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Accessibility statements

An accessibility statement is a published declaration of how accessible a website, mobile app, or digital service is. It sets out the standard the service aims to meet, identifies any content that is not yet accessible and explains why, gives disabled users a way to report problems or request content in another format, and points to the process for escalating an unresolved complaint. It is both a transparency tool for users and, in several jurisdictions, a legal obligation in its own right.

In the European Union, the Web Accessibility Directive (Directive (EU) 2016/2102) makes an accessibility statement mandatory for public-sector bodies. The Directive requires each in-scope body to provide and regularly update a detailed statement, and the European Commission set out a model statement and common template in Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1523. The statement must state the conformance status, list non-accessible content with reasons (including where an exemption or disproportionate-burden claim is relied on), and provide a feedback mechanism and a link to the enforcement procedure.

In the United Kingdom, the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 impose the same requirement on public-sector bodies. Regulation 8 requires an accessibility statement, published in an accessible format, that includes an explanation of the parts of the content that are not accessible and the reasons why, a mechanism for users to raise problems, and a link to the enforcement procedure. UK government guidance provides a sample statement structure that public bodies are expected to follow.

Whether an accessibility statement is legally required therefore depends on who you are. For public-sector bodies across the EU and the UK, it is a specific legal obligation with defined contents. For private-sector organisations it is generally not mandated by these particular rules — though it is widely regarded as good practice, can support compliance with broader duties (such as the UK Equality Act's reasonable-adjustments duty or the EU's European Accessibility Act obligations), and demonstrates good faith. A statement is only as honest as the testing behind it: claiming conformance you cannot evidence is the failure mode these rules are designed to prevent. This page is general information, not legal advice.

How Normfluss checks for it

Normfluss does not draft your accessibility statement, but it produces the evidence a truthful one depends on. By checking each document against the WCAG and PDF/UA criteria and recording exactly what was tested, what passed, and what required human review, it gives you a defensible basis for the conformance claims in a statement — including an honest account of what is not yet accessible. The evidence describes conformance within a stated scope; it is not a legal determination.

Frequently asked questions

Are accessibility statements a legal requirement?
For public-sector bodies, yes. In the EU the Web Accessibility Directive requires them, using the European Commission's model template; in the UK the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018 (Regulation 8) require them. For private-sector organisations these particular rules generally don't mandate a statement, though it is widely considered good practice and can support broader duties.
What must an accessibility statement contain?
Typically: the standard the service aims to meet (usually WCAG AA), the conformance status, a list of content that is not accessible with the reasons (including any exemption or disproportionate-burden claim), a way for users to report problems or request content in another format, and a link to the enforcement or complaints procedure. The EU model template and UK government sample statement set out the expected structure.
Do private companies need an accessibility statement?
The public-sector accessibility rules don't require private companies to publish one, but it is widely regarded as good practice. It can also help demonstrate good faith under broader obligations — the UK Equality Act 2010's reasonable-adjustments duty, or the EU European Accessibility Act's requirements for in-scope products and services.
Is an accessibility statement the same as being compliant?
No. A statement declares your accessibility status honestly, including what isn't accessible yet; it is not itself a certificate of compliance. Its credibility rests on the testing behind it — which is why keeping evidence of what was actually checked matters. Legal compliance is a determination for your compliance team or counsel.

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