Digital Accessibility Consultancy and Strategy
Starting or progressing on your accessibility journey can be challenging. AbilityNet’s Digital Accessibility Consultants are here to help.
Digital accessibility means inclusive design, making your website, product, or service accessible to everyone, including those with specific access needs.
With 25 years of experience and consultants with lived experience of disability, we are experts in digital accessibility. We offer a range of consulting and strategy services to help you build a roadmap, address priorities, and embed accessibility in your organisation.
Our industry-leading strategy tools help you benchmark your current position, focus on relevant priorities, and set clear goals. They ensure progress across various issues and align your accessibility work with your organisation’s priorities.
Our experienced experts work with you and your key stakeholders to deliver a transformative, ongoing programme for accessibility and disability inclusion.
What is digital accessibility consulting?
Digital accessibility consulting is all about providing you with expert advice and solutions to ensure your digital content, websites, and applications are accessible to all users. Our consultancy services help you comply with accessibility standards and significantly improve your user experience.
Our consultants work with clients of all sizes and sectors. We help you take the next step on your accessibility journey, including:
- Remediation and implementation support
- Training and workshops for staff
- Strategy and policy development through our Digital Accessibility Maturity Model
- Process analysis to identify and bridge disability inclusion gaps internally and externally
- Ongoing monitoring and maintenance
- Inclusive user research with disabled participants
- Inclusive project processes at every stage
Why choose AbilityNet?
We are a global leader in web and digital accessibility, based in the UK, with one of the biggest expert team of specialist Accessibility and Usability Consultants.
511 Digital Accessibility Maturity Model downloads last year
98% Customer Satisfaction rating from organisations last year
Many of our consultants are Certified Professionals in Web Accessibility (CPWA) with the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP), meaning they've passed both the Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) and the Web Accessibility Specialist (WAS) exams.
We have assisted numerous major household names, as well as higher and further education institutions, in developing their accessibility strategies.
Clients we've helped
We are a UK charity that has been a global leader in web and digital accessibility for over 25 years. Read the case studies below to learn how we help our clients achieve their accessibility goals.
Using a Digital Accessibility Maturity Model with Skyscanner
Our Maturity Model helped Skyscanner embed accessibility into its culture. “Get AbilityNet to help you understand where you sit on its Maturity Model and what to do to progress.”
A Gold Standard maturity model at the University of Derby
The University of Derby received disability awareness training before undertaking a Digital Accessibility Maturity Model assessment and achieved outstanding results.
Frequently asked questions about accessibility audits
We have answered some of the commonly asked questions we receive about digital accessibility consultancy and strategy expertise below (please click to expand).
An AbilityNet digital accessibility consultant works with clients across various sectors to enhance their digital accessibility. Their responsibilities include:
- Conducting accessibility testing (e.g., WCAG audits, design reviews)
- Delivering training on accessibility best practices
- Facilitating user research with disabled participants
- Providing strategic guidance to integrate accessibility into project processes
- Building internal accessibility champions networks
- Supporting project planning and answering client queries
- Promoting accessibility awareness through presentations and content creation
At AbilityNet, our team is dedicated to helping and supporting you in navigating the complexities of digital accessibility. We understand that this area can be challenging, and our approach is centered on being as helpful as possible to ensure you achieve your accessibility goals.
Read an interview with Rina Wharton, Accessibility and Usability Consultant at AbilityNet.
Investing in digital accessibility ensures inclusivity, enhances user experience, and helps you comply with legal requirements.
Digital accessibility is a legal, ethical and moral responsibility, but it also makes good business sense. If you need help winning hearts and minds inside your organisation, download our free guide to 'the Business Case for Accessibility'.
Digital accessibility can enhance your business by:
- Expanding your audience reach
- Improving user satisfaction and loyalty
- Boosting Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and search rankings
- Demonstrating commitment to inclusivity and social responsibility
- Reducing legal risks
A maturity model is a framework that helps organisations assess and improve their digital accessibility practices.
AbilityNet has developed the AbilityNet Digital Accessibility Maturity Model (DAMM), a comprehensive framework designed to evaluate and enhance an organisation’s accessibility efforts. By assessing maturity across five key areas - Vision, Leadership, Processes, Capability, and Procurement – our DAMM provides a clear path towards greater inclusivity. We also have a specialist HE and FE Accessibility Maturity Model for universities and other educational establishments.
Our maturity model offers actionable insights that inform strategic planning and budgeting for digital transformation, helping organisations build more inclusive and accessible environments.
Our accessibility consultants can also facilitate the entire process, starting with a kick-off meeting and stakeholder meetings. We assess your current position, review priorities, and recommend actions, present a formal report and conduct a six-month review.
If you run the DAMM process yourself, our experts can also provide ad hoc support at any stage, including project planning, stakeholder meetings, prioritisation, and specific areas like procurement or skills development.
The AbilityNet DAMM has successfully assisted numerous major household names, including Skyscanner, as well as higher and further education institutions, in developing their accessibility strategies.
Accessibility guidelines for websites, mobile apps, digital platforms and products, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), are a set of standards developed to ensure digital content is accessible to everyone. These guidelines cover various aspects of accessibility, including visual, auditory, and cognitive accessibility. AbilityNet’s consulting services can help organisations understand and implement these guidelines to create inclusive digital experiences.
There are also internal digital accessibility guidelines that ensure digital products are usable by everyone, including disabled employees. They cover aspects like screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigation, and alternative text for images, promoting inclusivity and legal compliance.
AbilityNet’s Digital Accessibility Maturity Model helps you by providing a framework to assess and improve your accessibility practices over time. It:
- Identifies your organisation’s strengths and weaknesses
- Sets goals and tracks your progress
- Creates a roadmap for continuous improvement
- Fosters a culture of inclusivity
Our consultants provide you with strategic guidance, helping you integrate accessibility into your project processes and ensuring you achieve your accessibility goals.
To get started, contact us to schedule an initial consultation. We will discuss your needs, conduct a preliminary assessment, and develop a tailored plan to improve your digital accessibility. Our team will guide you through each step of the process.
Find out more
If you would like to find out more about our full range of services please consider downloading our Digital Accessibility Services brochure, or alternatively you can get in contact with us.
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