--- title: How to Write a Web Accessibility Statement and Policy description: "Revealed: How to write a web accessibility statement and policy the right way..." image: https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/AccessibilityStatement.jpg --- - [skip to menu](https://blog.usablenet.com/how-to-write-an-accessibility-statement-and-policy#nav) - [skip to content](https://blog.usablenet.com/how-to-write-an-accessibility-statement-and-policy#main-content) - [skip to footer](https://blog.usablenet.com/how-to-write-an-accessibility-statement-and-policy#footer) Test the accessibility of your website for free! Try UsableNet AQA. 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[Take our Quiz](https://info.usablenet.com/website-accessibility-remediation-quiz) - Resources ## Resources [E-books & Guides](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=E-books%20and%20Guides) [Case Studies](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Case%20Studies) [Reports](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Reports) [Webinars](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Webinars) [Tools](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Tools) [All Resources](https://usablenet.com/resources) ## Essential Resources [ADA accessibility lawsuit tracker](https://info.usablenet.com/ada-website-compliance-lawsuit-tracker?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) [Checklist: how to achieve and maintain digital accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/digital-website-accessibility-checklist?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) [Which remediation approach is right for me?](https://info.usablenet.com/website-accessibility-remediation-quiz?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) [A Primer on ADA and Digital Accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/a-primer-on-ada-and-digital-accessibility?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) The EAA is in Effect — Is Your Website Compliant? [Get Help with EN 301 549 Compliance](https://info.usablenet.com/eaa-en-301-549-compliance?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) - Who We Serve ## Industry [E-commerce and Consumer Goods](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-e-commerce-consumer-goods) [Food Service and Hospitality](https://info.usablenet.com/-industries-food-service-hospitality) [Banking and Financial Services](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-financial-services) [Healthcare](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-healthcare) [Technology and Business Services](https://info.usablenet.com/-industries-technology-and-business-services) [Public Sector and Education](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-public-sector-and-education) ## Compliance [Canadian Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-canada) [European Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-europe) [Other International Accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-international) [United States Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-united-states) 2026 Midyear report on digital accessibility lawsuits in the US [Download Now](https://info.usablenet.com/2026-midyear-report) - [Pricing](https://usablenet.com/pricing) - [Blog](https://blog.usablenet.com/) - [About Us](https://usablenet.com/about-us) [Get a Demo](https://info.usablenet.com/contact) # How to Write a Web Accessibility Statement and Policy **By** [UsableNet](https://blog.usablenet.com/author/usablenet-1) on Mar 19, 2019 **Topics:** [Web Accessibility](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/web-accessibility) 0 Comments - - - ![Web Accessibility Statement and Policy being written by woman](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/AccessibilityStatement.jpg) *Editor's Note: This post was originally published August 2018 and has recently been updated and revised for accuracy and comprehensiveness.* You’ve taken the first step toward solving your website’s accessibility problem—admitting that there is one. The next step is crucial—hatch a plan to fix it and then communicate it to the world. ## How to write a WEB accessibility statement In short, everyone. But practically speaking, you have two distinct but equally important audiences that require their own messaging. First is a **policy** for your staff, your board, your volunteers, and any other closely held internal relationships. It makes the argument of why [web accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/web-accessibility-your-roadmap) is vital to your company. It is a statement of values, lays out what every stakeholder in the organization stands for, and clarifies each team’s role in the process. Second is a web **accessibility statement** for your customers, your vendors, and the general public. It communicates your vision and priorities to the wider world and establishes a plan to bring your online and mobile properties into compliance with accessibility standards. Most important, it allows for a level of transparency with your customers and provides easy ways for them to get in touch if they experience any problems on your site. [![→ Assess Your Site’s Accessibility](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3280432/0aef5b8e-6544-4b76-8bec-926fe52f1c30.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3280432/0aef5b8e-6544-4b76-8bec-926fe52f1c30)   ## **Timing Is Everything** You don’t need to have a perfectly accessible site in order to publish a policy or a statement. Rather than certificates of completion, they are indicators of intent and measurements of progress. These are living, breathing documents that should be updated regularly to show where you are in your process. Even if you fall behind, the disability community will be more likely to stick with you if you keep them informed. “A well drafted accessibility statement will not increase your liability risk, but it may mitigate it,” says Mark S. Sidoti, Esq., Gibbons P.C. “Many companies balk at providing their customers with an honest assessment of where they stand on the remediation process, and wait too long to add one to their site. This is short sighted. An accessibility statement lets your customers know you care about their experience in using your site and are committed to addressing these issues. This will often give users and law firms some pause before pursuing aggressive legal action, certainly when compared to the alternative of no acknowledgement at all.” [![See our full guide on web and app accessibility. >>](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3280432/e1e57de7-6e2d-4b97-83e9-5ecbb6fe0070.