You’ve probably seen it before: the accessibility policy tucked neatly on the intranet, the compliance audit proudly passed, the annual “awareness” email sent to all staff.
All good steps with good intention... but do they actually make your workplace accessible?
Here’s the thing: accessibility isn’t something you “do once.” It’s not a checklist or a compliance milestone. It’s a daily commitment that shapes how people experience your workplace.
Because policies, statements, and plans don’t automatically remove barriers.
If accessibility only shows up in your policies, it might be time to take another look at how it shows up in your culture.
In this blog, we explore three signs that accessibility might be treated like a checklist in your workplace, and what you can do instead.
1. Accessibility Exists in Policy... But Not in Practice
You’ve got the basics covered: a written accessibility statement, a mention in onboarding, maybe even an annual training slide deck.
But outside those moments? Crickets!
Sound familiar? You’re not alone. The key here is that, yes, policies create awareness, but only habits create change.
If physical barriers, outdated tech, or confusing communication channels are still tripping people up, the work isn’t done.
A tip from our team: Pick one everyday process — like onboarding, meetings, or internal communications — and look for a single barrier you can remove this week. For example, turning on the option for closed captioning in your virtual meetings. Small, consistent improvements add up faster than big annual “initiatives” that just sit on a shelf collecting dust.
2. Accessibility Is Someone Else’s Job
Accessibility often gets parked under HR or DEI teams... which makes sense on paper! But when only one person or department “owns” it, progress slows down and accountability stays reactive instead of proactive.
You might see it in how only managers get trained, or how employees think accessibility “doesn’t apply” to their role.
The truth? Real inclusion happens when everyone is equipped with the awareness and confidence to act. Whether it’s catching an inaccessible document before it’s sent or ensuring every team member can fully participate in a meeting — accessibility is everyone’s job.
If you’re not sure where to start, that’s exactly what our Accessibility Training was built for: to give teams the right tools and language to make accessibility practical and a natural part of daily operations rather than an afterthought.
3. Accessibility Is Only Prioritized When It’s Compliance-Related
Passing an audit is great! ...Until you realize employees with disabilities still don’t actually feel included.
Compliance keeps you out of trouble. Culture keeps you inclusive.
Upgrading technology or installing ramps is important, but accessibility goes deeper. It also lives in how leaders communicate, how teams collaborate, and how comfortable people feel asking for what they need.
We’re going to suggest something that sounds simple, but few organizations actually do it: ask your people. Send a quick, anonymous pulse survey or start a conversation in your next team meeting: “What could make it easier for you to do your best work here?”
You’ll be surprised how often the barriers are simple fixes. Things like clearer communication, flexible formats, or small process tweaks make a big difference.
We All Begin Somewhere
When it comes to accessibility, getting everything “right” all at once isn’t the goal.
Every organization starts somewhere – and that’s okay. What matters is not where you are today, but your willingness to keep learning, adjusting, and improving.
Because real accessibility isn’t just visible in your policies – it’s felt in how people experience your workplace every day.
So, ask yourself: What message does our current approach to accessibility send to our team?
If it’s mostly about compliance, you’re missing the bigger opportunity: to build a culture where people know their needs matter, and feel empowered to speak up when they don’t.
If you’re ready to move beyond checklists and build a culture where everyone can contribute fully, you're in the right place.
Explore our Accessibility Training to learn how to make accessibility practical in your workplace.