Digital Accessibility Maturity Model toolkit
Get a clear view of your organisation’s digital accessibility maturity and understand what to improve next.
The Digital Accessibility Maturity Model toolkit helps you assess how accessibility is planned, supported and delivered across your organisation. It can help you spot gaps, agree priorities and build a practical accessibility roadmap.
Use the free toolkit independently, or speak to AbilityNet if you need consultant-led support to engage teams, align stakeholders or turn findings into a funded plan.
Download the free DAMM toolkit
What the Digital Accessibility Maturity Model helps you do
The model looks beyond individual websites, apps or audits. It helps you understand how digital accessibility is managed across your organisation, including leadership, processes, skills and procurement.
- Assess your current level of digital accessibility maturity.
- Identify gaps that may be slowing progress.
- Understand where accessibility responsibility sits across teams.
- Prioritise the actions that will have the biggest impact.
- Create a realistic accessibility roadmap.
- Support internal discussions, planning and decision-making.
What organisations typically discover
Most organisations use the model to create a shared understanding of their current accessibility approach and agree where focus is needed most.
Some use it independently to build confidence and momentum. Others use the findings to support priorities, secure senior buy‑in, or decide where expert support would be helpful.
There’s no single right way to use the model. It adapts to your confidence, capacity and internal maturity.
How is a maturity model different from an accessibility audit?
An accessibility audit usually focuses on whether a website, app or digital product meets technical accessibility standards, such as Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
The Digital Accessibility Maturity Model takes a wider view. It helps you understand how accessibility is governed, planned, funded, supported and embedded across your organisation.
Many organisations use both approaches. An audit can help identify barriers in a specific digital service, while a maturity model can help build the strategy, skills and processes needed to make lasting progress.
How to use the DAMM
There are two ways to use the Digital Accessibility Maturity Model, depending on your organisation’s confidence, capacity and need for external support.
Self-serve DAMM toolkit
Choose the free toolkit if you want a structured way to assess your current position and start building an accessibility roadmap internally. If skills gaps are part of your roadmap, AbilityNet’s accessibility and inclusive design training can help teams build confidence
This option works well if you already have people who can lead discussions across teams and turn findings into agreed priorities.
Download the free DAMM toolkit
Consultant-led support
Consultant-led support can help if accessibility involves several teams, priorities feel complex, or senior stakeholder alignment is needed.
Expert input can help turn insight into a realistic, funded roadmap and support engagement with senior stakeholders. If you need wider strategic support, explore AbilityNet’s digital accessibility strategy services.
Talk to us about consultant-led support
What Totaljobs learned from the DAMM process
“The Digital Accessibility Maturity Model gave us clarity on what to focus on and helped build alignment around accessibility priorities.” — Totaljobs
Download the free DAMM toolkit
Complete the short form to get instant access to the Digital Accessibility Maturity Model resources. The toolkit is free to use and there is no obligation to work with AbilityNet afterwards. If you need help interpreting your results or building a roadmap, you can choose to speak to one of our accessibility consultants.
If the form is not visible, please email sales@abilitynet.org.uk and the team will respond promptly.
Frequently asked questions about the AbilityNet Digital Accessibility Maturity Model (DAMM)
What is the Digital Accessibility Maturity Model?
The Digital Accessibility Maturity Model is a free toolkit that helps organisations assess how well digital accessibility is planned, supported and delivered across their organisation.
It helps you identify gaps, agree priorities and create a practical accessibility roadmap for long-term improvement.
Is the Digital Accessibility Maturity Model free?
Yes. The DAMM toolkit is completely free to download and use.
Many organisations run the process themselves using the guidance provided. There is no obligation to use AbilityNet’s paid services.
Do we need accessibility specialists to use the DAMM?
No. The DAMM is designed to be useful for organisations at any stage of their accessibility journey.
You do not need specialist accessibility expertise to use the toolkit. It is designed to support structured conversations, highlight gaps and prompt the right questions across teams.
What happens after we complete the DAMM?
That depends on your organisation and your internal capability.
Some teams use the DAMM to agree priorities, plan improvements and track progress internally. Others decide they want support to sense‑check findings, turn insight into a practical strategy, or engage senior stakeholders.
Do we have to work with AbilityNet after using the DAMM?
No. There is no requirement to involve AbilityNet.
The DAMM is designed to stand on its own. If you do choose to involve us, our role is to build on your work and support your decisions, not replace what you have already done.
How is the DAMM different from an accessibility audit?
An accessibility audit usually focuses on whether a website, app or digital product meets technical accessibility standards, such as Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). If you need technical testing, AbilityNet also provides website accessibility audits and WCAG testing.
The Digital Accessibility Maturity Model looks at wider organisational maturity, including leadership, processes, capability, procurement and decision-making.
When is it useful to get support with the DAMM?
Some organisations look for support when they are unsure how to prioritise DAMM findings, need alignment across departments, or want confidence that they are focusing on the right actions.
In these cases, accessibility strategy and consultancy support can help turn DAMM insight into a clear, achievable roadmap.
Who should complete the Digital Accessibility Maturity Model?
The toolkit is useful for people responsible for digital accessibility, customer experience, compliance, digital products, procurement, technology or inclusion.
It works best when input comes from more than one team, because accessibility maturity depends on shared ownership across an organisation.
Is the DAMM suitable for all sectors?
Yes. The DAMM is used by organisations across the public sector, education, charities and regulated industries.
For higher and further education organisations, there is also a dedicated HE and FE Accessibility Maturity Model designed for that context.