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3280432/e1e57de7-6e2d-4b97-83e9-5ecbb6fe0070) Internal policies will also go through various stages of progress, from the initial brainstorm to timelines and budgets to working groups to testing to launch. And the work continues beyond launch, with teams regularly monitoring and revisiting accessibility standards, particularly as the site grows and changes. A key element of any policy or statement is a demonstration of your company’s commitment to open, honest communication; quick, responsive updates when needed; and the flexibility to change course to match your audience’s needs. ## **When in Doubt, Ask for Help** You don’t have to take this journey alone. A key resource is the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), which provides valuable direction on how to draft [a policy](https://www.w3.org/WAI/planning/org-policies/) and [a statement](https://www.w3.org/WAI/planning/statements/). It will walk you through every step of the process, including industry best practices, and help you set goals based on the [Website Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1](https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/). The scope of your policy and statement depends entirely on your ultimate desired level of conformance. Will it be A, AA, or AAA? How long will this take? You don’t need to have your crystal ball handy in order to answer these questions. W3C WAI can help you develop reasonable timelines, which can always be changed if you fall behind or exceed expectations. [![Improve your website accessibility with our experts >>](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3280432/977b73d4-a71b-43f9-b3a8-abe8a1947c17.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3280432/977b73d4-a71b-43f9-b3a8-abe8a1947c17) ## **Pull Back the Curtain** Transparency is essential throughout this process. Sit down with your team and think through every possible question that your customers might have. And then answer them (even if that answer is, “We don’t know yet”) and publish them on your site. A few more tips to keep in mind: - Put all accessibility content in a prominent location on the homepage and provide links from every other page of the site. Your audience shouldn’t have to hunt them down. - Write short and sweet. Keep copy to a minimum and cut anything that’s not directly relevant to your accessibility work. - Give tips and tricks for users to get the most out of your site’s accessibility, some of which may involve walking them through software installation or industry lingo. - Be honest about where you still need improvement and give a rough timeline of when the issues will be resolved. - Make it simple for people to reach you, and make sure your team is ready to hear them. ## **Learn from the Best** Some of the most recognizable brands in the world have fully committed to a w[eb accessibility roadmap](https://info.usablenet.com/web-accessibility-your-roadmap) and have great accessibility statements to prove it. - [Hilton’s](https://hiltonhonors3.hilton.com/en/support/accessibility.html) statement is short and to the point and demystifies the process of booking a room for those with disabilities. - [Chase](https://www.chase.com/digital/resources/accessibility) provides great banking-specific details, such as how account numbers and dollar amounts are displayed, and how to personalize online accounts. - [eBay’s](https://www.ebayinc.com/accessibility/) brief statement boasts an impressive overture, indicating that its community is open to the “broadest audience possible,” which gives the company a wide berth to innovate and improve on its own timeline. - [Perry Ellis](https://www.perryellis.com/ada-statement.html) has great detail in its statement, getting into the weeds just enough to assure users that they can talk the talk and walk the walk. - [Kendra Scott](https://www.kendrascott.com/accessibility.html)’s statement connects accessibility back directly to the company’s core pillars of family, fashion, and philanthropy. Before you can emulate those who do it well, your first step is to assess your own site’s accessibility. [Contact us](https://usablenet.com/automated-accessibility-testing-tool) for a free consultation and automated accessibility test or download our free web and app accessibility guide. 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We provide accessibility solutions to Fortune 1000 companies, small and medium enterprises, government, and education organizations across industries including retail, travel, hospitality, food services, automotive, financial services, and healthcare. - - - - ### Related posts ![Hotel Website Accessibility: Check-in, Messaging, and In-Stay Barriers for Blind Guests](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Check-in, Messaging, and In-Stay Barriers for Blind Guests](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-check-in-and-in-stay-barriers-for-blind-guests) Jul 15, 2026 ![Hotel Website Accessibility: Browsing Room Options](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Browsing Room Options](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-browsing-room-options) Jul 14, 2026 ![Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Registration%20-%20Midyear%20Report.png) [Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/inside-the-2026-midyear-numbers-where-digital-accessibility-litigation-is-going) Jul 8, 2026 ![The Low-Cost Moves That Strengthen an ADA Website Defense](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/The%20Low-Cost%20Moves%20That%20Strengthen%20an%20ADA%20Website%20Defense.png) [The Low-Cost Moves That Strengthen an ADA Website Defense](https://blog.usablenet.com/the-low-cost-moves-that-strengthen-an-ada-website-defense) Jun 16, 2026 ### Sign Up for the UsableNet Blog ### Recent Posts ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Check-in, Messaging, and In-Stay Barriers for Blind Guests](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-check-in-and-in-stay-barriers-for-blind-guests) Jul 15, 2026 ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Browsing Room Options](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-browsing-room-options) Jul 14, 2026 ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Registration%20-%20Midyear%20Report.png) [Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/inside-the-2026-midyear-numbers-where-digital-accessibility-litigation-is-going) Jul 8, 2026 ### Posts by Topic - [Web Accessibility (311)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/web-accessibility) - [User Experience (113)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/user-experience) - [ADA Lawsuits (45)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/ada-lawsuits) - [ADA Website Compliance (38)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/ada-website-compliance) - [European Accessibility Act (34)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/european-accessibility-act) - [Mobile Web (30)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/mobile-web) - [Mobile Apps (27)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/mobile-apps) - [Retail (27)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/retail) ![](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Consultation%20Icon.svg) Need to improve digital usability, accessibility or performance? 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