This draft is based on the latest editor’s draft of the AMM as of April 22, 2026

Abstract

The Accessibility Maturity Model (AMM) is a framework for measuring an organization's ability to produce and sustain accessible products, services, training, and documentation over time. It supports organizations in identifying where they currently stand, where they want to go next, and what to do to get there.

The model is organized around seven dimensions of organizational capability — communications, governance and oversight, ICT development lifecycle, knowledge and skills, personnel, procurement, and support — and four maturity levels: Inactive, Launch, Integrate, and Optimize. Each dimension includes sample proof points that evaluators use to determine an organization's level.

For each dimension, the AMM supports evaluation of current capabilities, identification of gaps between current and next-level maturity, and planning for improvement. It is distinct from accessibility conformance testing, which describes whether a specific product meets a standard at a point in time; the AMM describes whether an organization has the governance, practices, and capabilities to produce accessible products consistently. The two are complementary.

The AMM scales across organizations of any type or size and may be customized to match industry terminology and operational context. This document defines the dimensions, describes the maturity levels, provides sample proof points, and includes an experimental assessment spreadsheet for practitioners.

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1. Introduction

1.1 How to Use The Accessibility Maturity Model

[NOTE: This section is revised and has been renumbered from 1.1.1 to 1.1]

An AMM assessment produces a measurement for each of the seven dimensions of organizational accessibility practice. Using the model, an evaluator determines a maturity level—Inactive, Launch, Integrate, or Optimize—supported by proof points along with the organization’s documentation, records, metrics, and observable practices. This section is a guide to the AMM and the workflow for applying it.

What the document contains

• Section 2: Maturity Model Structure defines the model’s structure with dimensions, proof points, and maturity levels. Read this section first as the vocabulary used throughout the rest of the AMM is defined here, including the details for how levels accumulate and when a proof point may be marked not applicable. This section also includes a link to an Assessment Spreadsheet**, which is** an experimental workbook with one sheet per dimension, which can be used to record findings during an assessment.
• Section 3: Accessibility Maturity Per Dimension is the working reference. Each dimension contains a short description of what it covers, information on how to evaluate the dimension, and the proof points to review.

Assessment workflow

An assessment typically follows five steps.

1. Scope the assessment. Decide which dimensions to evaluate and at what scope—the whole organization, a business unit, a product line, or a specific program. Not every dimension applies to every scope. Record the scoping decision so it can be explained alongside the results.
2. Identify proof points. For each dimension in scope, review the sample proof points and select those that fit your organization. The samples are illustrative, not exhaustive and you may extend, replace, or omit proof points as appropriate (see Section 1.2 Customizing the Accessibility Maturity Model). When an outcome genuinely does not apply—for example, mobile-application proof points for an organization without a mobile app—mark it “N/A” and leave a note why it’s N/A rather than treating it as a gap.
3. Gather evidence. Collect the documents, records, training data, metrics, and observable practices that show whether each proof point is in place. Evidence must reflect current practice, not aspiration. For example, a draft policy in circulation is not the same as a signed policy in use.
4. Determine the maturity level. For each dimension, compare the evidence to the level descriptors in each dimension’s “How to Evaluate” section. The dimension's level is the highest one the proof points fully support. Two rules from Section 2 inform this step:
   • Levels are cumulative. A dimension claimed at Integrate must also meet the Launch criteria.
   • Optimize requires proof points to be fully completed. Launch and Integrate may be claimed when proof points are partially completed.