accessibility statements, but they’re considered a best practice under WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 3.1.2. More significantly, many regulatory frameworks like the European Accessibility Act and various government procurement standards now mandate them.

Why Every Website Should Have One

It demonstrates good faith. When legal disputes arise around web accessibility, courts and regulatory bodies look favorably on organizations that have documented their accessibility efforts. An accessibility statement shows you’re taking the issue seriously, even if you haven’t achieved full compliance yet.

It provides immediate value to users. People with disabilities are remarkably resourceful and often just need to know what workarounds exist or how to request help. An accessibility statement gives them that information immediately instead of leaving them to guess whether contacting support will even be useful.

It creates accountability. Publishing your accessibility status publicly motivates continuous improvement. It’s easier to let accessibility slide when it’s invisible, but once you’ve documented your commitment, there’s natural pressure to follow through.

It helps you plan your accessibility roadmap. The process of creating an accessibility statement forces you to audit your current state and think concretely about what needs improvement. Many organizations discover issues they weren’t aware of simply by going through this documentation process.

It protects your organization from some legal risks. While an accessibility statement isn’t a legal shield, it demonstrates due diligence and good faith efforts toward compliance. This matters significantly in demand letter situations and litigation, where showing documented commitment to accessibility can influence outcomes.

The Essential Components

A strong accessibility statement should include these core elements:

Your commitment to accessibility. Start with a clear statement about your organization’s dedication to making your website accessible to all users. This doesn’t need to be lengthy, but it should be genuine. Avoid generic corporate-speak about “valuing diversity.” Instead, be specific about why accessibility matters to your mission.

Your conformance status. This is where many organizations freeze up, worried about admitting imperfection. Here’s the key: WCAG provides conformance language specifically for this situation. You can state whether you’re aiming for Level A, AA, or AAA conformance, and be honest about where you currently stand. Common phrasings include “partially conformant,” “not conformant,” or “fully conformant.” Most websites honestly fall into the “partially conformant” category, and that’s okay to acknowledge.

Known accessibility limitations. Document specific barriers you’re aware of. For example: “Our video content currently lacks captions,” or “Some PDF documents on our site are not yet accessible,” or “Our site map has keyboard navigation issues we’re working to resolve.” This transparency helps users understand what to expect and plan accordingly.

Testing methodology. Explain how you’ve evaluated your site’s accessibility. Did you use automated tools? Manual testing? Screen readers? Did you work with users with disabilities? This shows you’re approaching accessibility systematically, not just guessing.

Contact information for accessibility issues. This is arguably the most important element. Provide a clear, easy way for people to report accessibility problems or request accommodations. Include an email address, phone number, or contact form specifically for accessibility concerns. Specify what kind of response time people can expect.

Alternative access options. If certain content or functions aren’t accessible yet, explain what alternatives exist. This might include phone-based service, email support, in-person assistance, or accessible document formats available on request.

Date of the statement and review schedule. Include when you created or last updated the statement, and commit to reviewing it regularly (annually is standard). This shows ongoing attention rather than a one-time compliance exercise.

Feedback mechanisms. Beyond just reporting problems, invite users to share feedback about their experience with your accessibility features. This helps you understand what’s working and what needs improvement from the perspective of actual users.

The Real Purpose of an Accessibility Statement

Here’s what accessibility statements ultimately accomplish for organizations: they shift you from defensive to proactive positioning.

Without an accessibility statement, every accessibility issue becomes an ambush. Users encounter barriers, get frustrated, and may escalate to formal complaints or legal action without ever giving you a chance to help. The organization is caught flat-footed, scrambling to respond, often defensive about practices they hadn’t even evaluated.

With an accessibility statement, you’ve already opened the conversation. You’ve acknowledged that accessibility is important, documented what you know about your current state, and provided clear pathways for people who need help. When issues arise, they’re more likely to come through the channels you’ve established rather than through demand letters.

This transforms the dynamic from “caught doing something wrong” to “working together on known challenges.” It doesn’t eliminate all legal risk, but it fundamentally changes how accessibility issues get surfaced and addressed.

An accessibility statement also serves as an internal accountability mechanism. Once published, it creates organizational memory and commitment that persists beyond individual staff members. New team members can reference it. Vendors and partners can see your standards. Budget discussions can reference documented commitments. It makes accessibility part of your organizational identity rather than an occasional concern.

Perhaps most importantly, accessibility statements demonstrate that you view accessibility as an ongoing process, not a finished state. Even organizations with the most accessible websites continue maintaining and updating their accessibility statements because they understand that accessibility requires continuous attention as technology, content, and standards evolve.

Starting Where You Are

The biggest mistake organizations make is waiting for perfection before publishing an accessibility statement. Every day without an accessibility statement is a day when users encounter barriers without knowing whether help exists or whether the organization even cares about accessibility.

Start with an honest statement that acknowledges your current state and your commitment to improvement. It’s far better to publish a statement that says “We’re working toward WCAG 2.1 Level AA conformance and currently have these known issues” than to publish nothing at all while you slowly work toward full compliance.

Remember: accessibility is fundamentally about removing barriers so people can accomplish their goals on your website. An accessibility statement removes the barrier of not knowing whether or how to get help. That makes it one of the most immediately valuable accessibility improvements you can implement, regardless of your site’s current accessibility level.