Does a small business website need an accessibility statement?
A short one is worth having, but it is not a fix. W3C says some organizations must publish one, such as public bodies in countries that implement the EU Web Accessibility Directive, and suggests it include at least a commitment to accessibility, the standard you follow and how to contact you. W3C notes a statement is not a technical assessment, so it does not make a site accessible by itself; the related answer on ADA demand letters covers those. This is a plain summary, not legal advice.
What a statement is
An accessibility statement is a short page that tells visitors how accessible your site is, what you know is not yet right, and how to reach you if something blocks them. W3C, which publishes the web's accessibility guidelines, says statements are mainly for users, who usually look for one when they hit a problem.
It asks for simple language rather than the language of developers and lawyers. Instead of "WCAG Success Criterion 1.2.2 was not met", it suggests writing "videos do not have captions".
What W3C suggests it include
W3C's page says a statement should contain at least:
- A commitment to accessibility for people with disabilities.
- The accessibility standard applied, such as WCAG 2.2.
- Contact information in case users run into problems.
What else it advises, and where to put it
W3C also advises listing known limitations, the measures you have taken, supported browsers and the setups the site was tested on, and any laws that apply. It says the statement should be easy to find, linked from places such as the footer and the about page, under the same link name everywhere.
As general advice, name an inbox or a person who actually answers, offer a phone number as well, and add the date you last reviewed it.
What a statement does not do
W3C notes that statements are not technical assessments or declarations of conformity. As general advice, a page that claims the site meets a standard while real barriers remain can do more harm than good, so describe what is true today. The related answers on ADA demand letters and on accessibility widgets cover what to do about a letter and why a widget is not a shortcut.
Where the Justice Department's guidance fits
The Justice Department's 2022 web guidance says businesses open to the public have flexibility in how they make their websites accessible, but must still make what they offer online accessible to people with disabilities. Among its examples of good practice is a way for the public to report accessibility problems, so owners can fix them, which is the job a statement's contact line does. ADA.gov notes that guidance documents on the site have no legally binding effect; the related answer on whether your website is accessible covers the rest of the guidance. This is a plain summary, not legal advice.
Sources
- W3C Web Accessibility Initiative, "Developing an Accessibility Statement" (updated 11 March 2021)
- U.S. Department of Justice, ADA.gov, "Guidance on Web Accessibility and the ADA" (18 March 2022)
Related answers
- What is website accessibility, and why does it matter for a small business?
- What should a small business do if it gets an ADA website demand letter or lawsuit?
- Do accessibility widgets or overlays make a website compliant?
Websites, upgraded or built
Most businesses do not need a new website. They need the one they have to load fast, say clearly what they do and ask the visitor to take one step.