Accessibility Maturity Model: Assess and Advance Your Program
An accessibility maturity model provides a framework for evaluating where your organization stands and charting a path forward. Most organizations don't jump from non-compliant to fully accessible overnight—they progress through predictable stages, each with characteristic capabilities, challenges, and investments. Understanding your current maturity level helps you set realistic goals, prioritize investments, and benchmark progress.
This guide presents a five-stage accessibility maturity model based on patterns observed in Fortune 1000 accessibility programs, with practical guidance for advancing from one stage to the next.
The Five Stages of Accessibility Maturity
Stage 1: Ad-Hoc
Characteristics: Accessibility is addressed reactively, if at all. No systematic approach exists.
Typical indicators:
- No dedicated accessibility resources
- Accessibility addressed only when problems arise
- No standards or policies defined
- Awareness is low across the organization
- Testing happens rarely or never
- No tracking of accessibility metrics
How organizations reach this stage: Most organizations start here—accessibility simply isn't on the radar until something (lawsuit, customer complaint, executive awareness) forces attention.
Risks at this stage:
- High lawsuit exposure
- Unknown compliance status
- Customers with disabilities excluded
- No foundation for improvement
Stage 2: Planned
Characteristics: Organization recognizes accessibility importance and begins planning systematic approach.
Typical indicators:
- Executive awareness of accessibility requirements
- Initial assessment of current state
- Budget allocated for accessibility work
- Standards defined (typically WCAG 2.1 AA)
- First hires or vendor engagements planned
- Basic training beginning
How organizations reach this stage: Usually triggered by: lawsuit/demand letter, regulatory requirement, executive directive, or competitive pressure.
Activities at this stage:
- Conduct initial accessibility audit
- Define organizational accessibility policy
- Identify responsible parties
- Create initial remediation plan
- Begin building accessibility capabilities
Stage 3: Defined
Characteristics: Accessibility processes are documented and implemented. Consistent approach across teams.
Typical indicators:
- Dedicated accessibility team or resources
- Documented standards and procedures
- Testing integrated into development
- Training program established
- Metrics tracked and reported
- Remediation processes operational
How organizations reach this stage: Investment in people, processes, and tools. Leadership commitment sustained beyond initial urgency.
Capabilities at this stage:
- Can audit properties systematically
- Can guide teams on accessible development
- Can train developers and designers
- Can track compliance trends
- Can respond to accessibility complaints effectively
Stage 4: Managed
Characteristics: Accessibility is embedded in organizational processes. Quantitative management of outcomes.
Typical indicators:
- Accessibility in development lifecycle (shift left)
- Automated testing in CI/CD pipelines
- Champions network across teams
- Vendor accessibility requirements
- Regular executive reporting
- Continuous monitoring operational
How organizations reach this stage: Moving beyond remediation to prevention. Accessibility integrated into how work happens.
Capabilities at this stage:
- Prevent new issues through process integration
- Detect regressions automatically
- Scale coverage through champions and automation
- Hold vendors accountable for accessibility
- Demonstrate compliance to regulators
Stage 5: Optimized
Characteristics: Accessibility is part of organizational DNA. Continuous improvement culture.
Typical indicators:
- Accessibility in product strategy
- User research includes people with disabilities
- Innovation driven by inclusive design
- Industry thought leadership
- Accessibility as competitive differentiator
- Near-zero tolerance for regressions
How organizations reach this stage: Years of sustained investment. Accessibility becomes how the organization operates, not something added to operations.
Capabilities at this stage:
- Lead industry on accessibility
- Attract talent through accessibility reputation
- Innovate through inclusive design
- Set rather than follow standards
- Minimal ongoing remediation (prevention works)
Assessing Your Current Maturity
Use this assessment to evaluate your organization's accessibility maturity across key dimensions.
