Accessibility Scope & Deliverables: What Agencies Should Commit To (and What to Avoid)
Accessibility projects don’t fail because agencies don’t care, they fail because the scope is unclear.
As accessibility becomes a standard part of digital delivery, agencies are increasingly expected to define what’s included, what’s excluded, and what “done” actually means. When this isn’t handled carefully, accessibility becomes a source of risk rather than confidence.
This guide explains how agencies can scope accessibility work clearly, define deliverables responsibly, and avoid the most common overcommitments that create delivery and legal exposure.
Why accessibility scope is so often unclear
Accessibility scope tends to break down because:
- WCAG is broad and technical
- clients ask for reassurance, not details
- agencies want to be helpful
- accessibility touches design, dev, content, and QA
Without structure, scope becomes implicit — and implicit scope is dangerous.
Confident agencies make accessibility explicit.
What agencies should always define in scope
1. WCAG version and level
Always state:
- WCAG 2.2
- Level AA
Avoid vague language like “WCAG compliant” without detail.
2. What’s being assessed
Define what accessibility applies to:
- page templates
- components
- journeys (e.g. checkout, onboarding)
- documents (if included)
Avoid phrases like “the whole site” unless that’s genuinely what you mean.
3. What’s not included
Explicit exclusions protect everyone.
Common exclusions include:
- third-party tools
- user-generated content
- legacy documents
- future content updates
Clear exclusions reduce friction later.
Accessibility deliverables agencies can stand behind
Design-stage deliverables
Through design-stage accessibility guidance, agencies can provide:
- design accessibility reviews
- component guidance
- documented decisions
- accessibility considerations for handover
These deliverables shape outcomes early and reduce rework.
Audit and verification deliverables
With WCAG conformance audits, agencies should deliver:
- structured issue reports
- WCAG references
- prioritisation by impact
- remediation guidance
- scope statements
Avoid framing audits as pass/fail certificates.
Evidence and reporting deliverables
Clients expect evidence, not absolutes.
Good deliverables include:
- issue tracking reports
- remediation status
- accessibility statements aligned to the scope
- verification summaries
This supports defensible delivery.
Post-launch deliverables
With ongoing WCAG monitoring, agencies can offer:
- regression detection
- trend reporting
- maintenance insights
- continuous improvement support
This reframes accessibility as an ongoing responsibility, not a one-off.
If you’re helping your agency partner articulate accessibility to clients, our how agencies sell accessibility post offers useful framing.
What agencies should avoid committing to
Certain promises create risk immediately.
Avoid committing to:
- “100% accessibility”
- permanent conformance
- legal compliance guarantees
- responsibility for future content
Instead, commit to process, scope, and evidence.
How confident agencies present the accessibility scope
Strong agencies:
- include accessibility as a defined workstream
- explain deliverables in plain language
- separate advisory, verification, and monitoring
- document assumptions clearly
This builds trust and speeds approvals.
For guidance on pricing accessibility work once the scope is defined, see our pricing accessibility for agencies guide.
Where IncluD fits
IncluD helps agencies scope and deliver accessibility responsibly.
From design-stage accessibility guidance that informs early decisions, through WCAG conformance audits that provide clear, defensible evidence, to ongoing WCAG monitoring that maintains accessibility as sites evolve.
All delivered through a purpose-built agency accessibility platform designed for real delivery workflows.
Key takeaways for agencies
Accessibility scope works best when agencies:
- define it explicitly
- separate stages clearly
- document exclusions
- avoid absolutes
- support accessibility over time
Clear scope isn’t defensive, it’s professional.
To see how accessibility fits into overall delivery workflows, see how WCAG fits into agency delivery.
Delivery teams can also benefit from our accessibility for delivery teams insights.
