Implementation Plan for Web Accessibility

introduction - responsibilities - assessment - policy - software - training - development - promotion - monitoring - [expand all]

Introduction

After an organization makes a commitment to make its Web site accessible, it is important to plan the process for implementing accessibility. This page outlines considerations for the planning process. Actual implementation plans will vary from organization to organization, and optimal order of the steps below will also vary.

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Establish Responsibilities

Establish a coordination team with a communication plan.
Identify a high-level champion or spokesperson for Web accessibility.

Conduct Initial Assessment

Find out whether the organization is subject to external requirements regarding Web accessibility.
Conduct an initial assessment of the organization's Web site, using the Preliminary Review method.
Assess current awareness of the need for Web accessibility by survey or interviews within the organization.
Assess expertise of the organization's Web developers with regard to accessible Web design.
Assess suitability of current software to support development of accessible Web sites.
Estimate resources required to address the needs identified in the initial assessment.
Key resources:
Evaluating Web Sites for Accessibility
Preliminary Review

Develop Organizational Policy

Find out whether the organization has an existing policy on Web site design and technologies.
Establish an organizational policy on Web accessibility.
Develop initial and ongoing promotion plans to increase awareness of the organization's policy, internally and externally.
Announce the new organizational policy.
Key resources:
Developing Organizational Policies on Web Accessibility
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Policies Relating to Web Accessibility
Executive Briefing on Web Accessibility

Select Software

Select authoring software most conformant to Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG).
Install using recommended configurations which support production of accessible content.
Select software for evaluating and repairing Web accessibility.
Develop a Web publishing process to counter any shortcomings of selected software.
Key resources:
Selecting Authoring Tools for Accessible Web Sites
Frequently Asked Questions on Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines
Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines 1.0

Provide Training

Plan a range of training options to meet the needs of people with different roles in the organization.
Offer repeated training opportunities as staff and responsibilities change.
Key resources:
Planning Web Accessibility Training

Develop Accessible Web Site

Make accessibility a priority throughout the development process.
Provide the development team with tools to ensure accessibility.
Key resources:
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0
Techniques for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0
Evaluating Web Sites for Accessibility

Evaluation, Repair, and Transformation Tools

Promote Organizational Awareness

Incorporate the organization's Web accessibility policy into key documents where appropriate.
Regularly reinforce the organization's policy on Web accessibility.

Monitor Web Site Accessibility

Specify the evaluation process to be used for Web site accessibility, and ensure quality of the process.
Conduct ongoing monitoring of organization's Web site.
Invite and respond to user feedback on organization's Web site.
Periodically review all aspects of implementation plan for effectiveness.
Key resources:
Evaluating Web Sites for Accessibility
Conformance Evaluation to WCAG 1.0

On-going monitoring of Web site accessibility

Template for Accessibility Evaluation Reports

Last revised: $Date: 2016/05/18 01:53:47 $

Editors Judy Brewer, Sarah Horton, and Participants of the Education and Outreach Working Group. Comments welcome at wai-eo-editors @w3.org.

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