EmailOur Accessibility Statement
[Entity] is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience to everyone, including those with disabilities.
It is [Entity’s] policy to ensure that persons with disabilities have full and equal opportunity to access and benefit from the goods, services, privileges, advantages, and accommodations offered by [Entity] through [website.com / App name mobile application].
To ensure meaningful access and provide effective communication to persons with disabilities, [Entity] has undertaken the following measures:
Notice
[Entity] provides this policy statement and notice, prominently and directly linked from the [website.com] homepage, soliciting feedback from visitors to [website.com] on how accessibility can be improved.
We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of [website.com / App name mobile application]. Please let us know if you encounter any barriers to access:
- Email: [accessibility@website.com]
- Phone: [Phone Number]
Standards
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are technical standards to improve digital accessibility.
Programming
To create an optimal experience across a variety of browser, device, and assistive technology combinations, [website.com] relies upon the following languages and specifications:
- HTML
- WAI-ARIA
- CSS
- JavaScript
Note that different technology combinations may interpret code in unique ways and render experiences that are specific to those combinations.
Compatibility
[If your asset is a website, customize the following example language]
[Website.com] is designed to be compatible with assistive technologies and the last two versions of major browsers including Chrome, FireFox, and Safari.
Assistive technologies include NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, and TalkBack screen readers.
[Website.com] may not display optimally in Internet Explorer 10 or older browsers.
[If your asset is an app, customize the following example language]
[App name mobile application] is designed to be compatible with assistive technologies and [iOS/Android/iOS and Android] devices from the last ten years.
[App name mobile application] may not display optimally in older devices.
Coordinator
[Entity] has designated a Web Accessibility Coordinator who is knowledgeable on web accessibility, and responsible for carrying out this policy.
Distribution
[Entity] makes available and annually distributes this policy statement to all personnel that design, develop, maintain, manage, or otherwise have responsibility for the content and format of [website.com / app name mobile application] (“Web Content Personnel”).
[Entity] requires employees and contractors to comply with this policy. Failure to comply may result in disciplinary action.
Expertise
[Entity] has retained [Company Name / Consultant] as an independent third-party specialist to provide consultation and [bi-annually / annually] evaluate and test [website.com] for WCAG 2.1 AA conformance. [Company Name / Consultant] prepares a written report based on the evaluation, which identifies any barriers and provides recommendations to enhance the accessibility of [website.com / App name mobile application].
Testing
[Entity] engages in automated testing and user testing of individuals with disabilities to continually assess and improve the accessibility of [website.com].
Training
[Entity] provides annual training on web accessibility to Web Content Personnel, and considers the degree and effectiveness with which personnel took accessibility considerations into account in the performance of their duties when reviewing their performance.
Compliance
Through [Entity’s] proactive efforts and genuine commitment to accessibility and following best practices set forth by relevant laws and governing bodies, [Entity] believes it not only meets but exceeds the digital accessibility requirements imposed
by Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as well as other applicable anti- discrimination laws.
Resources
W3C Web Accessibility Initiative
The Americans with Disabilities Act
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Attribution
The framework for this accessibility statement was created by Kris Rivenburgh and customized by [Entity].
[You have the option to the remove attribution section with a $5 payment via Paypal at https://paypal.me/krisrivenburgh/5.]
[This template is provided free of charge. If you find great value in this template, you can make a payment in any amount via Paypal at https://paypal.me/krisrivenburgh/5.]
Accessibility Statement Customization Guide
Having a public-facing accessibility statement is not only beneficial for litigation risk mitigation purposes and legal compliance but also for your target audience.
Those who value accessibility want to know, are you mindful of accessibility? Have you addressed accessibility issues? Are you receptive to feedback?
Your accessibility statement is the place to find out. If your website doesn’t have a statement, it leaves a void.
Customize
To leverage the template provided, brackets have been made available to indicate, at a minimum, where the statement needs to be edited. The brackets are intuitive and straightforward.
All content inside the brackets must either be edited or removed.
You are not limited to editing or adding content outside of the brackets.
If your digital asset is not a website or mobile app, you’ll just need to address the name and asset type accordingly.
[Entity] is your organization’s name. [website.com] is your organization’s website.
[App name mobile application] is the name for your organization’s app followed by the words “mobile application”.
For example, if Enthusiastic Birds is the name of your mobile app, then you would write, “Enthusiastic Birds mobile application”.
Section Purposes
The following sections are provided in the attached accessibility template:
- Notice
- Standards
- Programming
- Compatibility
- Coordinator
- Distribution
- Expertise
- Training
- Compliance
- Resources
- Attribution
You are not limited to these sections or information within the sections. Rather, these sections are included to provide a robust and comprehensive foundation to your statement.
Conversely, not all sections or information within each section may be applicable.
Edit and customize information (beyond updating brackets) to tailor your accessibility statement to your entity and digital asset.
Accuracy
The best accessibility statement for your business is one that accurately reflects your business’s commitment, status, and investment into accessibility.
