During routine work with businesses, we encountered an interesting case that highlights how important it is to understand accessibility authority requirements in detail when preparing an accessibility statement.<\/p>\r\n
A company with just six employees approached us. While preparing their website's accessibility statement, their accessibility coordinator refused to include their mobile phone number and insisted on listing only an email address. The question was straightforward: is this allowed?<\/p>\r\n
What does the accessibility authority require regarding contact details?<\/h2>\r\n
The answer is clear: no, it is not allowed.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n According to the accessibility authority, you must provide multiple contact methods in order to accommodate people with disabilities as broadly as possible. The purpose of this requirement is to allow every individual to choose the communication method that is most convenient and accessible for them.<\/p>\r\n When only an email address is listed, situations can arise where a person with a disability cannot make contact effectively. For example, a blind person who is not proficient with technology or struggles with email management. Similarly, older adults who don't have an email address at all may face barriers.<\/p>\r\n Therefore, relying on a single communication channel is not sufficient.<\/p>\r\n No.<\/p>\r\n There is no requirement to publish a personal mobile number.<\/strong> You can list a business phone number instead. The core requirement is that the phone number must be available during normal business hours, so people can make contact and speak with a human representative.<\/p>\r\n The guiding principle is genuine accessibility, not merely formal compliance. In other words, publishing just an email address does not satisfy the requirements. You must also enable phone contact to ensure everyone can receive assistance.<\/p>\r\n This case demonstrates an important point: even small businesses with a lean team of six employees must meet the accessibility authority's full requirements. An accessibility statement is not just a technical document—it's a tool designed to ensure that every person can contact your business in an accessible and equitable way.<\/p>Is it mandatory to publish the accessibility coordinator's personal mobile number in the accessibility statement?<\/h2>\r\n
In Summary<\/h2>\r\n