Assessment Dimensions
Leadership and Governance
| Stage | Characteristics |
|-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------|
| Ad-Hoc | No executive awareness; no policy |
| Planned | Executive sponsor identified; policy drafted |
| Defined | Executive support; policy published and enforced |
| Managed | C-suite commitment; governance integrated |
| Optimized | Accessibility in corporate strategy; board-level visibility |People and Skills
| Stage | Characteristics |
|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------|
| Ad-Hoc | No dedicated resources; no training |
| Planned | Budget for first hires; basic awareness training |
| Defined | Dedicated team; comprehensive training program |
| Managed | Champion network; skill development pathways |
| Optimized | Accessibility expertise throughout; industry leadership |Process Integration
| Stage | Characteristics |
|-----------|--------------------------------------------------------|
| Ad-Hoc | No process; accessibility not considered |
| Planned | Initial processes defined; limited enforcement |
| Defined | Processes documented and followed; manual enforcement |
| Managed | Processes integrated into development; automated gates |
| Optimized | Processes are seamless; accessibility is automatic |Testing and Quality
| Stage | Characteristics |
|-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Ad-Hoc | No testing; unknown compliance |
| Planned | Initial audit; remediation prioritization |
| Defined | Regular testing; [automated scanning](https://testparty.ai/blog/3-accessibility-issues-ecommerce-sites-sued-how-to-fix) implemented |
| Managed | Continuous monitoring; testing in CI/CD |
| Optimized | Comprehensive testing; near-zero production issues |Technology and Tools
| Stage | Characteristics |
|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------|
| Ad-Hoc | No tools; no infrastructure |
| Planned | Tools evaluated; initial purchases |
| Defined | Testing tools deployed; training completed |
| Managed | Tools integrated into workflows; automation operational |
| Optimized | Sophisticated toolchain; custom tooling where needed |Scoring Your Assessment
Rate each dimension 1-5 based on stage alignment:
| Dimension | Score (1-5) |
|---------------------------|-------------|
| Leadership and Governance | |
| People and Skills | |
| Process Integration | |
| Testing and Quality | |
| Technology and Tools | |
| **Average Score** | |Interpretation:
- 1.0-1.5: Ad-Hoc stage
- 1.6-2.5: Planned stage
- 2.6-3.5: Defined stage
- 3.6-4.5: Managed stage
- 4.6-5.0: Optimized stage
Note: Most organizations have uneven profiles—stronger in some dimensions than others. Focus improvement on lowest dimensions.
Advancing to the Next Stage
Ad-Hoc → Planned
Key activities:
- Get baseline data: Scan your properties to understand current state
- Secure executive sponsor: Someone with authority and budget
- Define initial scope: What properties, what standard, what timeline
- Allocate budget: For assessment, first hires, and initial remediation
- Identify quick wins: Address highest-risk issues immediately
Critical success factors:
- Executive support that persists beyond initial urgency
- Realistic scope (don't try to fix everything at once)
- Budget that matches actual need
Typical timeline: 1-3 months
Planned → Defined
Key activities:
- [Build your team](https://testparty.ai/blog/building-enterprise-accessibility-team): Hire or assign dedicated resources
- Document standards: Policies, procedures, guidelines
- Implement testing: Regular audits, documented processes
- Launch training: Developers, designers, content creators
- Establish metrics: Track progress systematically
Critical success factors:
- Sufficient team size for your scope
- Standards that are clear and actionable
- Training that reaches practitioners
- Metrics that leadership sees
Typical timeline: 6-12 months
Defined → Managed
Key activities:
- Shift left: Integrate accessibility earlier in development
- Automate: Testing in CI/CD, monitoring dashboards
- Scale: Champion network, self-service tools
- Require: Vendor accessibility requirements, procurement policies
- Enforce: Gates that prevent deployment of inaccessible code
Critical success factors:
- Development team buy-in (not just compliance)
- Automation that actually catches issues
- Champions with time and support
- Enforcement that has teeth
Typical timeline: 12-24 months
Managed → Optimized
Key activities:
- Embed in strategy: Accessibility in product decisions
- Innovate: Inclusive design drives features
- Research: Include users with disabilities in research
- Lead: Contribute to industry advancement
- Perfect: Near-zero defects through prevention
Critical success factors:
- Accessibility as competitive advantage, not just compliance
- Culture that values inclusion at every level
- Long-term, sustained investment
- Recognition and celebration of accessibility
Typical timeline: 2+ years of sustained effort
Common Maturity Challenges
Getting Stuck Between Stages
Planned → Defined stalls: Usually due to insufficient investment. Organizations plan but don't execute.
