You’ve hired an accessibility consultant, firm, or specialist. You’ve invested time, effort, and resources into ensuring that all of your users enjoy a comfortable and intuitive experience within your accessible web application or website. An Accessibility Statement is a great way to put that work on display and set a good example for your industry.
The Biden-Harris transition website recently went live and got some attention online for its Accessibility Statement. The page promises an ongoing effort toward conforming to and maintaining WCAG 2.1 AA compliance. It concludes by offering a contact for users to report accessibility issues to. This is a great example of what a good accessibility statement should look like.
What is the Purpose of an Accessibility Statement?
Putting an Accessibility Statement on your site isn’t just about patting yourself on the back. Accessibility Statements have an important job: communication. If there are any gaps or accessibility features in progress, your accessibility statement can address those and communicate to your users what is being done. You can also provide contact information, where users with concerns or issues can bring them to your attention.
Are Accessibility Statements Really That Important?
Accessibility isn’t just about ADA compliance, WCAG guidelines and avoiding lawsuits. It’s about making sure technology is available to everyone. Your website or web application’s accessibly statement demonstrates your company’s commitment to this goal. It communicates to prospective customers that you’re attentive to their needs and value their business. It communicates to people who might want to work for you that inclusivity is important to your company’s culture.