If you have been asking yourself "do I need an accessibility statement on my website," the honest answer is: no law forces most small businesses to publish one, but having a good one is a smart, low-cost move that helps real people and shows good faith. It is one of those pages that quietly builds trust and rarely causes any harm.
Below we will walk through what an accessibility statement actually is, when it matters, what to put on it, and the one thing it definitely will not do (which is protect you by itself). No legal jargon, just plain English for busy owners.
What is an accessibility statement?
An accessibility statement is a short page on your website that explains your commitment to making your site usable by everyone, including people who use screen readers, keyboard navigation, or other assistive technology. It typically names the standard you are aiming for, points out any known limitations, and gives people a way to reach you if they hit a barrier.
Think of it less as a legal shield and more as a friendly note that says "we care about this, and here is how to tell us if something is broken." It sits alongside your other legal pages like your privacy policy and terms.
So do I need an accessibility statement on my website?
For the vast majority of small businesses in the United States, no single law requires you to publish an accessibility statement. What the law (specifically the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA) increasingly expects is that your website itself be reasonably accessible. The statement is a supporting document, not the main event.
That said, there are good reasons to add one anyway:
- It shows good faith. If a complaint ever comes up, a clear statement and a working contact method demonstrate you take access seriously.
- It gives customers a path. Someone who cannot complete your contact form can email or call instead, which means you keep the lead.
- It is easy. Unlike a full accessibility overhaul, the page itself takes an afternoon to write.
- It signals professionalism. Like a tidy footer or a real privacy policy, it makes your business look established and trustworthy.
Important: An accessibility statement is not a substitute for an accessible website. Publishing a statement while your site is unusable with a keyboard or screen reader can actually work against you, because you are documenting a commitment you are not meeting. Fix the site first, then describe it. Our website accessibility guide covers the practical fixes.
What to include in an accessibility statement
You do not need a lawyer to draft a solid one. A good statement is specific, honest, and easy to act on. Here is what a useful page usually covers.
| Section | What it says |
|---|---|
| Your commitment | One or two sentences that you want the site usable by everyone. |
| The standard | The guideline you aim for, commonly WCAG 2.1 Level AA. |
| Known issues | An honest note about any areas you know are not perfect yet. |
| Contact method | An email and phone number for reporting barriers, with a response timeframe. |
| Last updated | A date, so visitors know it is current. |
The contact section is the part that matters most. If someone tells you a page is unusable, respond quickly and fix it. That responsiveness is worth more than any polished paragraph.
A simple structure to copy
- State that you are committed to accessibility for all visitors.
- Name the standard you are working toward.
- Acknowledge that some content may not be fully compliant yet.
- Provide a clear email and phone number for feedback.
- Promise a reasonable response time and date the page.
What about accessibility overlay widgets?
You have probably seen those little floating accessibility icons that promise instant compliance in one line of code. Be cautious. These overlays often do not fully deliver, and in some cases they can make a site harder to use for the people they claim to help. They are not a magic legal shield either. We dig into this in do accessibility overlay widgets protect you from ADA lawsuits.
The more durable approach is to build accessibility into the site itself: readable text, proper heading structure, alt text on images, keyboard-friendly menus, and good color contrast. That work also happens to help your search visibility, which is why it overlaps so much with solid on-page SEO and thoughtful website design.
Where the statement lives on your site
Put a link to your accessibility statement in your footer, right next to your privacy policy and terms. That is where visitors expect to find it, and it keeps your website footer tidy and complete. If you are still mapping out your pages, our guide on what a small business website needs shows how the legal pages fit into the whole.
A clear, honest statement is one more small signal that helps build trust with both customers and search engines. It says you run a real, careful business.
Frequently asked questions
Is an accessibility statement legally required?
For most small businesses, no specific law requires the statement itself. What the ADA increasingly expects is that your website be reasonably accessible. The statement supports that effort and shows good faith, but it does not replace an actually usable site.
Can I just copy someone else's accessibility statement?
You can use a template as a starting point, but customize it. Use your real contact details, name the standard you are genuinely working toward, and be honest about known limitations. A copied statement that describes a site you do not have is worse than no statement at all.
Will an accessibility statement stop an ADA lawsuit?
Not on its own. A statement plus a responsive contact method can demonstrate good faith, but the strongest protection is a site that is genuinely accessible. Focus your energy on fixing the site, then describe it accurately in the statement.
Let Arbor handle the details
Legal pages, accessibility, alt text, footer links: they all add up, and most owners would rather run their business than sweat the fine print. Arbor is a done-for-you website service. We build your site, write your pages (including a proper accessibility statement), keep it accessible and search-friendly, and let you change anything just by asking Sage, our built-in AI editor.
Curious where your current site stands? Try our free SEO & AI Score for a quick read on what is working and what needs attention, or let us take the whole thing off your plate with a done-for-you website.