Solution: Secure committed budget and resources. Start smaller if needed but with committed scope.
Defined → Managed stalls: Process exists but isn't integrated. Accessibility remains separate activity.
Solution: Focus on process integration and automation. Make accessibility the easy path.
Regression Between Stages
Common causes:
- Leadership change (new executive doesn't prioritize)
- Budget cuts (accessibility seen as discretionary)
- Team attrition (knowledge walks out the door)
- Process erosion (shortcuts become habit)
Prevention:
- Document institutional knowledge
- Build broad organizational capability
- Connect accessibility to business metrics
- Create resilient processes that survive personnel change
Uneven Maturity Across Organization
Symptoms:
- Some teams at stage 4, others at stage 1
- Certain products excellent, others non-compliant
- Knowledge concentrated in few individuals
Solutions:
- Establish minimum standards organization-wide
- Target capability building at lagging areas
- Create incentives for consistency
- Share best practices from leading teams
Industry Benchmarks
Where Most Organizations Stand
Based on industry analysis:
| Stage | Approximate % of Organizations |
|-----------|--------------------------------|
| Ad-Hoc | 40-50% |
| Planned | 25-30% |
| Defined | 15-20% |
| Managed | 5-8% |
| Optimized | 1-2% |Most organizations remain in early stages. Reaching Defined stage puts you ahead of most peers. Reaching Managed or Optimized stage represents true leadership.
Industry Variation
More mature industries:
- Financial services (regulatory pressure)
- Government (Section 508 requirements)
- Technology (early awareness)
Less mature industries:
- Retail (catching up due to lawsuits)
- Healthcare (ironically low despite serving people with disabilities)
- Manufacturing (limited digital presence)
FAQ: Accessibility Maturity Model
How long does it take to progress through maturity stages?
Moving from Ad-Hoc to Planned typically takes 1-3 months with executive support. Planned to Defined requires 6-12 months of consistent investment. Defined to Managed typically takes 12-24 months as processes become embedded. Managed to Optimized requires 2+ years of sustained effort and cultural change.
Can we skip stages?
Not effectively. Each stage builds capabilities needed for the next. Organizations that try to implement Managed-stage automation without Defined-stage processes find the automation doesn't work because foundations are missing. Progress through stages—but you can move quickly through early stages with sufficient investment.
How do we maintain maturity during organizational change?
Document processes and institutional knowledge thoroughly. Build broad capability rather than concentrating expertise in few individuals. Connect accessibility to business metrics that survive leadership changes. Create automated enforcement that persists regardless of personnel.
What's the minimum acceptable maturity level?
For legal protection, organizations need at least Defined stage—documented standards, regular testing, remediation processes. Planned stage shows awareness but doesn't provide consistent compliance. Ad-Hoc stage presents significant legal risk. For competitive advantage, target Managed or higher.
How does maturity assessment differ from compliance assessment?
Compliance assessment asks "Does this page meet WCAG?" Maturity assessment asks "Can this organization sustainably produce accessible content?" High maturity doesn't guarantee perfect compliance (issues still occur), but it indicates capability to identify and fix issues systematically.
Advance Your Accessibility Maturity
Understanding where you stand is the first step toward improvement. Use this maturity model to assess your current state, set realistic goals, and track progress over time.
Start with baseline data. TestParty's AI-powered platform scans your digital properties to reveal your current accessibility state—providing the foundation for maturity assessment and improvement planning.
Get your free accessibility scan →
We're transparent about our process: AI helped create this article, and our accessibility experts verified it. We believe this combination produces better content than either alone. Before making decisions, validate against your context or consult professionals like our team.
This guide is derived from our detailed TestParty research reports, which we typically reserve for customers. We've chosen transparency over exclusivity here, contributing to the open knowledge ecosystem that makes the web better.
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