How to Create a Digital Accessibility Scorecard for Government Websites

Ensuring digital accessibility for government websites is no longer optional — it's a legal and moral imperative.

Government agencies must deliver online services that are usable by all, including people with disabilities.

One effective tool to track progress is a digital accessibility scorecard.

In this post, I'll guide you through building an accessibility scorecard tailored to government sites, using clear steps and practical tools.

Why Digital Accessibility Matters

Accessibility ensures equal access to government information and services for people with disabilities.

According to the CDC, one in four U.S. adults lives with a disability, highlighting the critical need for inclusive design.

Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 is also a legal requirement for government agencies.

Moreover, accessible sites improve user experience for everyone, not just people with disabilities.

Your scorecard should track core accessibility metrics that reflect compliance and usability.

Important metrics include:

These align with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) principles and can help you systematically assess your website.

Several tools can help you measure and improve accessibility.

Consider these:

WAVE Accessibility Tool - Offers a visual overview of accessibility issues on your pages.
Axe by Deque - Provides automated testing within your browser or development environment.
W3C Evaluation Tools List - A directory of tools for various accessibility checks.

Start by defining clear objectives — is your goal legal compliance, improved usability, or both?

Next, use automated tools to run baseline tests across key pages.

Complement automated results with manual checks, such as keyboard navigation and screen reader testing.

Create a dashboard or spreadsheet to track scores over time, broken down by page and type of issue.

Assign responsibilities to your web team to address findings, and set a regular review cycle — quarterly or biannually works well.

Creating a digital accessibility scorecard is a proactive step toward making government websites inclusive for all citizens.

It helps agencies track progress, stay compliant, and most importantly, serve the public better.

With the right metrics, tools, and processes in place, accessibility becomes an achievable goal — not just a checkbox.

Start small, stay consistent, and remember that every improvement makes a difference.

Important keywords: accessibility, scorecard, government websites, compliance, usability