Improving Accessibility Practices
Summary
Accessibility issues can be identified far earlier in the design lifecycle. Building review checkpoints into design and delivery reduces defects and the cost of late remediation.
Shared challenge
This opportunity addresses Accessibility defects — a challenge experienced by multiple teams across the contract.
What one team learned
Accessibility issues can be identified earlier in the design lifecycle, before they become expensive to fix.
Reusable improvement
An accessibility review process with checkpoints, design review templates and testing guidance.
How other teams can apply it
- 1Add accessibility checkpoints at design and build stages.
- 2Use the design review templates in each sprint review.
- 3Follow the testing guidance ahead of every release.
Evidence and artefacts
Suggested SoW wording
Accessibility will be assured through the partnership accessibility review process, embedding review checkpoints at design and build stages and following the shared testing guidance before each release.
Teams that could benefit
Linked Statements of Work
Benefits expected and measured
Fewer accessibility defects, reduced remediation costs, better outcomes for users.
Accessibility defects at beta down 47%; remediation costs lower.
Comments and decision history
- Aisha RahmanAccessibility Specialist· 15 Mar 2026
Early checkpoints caught issues that would have been costly to fix in beta.
- Defra Portfolio OfficeGovernance· 4 May 2026Status change
Defect-rate reduction verified — status updated to Measured.