Governance and Policy Level 5 (16-20 points)

Leading with Governance Excellence

Congratulations on getting your act together! Your assessment indicates your organisation is at Level 5 in the Governance and Policy dimension of accessibility maturity. Delivering equitable experiences is just how things should be done. It is part of business as usual and great to see it embedded in your organisation’s governance and policies.

Organisations at this level:

• Have exemplary accessibility policies that evolve with needs and standards
• Have unified accessibility governance fully integrated with organisational governance
• Demonstrate exceptional leadership commitment to accessibility at all levels
• Use advanced metrics that clearly demonstrate business value and drive innovation
• Consistently surpass minimum requirements, viewing them as just a starting point

Sustaining Excellence

To maintain your leadership position:

• Review your policies and governance annually, or talk to us about specific aspects
• Continue to refine governance approaches as technology and needs evolve
• Share governance strategies and success with other organisations

Your organisation demonstrates exceptional governance maturity. Don’t let yourselves become complacent – keep working on it. By sharing this expertise, you can help raise standards for the entire digital community.

Governance and Policy Level 4 (12-15 points)

Advanced Accessibility Governance

Your assessment indicates your organisation is at Level 4 in the Governance and Policy dimension of accessibility maturity. Policies are finalised and socialised around the organisation with processes to ensure they are followed. This shows your governance structures are well-developed and effective.

Organisations at this level typically:

• Have mature, comprehensive accessibility policies
• Have senior leadership consistently involved in accessibility oversight
• Maintain highly effective accessibility steering groups with significant influence
• Use metrics to track and improve accessibility performance
• Consistently view accessibility requirements as a floor, not a ceiling
• Have started including accessibility considerations in strategic planning across the organisation

Key Opportunities

To advance to the highest level of governance maturity:

• Put Executive accountability and reporting processes in place
• Establish clear requirements for accessibility in all new developments
• Refine monitoring and review processes and leverage metrics to demonstrate business value and drive decision-making
• Review your policies and governance annually, or talk to us about specific aspects
• Ensure policies drive innovation beyond baseline compliance

Your organisation demonstrates strong accessibility governance. The path forward involves optimising these structures and extending their influence.

Governance and Policy Level 3 (8-11 points)

Established Accessibility Governance

Your assessment indicates your organisation is at Level 3 in the Governance and Policy dimension of accessibility maturity. Leaders are aware that the organisation could be vulnerable to risks if accessibility is not addressed. Policies are being put in place to require accessibility. Accessibility support groups are being formed. This shows you’ve established formal governance structures but still have opportunities for enhancement.

Organisations at this level typically:

• Have initial accessibility policies that are regularly reviewed
• Are defining  roles responsible for accessibility
• Have created accessibility steering groups with defined responsibilities
• Are considering how to track and measure accessibility performance
• Include accessibility in strategic planning, though perhaps not consistently

Key Opportunities

To enhance your accessibility governance:

• Prepare a comprehensive digital accessibility policy with an executive sponsor
• Establish monitoring and review processes with possible consequences for breaches
• Establish a formal Accessibility Steering Group and a Champions Network and resource them
• [4] Establish clear requirements for accessibility in all new developments
• Secure more consistent senior leadership involvement in governance
• Begin seeing accessibility standards as minimum requirements to exceed

You’ve built solid governance structures. Your next steps involve deepening their influence and effectiveness throughout the organisation.

Governance and Policy Level 2 (4-7 points)

Developing Your Accessibility Governance

Your assessment indicates your organisation is at Level 2 in the Governance and Policy dimension of accessibility maturity. There is activity, but it is still uncoordinated and barely resourced. Enthusiasm has no policy backing though the right noises are being made. This shows you’ve begun establishing formal governance structures but still have significant room for development.

Organisations at this level typically:

• Have thought about the requirement for accessibility policies
• Have assigned some responsibility for accessibility, though roles may not be clearly defined
• Have started forming accessibility working groups or committees
• have thought about the need for accessibility metrics
• Have initial requirements documented, but may not consistently apply them

Key Opportunities

To develop more mature accessibility governance:

• Get your senior managers to acknowledge the importance of accessibility and nominate a sponsor
• Add ‘accessibility feedback’ to your accessibility statement and your ‘contact us’ page
• Prepare a digital accessibility policy with an executive sponsor
• Look to move beyond initial role-based support groups to more formal support and advisory groups
• Clearly define accessibility roles and responsibilities at different levels
• Begin setting accessibility goals and objectives with accountability

You’ve laid the groundwork for accessibility governance. Now you can focus on strengthening these initial structures.

Governance and Policy Level 1 (0-3 points)

Beginning Your Governance Journey

Your assessment indicates your organisation is at Level 1 in the Governance and Policy dimension of accessibility maturity. No work on accessibility is happening or if it is it is isolated, uncoordinated and not valued by the organisation as a whole. Some of the team may be making small improvements by themselves. This suggests that formal accessibility governance structures and policies are not yet established.

Organisations at this level typically:

• Lack formal accessibility policies or have very basic ones
• Have unclear responsibility for accessibility outcomes
• Don’t have coordinated approaches to accessibility governance
• Don’t yet track or monitor accessibility performance
• Approach accessibility in an ad-hoc manner without systematic oversight

Key Opportunities

To develop more mature accessibility governance:

• Start the discussion about the different reasons digital accessibility might be important to your organisation
• Prepare a basic accessibility statement for your website to show your intent
• Create your first formal accessibility policy
• Identify who will have responsibility for accessibility
• Consider establishing an accessibility working group
• Start documenting your accessibility requirements

Effective governance starts with clear policies and responsibilities. Your assessment shows you’re ready to begin building this crucial foundation.