Scroll down this article to find the Accessibility Statement 1-Page Checklist and Template.
To create a better working environment for people with disabilities, the EU is preparing to implement the European Accessibility Act (and its WCAG 2.1 AA standard for online products) on June 28, 2025 (similar regulations are in place in Israel while the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia have implemented them for government bodies). This means that certain mandatory changes are coming for most* EU businesses offering products online, including coworking spaces offering digital passes/memberships.
*Microenterprises (i.e., small businesses with fewer than 10 employees) that provide services are excluded from the implementations. Nevertheless, all microenterprises are encouraged to make their products and services accessible to people with disabilities (it will also improve your coworking space's online marketing growth).
We already wrote an extensive article on what the new online accessibility regulations mean for your coworking space (check it out here). In this article, we will focus on the often misunderstood and inconsistently implemented Web Accessibility Statement (or just “Accessibility Statement”).
While this article only discusses websites regarding accessibility policies, the law also applies to apps. Consider this if you are running your space with custom software. If you are already using Cobot, you don’t have to worry about that: You will be able to point to Cobot's Accessibility Statement for your storefront. 😊
What is a Web Accessibility Statement?
In short, an Accessibility Statement is a public declaration of your commitment to making your website accessible to all users. It needs to be displayed on all public pages of your website. In practice, this usually means a separate page linked in the footer of your website—similar to the Cookie policy, Privacy policy, etc. This page should be clearly titled—“Web Accessibility Statement”, “Accessibility”, etc.
Since this is a relatively new topic, confusion might arise with the term “Accessibility Policy”. Historically this term has been used to describe an organization's internal document, outlining goals and processes for achieving accessibility.
Why is a Web Accessibility Statement important for my coworking space?
Well, it's not only because it will most likely be legally required for your space to have an Accessibility Statement very soon... Coworking has always led the movement for inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA). If you want to create an inclusive coworking space, you need to open your doors to every person in your community. 80 million people in the EU live with some form of accessibility issues, impairment and/or disability, and this number is on the rise. Creating a public Accessibility Statement not only makes your coworking space legally compliant, but shows your commitment to inclusivity and inclusion, both online and offline.
What Should be Included in a Web Accessibility Statement?
Before giving you a checklist, we have to state the obvious: Accessibility Statement requirements can vary by country and even region (for example the German federal states). This checklist is based on our best knowledge but does not constitute legal advice.
Having that in mind, here is a general overview of what you have to include in your Accessibility Statement:
Headline/title
Use a clear H1 title, such as 'Accessibility Statement.' You may also include your company's name.
Reference to а legal basis
List the legal basis of your Accessibility Statement (usually your country or state’s Accessibility Statement).
List of URLs affected
List the web addresses affected by this statement (your website URL, app, other URLs).
Current status of the accessibility of your website
You can choose between doing a self-assessment or having an external party conduct the evaluation. Check out our recommendations in our Online Accessibility article or consider using an Accessibility Checker (like this one). Specialized agencies typically handle external evaluations. Make sure to note the accessibility of third-party services you are using: Some of them might not be fully compliant. While technically you should only choose accessible third-party apps, third-party content usually isn’t a major issue from a compliance standpoint, although the scope and amount of third-party content matters.
Current accessibility barriers to your website
Be transparent and honest. Identify any barriers that currently exist on your website and provide an estimated timeline for their removal.
Special accessibility functions of your website
What optional accessibility features does your website include? These special (not mandatory) features can be: special color schemes, read-aloud functions, and compact website versions.
Date of creation and last update of the statement
When did you create this statement and are you actively updating it?
Contact details/contact form
We recommend making your contact details quite visible and listing them further up in the statement. Most users visiting this statement may have specific questions and want to contact you directly. It is important to note that different bodies have different requirements — some only require an email, others phone, and a dedicated contact form. Additionally, the mandatory response time varies by jurisdiction.
Possibility of complaint to an enforcement body
Some jurisdictions require information on filing complaints with the enforcement body. You can also link the website or complaint form if available.
Here is the information summarized in a single-page checklist. You can download the PDF here.
Accessibility Statement Template
Your first Accessibility Statement does not have to be perfect. Start by simply listing the current status of your website and product, how you plan to improve them, and where your community can contact you for suggestions. Be clear, honest, and state your commitment. Keep updating your Accessibility Statement regularly as the website of your coworking space becomes more and more accessible.
Here is a very basic Accessibility Statement to get you on the right path:
"We are committed to providing an accessible website ([website]) for all of our coworkers and users by adhering to the current Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Level AA standards and [your country’s guidelines]. Ensuring accessibility is an ongoing effort, and we continually strive to meet these standards.
To support this initiative, we have taken these steps: [fill]
Please note that certain parts of our website are not yet 100% compliant. These are the ones that we have identified: [examples]
Some third-party widgets we use on our website might also not be 100% compliant. We are actively collaborating with these providers to improve their accessibility.
If you have any feedback or require assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us by phone at [phone] or via email at [email].
Statement written on: [date]. Last updated on: [date]"
Examples of Accessibility Statements
Here are two well-written Accessibility Statements that we have found:
Accessibility Statement for the European Union website- link
DNB (German) - link
🔵 Want to learn more about Cobot? We are enabling independent coworking spaces to run their operations seamlessly by providing an intuitive coworking management software. Our product also includes an easy-to-use solution for some of your compliance processes — Online Accessibility, E-invoicing, and more.
Book a Free 15-minute Call with our friendly team in your language to learn more 🥳
