Accessibility Statement Template — Free Download & Guide (2026)
📌 What Is an Accessibility Statement?
An accessibility statement is a public page on your website that explains your commitment to accessibility, lists the standards you follow, and provides contact information for users who need assistance.
It's not legally required — but it's best practice and shows good faith in ADA lawsuits.
✅ First — Test Your Website's Accessibility
Before creating your statement, know where you stand. Run a free ADA compliance scan.
Run Free ADA Scan →Why You Need an Accessibility Statement
| Reason | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Legal protection | Shows good faith effort in ADA lawsuits |
| User trust | Demonstrates commitment to inclusion |
| Transparency | Users know how to report accessibility issues |
| Compliance signal .=Tells assistive technology users what to expect |
⚠️ Important: An accessibility statement does NOT make you ADA compliant. It's a statement of intent, not a substitute for actual accessibility. You still need to make your website accessible.
What to Include in Your Accessibility Statement
✅ Essential Sections
- Commitment statement — Your organization's pledge to accessibility
- Standards followed — WCAG 2.1 Level AA (most common)
- Known limitations — Be honest about any inaccessible areas
- Testing methods — How you ensure accessibility
- Contact information — How users can report issues or request accommodations
- Date of last review — Shows you're actively maintaining
- Policy update process — How you handle improvements
Free Accessibility Statement Template
📋 Copy This Template — Edit for Your Organization
Accessibility Statement
Last updated: [Month Day, Year]
Our Commitment
[Organization Name] is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone and applying the relevant accessibility standards.
Standards We Follow
We strive to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA. These guidelines explain how to make web content more accessible for people with disabilities.
Accessibility Features
- Alternative text for all meaningful images
- Keyboard navigation accessibility
- Sufficient color contrast (4.5:1 ratio)
- Descriptive heading structure
- Captions for video content
- Accessible PDF documents
Known Limitations
Despite our best efforts, some content may not be fully accessible. We are actively working to address the following issues:
- [List any known issues, e.g., "Some older PDF documents may not be fully accessible"]
Testing
We regularly test our website using:
- Automated accessibility checkers
- Manual keyboard testing
- Screen reader testing (NVDA, VoiceOver)
Get Help
If you experience any difficulty accessing content on our website, please contact us:
- Email: [Your email address]
- Phone: [Your phone number]
- Contact form: [Link to contact page]
Feedback & Complaints
We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of our website. Please let us know if you encounter any barriers.
Review & Updates
This statement was last reviewed on [Date]. We review our accessibility status quarterly and update this statement accordingly.
How to use: Copy the template above, replace [Organization Name], [dates], and contact information with your details, and publish it on your website (usually at /accessibility).
Where to Publish Your Accessibility Statement
- Footer link: Add a link in your website footer labeled "Accessibility"
- URL: Common URLs:
/accessibility,/accessibility-statement - Header navigation: Include in main menu if possible
- Site map: Include in your site map
🔍 Before Publishing Your Statement — Scan Your Site
Make sure you can honestly state your compliance level. Run a free ADA scan.
Scan Your Website →Accessibility Statement Best Practices
✅ DOs
- Be honest — Don't claim full compliance if you haven't achieved it
- Keep it updated — Refresh the date regularly
- Provide multiple contact methods — Email AND phone
- Link to your statement from the footer — Easy to find
- Mention your testing process — Shows due diligence
❌ DON'Ts
- Don't copy another company's statement verbatim — Customize it
- Don't claim WCAG 2.1 AA compliance without testing — That's false
- Don't hide your statement — Make it discoverable
- Don't ignore feedback — Respond to accessibility complaints
Legal Context — Is an Accessibility Statement Required?
| Jurisdiction | Required? | Best Practice |
|---|---|---|
| ADA (US) | No, not explicitly required | Strongly recommended for legal defense |
| Section 508 (US Federal) | Yes, required for federal agencies | Must include accessibility information |
| EAA (European Union) | Yes, required | Mandatory for covered entities |
| AODA (Ontario, Canada) | Yes, required | Must post accessibility policies |
⚖️ Why Courts Look Favorably on Accessibility Statements
In ADA lawsuits, having an accessibility statement with a clear contact method and good-faith efforts can reduce damages and show that you're not willfully non-compliant. Several cases have cited accessibility statements as evidence of good faith.
Example of a Real Accessibility Statement
✅ Good Example — Target's Accessibility Statement includes:
- Clear commitment language
- WCAG 2.1 AA reference
- Contact email and phone number
- Third-party accessibility testing mention
- Date of last review
❌ Bad Example — Things to avoid:
- Claiming full compliance without evidence
- No contact method for accessibility issues
- Outdated statement from years ago
- Generic copy-paste from another site
Internal Links — More Accessibility Resources
📚 You Might Also Find These Helpful
Frequently Asked Questions
/accessibility or /accessibility-statement. Make sure it's easy to find.Final Thoughts
An accessibility statement is a simple but powerful tool. It shows your commitment to inclusion, provides a way for users to report issues, and demonstrates good faith in legal proceedings.
But remember: Actions speak louder than words. An accessibility statement is not a substitute for actual accessibility. Use the free template above, but first — run a free ADA scan to know where you stand.
🚀 Ready to Create Your Accessibility Statement?
First, run a free ADA compliance scan to know what to include in your statement.
Run Free ADA Scan →No signup. Instant results. Then use our template above.
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