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ORGANISATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Purpose

This page sets out the responsibilities that organisations must uphold to ensure accessibility, inclusion, and equal participation for disabled people. Its purpose is to provide a clear framework for accountability, ensuring that accessibility is embedded into leadership, culture, systems, and everyday practice.

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Principles

  • Leadership Accountability: Senior leaders must take responsibility for accessibility across the organisation.

  • Proactive Duty: Organisations must anticipate accessibility needs rather than waiting for issues to arise.

  • Consistency: Accessibility must be applied uniformly across all departments, services, and processes.

  • Transparency: Organisations must communicate clearly about their accessibility commitments and performance.

  • Continuous Improvement: Accessibility must be reviewed, monitored, and strengthened over time.

  • Collaboration: Disabled people must be involved in shaping and improving accessibility practice.

  • Legal Compliance: Organisations must meet all legal duties relating to accessibility and disability rights.

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What NWAF™ Expects

  • Accessibility is embedded into organisational strategy, policy, and culture.

  • Leaders champion accessibility and allocate appropriate resources.

  • Staff receive training and guidance on accessibility responsibilities.

  • Accessibility standards are documented, published, and regularly reviewed.

  • Organisations maintain clear procedures for disabled users to request support or raise concerns.

  • Accessibility is monitored through feedback, audits, and performance reviews.

  • Barriers are identified and removed promptly.

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What Organisations Must Do

  • Develop and maintain an organisational accessibility policy aligned with NWAF™ standards.

  • Ensure all staff understand their responsibilities and receive appropriate training.

  • Provide accessible communication, digital content, and physical environments.

  • Implement clear procedures for workplace adjustments and user support.

  • Monitor accessibility performance and publish updates where appropriate.

  • Engage with disabled people to understand lived experience and improve practice.

  • Allocate resources to maintain and improve accessibility across all areas.

  • Take corrective action when accessibility standards are not met.

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What Disabled Users Can Expect

  • An organisation that takes accessibility seriously and demonstrates clear accountability.

  • Consistent, accessible services across all departments and channels.

  • Staff who understand accessibility and respond respectfully and effectively.

  • Transparent processes for raising concerns or requesting support.

  • Evidence that accessibility is monitored and improved over time.

  • A culture that values inclusion and upholds their rights.

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Why This Matters

Accessibility is not achieved through individual actions alone — it requires organisational commitment, leadership, and accountability. When organisations take responsibility for accessibility, disabled people can participate fully, navigate services independently, and trust that their rights will be upheld. Strong organisational responsibility creates fair, inclusive systems that work for everyone.

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Version Information

  • Version: 1.0

  • Status: Published

  • Approved by: Founder

  • Last Updated: 19 February 2026

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