What is an accessibility statement and do I need one?
In short: An accessibility statement is a public page describing how accessible your website or app is, which standard you measure against, known limitations and how users can report barriers. Public sector bodies must publish one under the Web Accessibility Directive; under the EAA, service providers must publish information on how their service meets the accessibility requirements.
Last updated:
What it contains
- The standard applied (for example EN 301 549 / WCAG 2.1 AA) and a conformance status: fully, partially or not compliant.
- Content that is not yet accessible, and why.
- How and when the assessment was carried out.
- A contact for feedback and the enforcement or complaints body.
What the EAA asks of service providers
Service providers must explain, in their general terms and conditions or in an equivalent way, how their service meets the accessibility requirements, and keep that information available to the public. Many businesses do this with an accessibility statement page; national laws such as the BFSG set out the details.
Keep it honest
A statement that overstates compliance is a liability. Base it on a real assessment — an automated scan plus manual testing — and update it when your site changes.
Official sources
- Directive (EU) 2019/882 — European Accessibility Act (EUR-Lex)
- Directive (EU) 2016/2102 — Web Accessibility Directive (EUR-Lex)
- Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1523 — model accessibility statement
- W3C WAI — Developing an accessibility statement
See where your site stands
Our free automated scan checks your page against machine-testable WCAG 2.1 AA rules in about 20 seconds — no signup, no overlay.
Scan your site free →Is there an official template?
Can I declare full compliance because I use an overlay?
General information, not legal advice. National transposition laws differ — consult a lawyer for a binding assessment of your business.
Related on NormHarbor: Accessibility statement generator · Free website scan · Methodology
Does the European Accessibility Act apply to my small business? · When did the European Accessibility Act take effect? · Are accessibility overlay widgets EAA compliant?