Organisation-wide Accessibility Accreditation

Accessibility is now a governance, risk and compliance issue, not just a technical consideration when building websites and apps. Many organisations need independent evidence that accessibility is being managed effectively across teams, suppliers, digital services and business processes.

Accessibility Confident is AbilityNet's organisation-wide accessibility accreditation. It provides an independent assessment of how well accessibility is embedded across your organisation and helps identify where risks remain and what improvements are needed.

The accreditation gives senior leaders, compliance teams, digital teams and procurement stakeholders evidence that accessibility is being managed in a structured and sustainable way.

If you are looking to assess a specific website, app or digital service, see our Accessibility Certification and Accreditation service.

Speak to an Accessibility Accreditation Consultant

Why organisations choose Accessibility Confident Accreditation

Many organisations invest in accessibility audits, training and consultancy. While these activities are important, they do not always show how well accessibility is embedded across the organisation as a whole.

Accessibility failures can create legal, regulatory, operational and reputational risks. The challenge for many organisations is understanding how accessibility is governed across teams, suppliers and projects, and whether appropriate controls are in place.

Accessibility Confident Accreditation provides an independent assessment of your organisation's accessibility maturity and helps you demonstrate progress to regulators, auditors, procurement teams and other stakeholders.

Accessibility Confident Accreditation helps organisations:

• Identify governance gaps before they become larger risks.
• Support board, executive and risk committee reporting.
• Provide evidence for regulators, auditors and procurement teams.
• Demonstrate a commitment to continuous accessibility improvement.
• Embed accessibility into business-as-usual decision making.

Supporting compliance and regulatory confidence

Accessibility is becoming increasingly important to boards, compliance teams and regulators. Organisations are expected to demonstrate that accessibility risks are identified, monitored and managed appropriately.

Accessibility Confident Accreditation provides independent evidence that accessibility is supported by governance, leadership and continuous improvement across the organisation.

For organisations operating in regulated sectors such as financial services, accessibility accreditation can support discussions around customer outcomes, risk management and inclusive service delivery.

The five levels of accessibility accreditation

Each level reflects progress towards embedding accessibility across your organisation and creating an industry-leading approach to accessibility.

• Accessibility Starter - we know where to start;
• Accessibility Aware - we're building this into our roadmaps;
• Accessibility Confident - we are embedding best practice;
• Accessibility Champion - we are being recognised by customers and our industry peers;
• Accessibility Leader - we are taking a lead in developing best practice.

What our accessibility maturity assessment covers

Our assessment considers five dimensions of organisation-wide accessibility. Together they help identify strengths, highlight risks and provide a framework for continuous improvement.

• Vision: How does digital accessibility support key organisational goals such as business growth, customer care or risk management?
• Leadership: How is accessibility linked to senior ownership, governance, accountability and board-level commitments?
• Processes: How well is accessibility built into delivery and governance processes across teams?
• Capability: Do your teams have the skills, knowledge and support they need to deliver products and services that meet your strategic objectives?
• Procurement: How is accessibility considered when buying and managing third-party digital products and services?

What you get

Our highly experienced consultants work with key stakeholders to review your current position. They are familiar with regulatory and reporting requirements and can adapt the assessment to support your strategic priorities, whether that is risk reduction, stronger governance, customer outcomes or competitive advantage.

They will work with you throughout the process, giving you opportunities to review findings, provide additional evidence and respond where appropriate. You will receive:

• An independent assessment of your current position that can be aligned to the requirements of regulators and other stakeholders.
• A summary report with findings and recommendations.
• Evidence of accessibility governance and maturity.
• Visibility of risks and improvement opportunities.
• A framework for continuous improvement.
• An accreditation badge for external communications.

Following the assessment, you'll receive recommendations that help strengthen governance, support accessibility improvement programmes and inform future investment in accessibility initiatives.

For support implementing these recommendations, explore our Accessibility Consultancy and Strategy services.

How the process works

• Complete a structured self-assessment.
• Provide supporting evidence.
• AbilityNet reviews your submission.
• Consultants discuss findings with your team.
• You receive an accreditation level and report.

Accessibility accreditation versus an accessibility audit

An accessibility audit assesses a website, app or digital service against accessibility requirements such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Accessibility Confident Accreditation assesses how accessibility is managed across your organisation, including governance, leadership, capability, procurement and delivery processes.

The accreditation focuses on long-term accessibility maturity and continuous improvement rather than the performance of a single digital product.

If you need technical testing of a website or application, learn more about our Accessibility Audits and Testing services.

Speak to us about becoming Accessibility Confident

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Why choose AbilityNet?

• More than 25 years of accessibility expertise.
• Founded by IBM and Microsoft.
• Founding member of the International Association of Accessibility Professionals.
• Trusted by financial services, public sector, education and enterprise organisations.
• Specialists in accessibility strategy, governance and compliance.

AbilityNet has supported organisations with their accessibility goals for more than 25 years and works with organisations across financial services, public sector, education and enterprise sectors.

Clients we've helped

We have been a global leader in web and digital accessibility for more than 25 years. Learn how we help our clients achieve their accessibility goals.

Find out more

If you are comparing accessibility support options, download our digital accessibility services brochure to see how audits, training, user research and strategy can work together, or alternatively contact us.