What Organisations Should Be Doing Now To Manage Accessibility Risk
By 2026, accessibility is no longer an abstract legal concept. It is a practical operational issue that affects how organisations design, maintain, and govern their digital services.
Many organisations feel unsure where to start, particularly if little has been done so far. Others assume that fixing everything at once is the only acceptable response, which can lead to paralysis.
In reality, managing accessibility risk is about structure, evidence, and intent rather than instant perfection.
This article outlines what organisations should be doing now to move from uncertainty to control.
Start With Understanding The Current Position
The first and most important step is understanding where barriers exist today.
This means assessing real user journeys rather than relying solely on automated tools. Keyboard access, screen reader use, form completion, and navigation flow all need to be considered.
Without this baseline, organisations are unable to prioritise effectively or explain their position when questions are raised.
Document What Is Known And What Is Not
Once issues are identified, they need to be documented clearly.
This documentation should explain what has been reviewed, what barriers exist, and where further investigation is required. It is not about creating a perfect record. It is about showing awareness and responsibility.
Clear documentation reduces risk by demonstrating that accessibility has been actively considered rather than ignored.
Publish And Maintain An Accessibility Statement
An accessibility statement plays a central role in managing exposure.
A compliant statement explains the current state of digital services, outlines known limitations, and sets expectations around improvement. It provides transparency for users and a reference point for regulators or partners.
For many organisations, this is the most effective immediate step they can take to reduce uncertainty.
Understanding how this fits within the expectations of the european accessibility act 2025 helps organisations align their documentation with how responsibility is assessed.
Create A Realistic Improvement Roadmap
Accessibility improvement should be planned, not reactive.
A roadmap allows organisations to prioritise high impact issues, align work with development cycles, and demonstrate forward movement. It also prevents accessibility from becoming an endless emergency response.
Even where remediation will take time, having a clear plan significantly strengthens an organisations position.
Assign Ownership And Build It Into Processes
Accessibility does not maintain itself.
Responsibility needs to be clearly owned, and accessibility checks need to be integrated into existing workflows. Content updates, design changes, and third party tools should all be considered through an accessibility lens.
Organisations that embed accessibility into everyday processes are far more resilient than those that treat it as a standalone project.
Why Acting Now Still Matters
Although enforcement has already begun, this remains a sensible time to act.
Organisations that take steps now retain control over pace, scope, and communication. Those that delay further often find decisions made for them under pressure.
Accessibility risk does not disappear on its own. It grows quietly until addressed.
Managing accessibility today is about preparedness, transparency, and long term responsibility rather than last minute compliance.