This is critical.
Providing purposefully misleading or deceptive information is problematic.
Adjust each section to best reflect your business’s commitment, status, and investment.
Do not mislead your audience into believing they will encounter an accessible experience if they will not.
For example, stating, “all of our games are WCAG 2.0 AA conformant” when you know accessibility issues exist within the games.
Scope
The accessibility statement provided is wider in scope than most. Your organization may not have taken all actions outlined within each section.
For actions not taken, weigh removing that language.
For actions that are in the process of being taken, weigh turning “completed” language into “process” language.
For example, instead of “business meets requirements”, update the wording to “business strives to meet requirements” or “business continuously works to meet requirements”.
Attribution
The final section in the template is attribution. This section is required / must be included with free use of the template, but you have the option to remove attribution by making $5 payment via Paypal at https://paypal.me/krisrivenburgh/5.
Removing attribution does not affect the copyright in anyway. The accessibility statement template itself and this document are © 2021 Kris Rivenburgh and Accessible.org.
Version
This template and document is Version 1.0, published on July 1, 2021. Any updates will be reflected in future versions. Always use the latest version. Check Accessible.org to make sure you are using the latest version.
Copyright
Kris’s Accessibility Statement Template is Copyright © 2021 Kris Rivenburgh and Accessible.org. All rights Reserved.
You may customize this template to create your own accessibility statement, but you may not rename, sell / resell, bundle, white label, private label, password protect, and/or take credit for this template in any way.
You may share this document so long as it remains completely free, does not require a membership or subscription to access (e.g., no free or paid registration or email subscription required), and remains unedited, unaltered, unbundled, and in its original form.
Acceptable means of sharing include:
- Posting a link to social media
- Posting a link on your website
- Uploading and linking to the original, unedited PDF on your website (e.g., yourwebsite.com/kris-checklist.pdf)
- Emailing a copy to your friend
Outside of normal use (i.e., use of language in your organization’s accessibility statement), no more than 36 words of this template may be copied, printed, republished, etc. in a magazine, newspaper, blog, or website – without permission in writing from the Author/Creator, Kris Rivenburgh.
Any quote or cite to content in this template and document must be accompanied with an active hypertext link attribution to https://accessible.org.
If you would like to tell friends, family, followers, reads, and well-wishers about this guide, you can also share a link to https://accessible.org where they can download the latest version.
For information, please contact the author by email at kris@accessible.org or by mail at PO Box 791691, San Antonio, Texas 78279.
If you are aware of any copyright infringement, I would greatly appreciate you informing me of the person or organization illegally infringing upon my copyrighted work.
Disclaimer
By reading this document, you agree to release Author/Creator/Publisher, Kris Rivenburgh and Accessible.org, from any and all liability resulting from your use of this document.
This accessibility template incorporates language and sections the creator believes are generally important to a robust accessibility statement. This does not mean that the template is exhaustive or all key information and considerations have been included, particularly those that are specific to your organization. There may be important items that are missing from this template.
Moreover, you must adjust, edit, and customize this template to accurately reflect your organization’s commitment and state of accessibility, among other things.
By continuing to read and use this template and supporting documentation, you understand that it is generalized and will be incomplete and may be inaccurate. You agree not to hold the Author/Creator/Publisher of this guide (or any of his businesses/companies) liable for any reliance upon this document.
You further agree to base your ultimate decision-making on your counsel’s recommendation and not this template.
The material in this template and document is provided “as is” and without warranties of any kind express or implied. The Author/Creator/Publisher disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The Author/Creator/Publisher does not warrant or make any representations regarding the use or the results of the use of the materials in this template and document in terms of their correctness, accuracy, reliability, or otherwise.
Under no circumstances, including but not limited to, negligence, shall the Author/Creator/Publisher be liable for any special or consequential damages that result from the use of, or the inability to use this template and document. In no event shall the Author/Creator/Publisher’s total liability to you for all damages, losses, and causes of action exceed the amount paid by you, if any, for this template and document. You agree to hold the Author/Creator/Publisher and any connected principals, agents, or entities free from any and all liability for all claims for all damages except for claims of gross negligence and intentional wrongdoing. Note that applicable law may preclude the exclusion of implied warranties or the limitation of damages so these may not apply to you.
You agree that any and all claims for gross negligence or intentional tort shall be settled solely by confidential binding arbitration per the American Arbitration Association’s commercial arbitration rules. All arbitration must occur in the municipality where the Author/Creator/Publisher’s principal place of
business is located. Your claim cannot be aggregated with third party claims. Arbitration fees and costs shall be split equally, and you are solely responsible for your own attorney’s fees.
Your use of this template and document and engagement of any activities mentioned in this template and document means that you are legally bound to these terms. You should always conduct your own due diligence engaging in activity that potentially has large financial risks or expenditures.
If you have any questions or reservations about the legal terms, conditions, and/or copyright of this template and document, contact me at kris@accessible.org.