Accessibility and inclusive design WORK IN PROGRESS

Product managers

Part of
Accessibility and inclusive design WORK IN PROGRESS collection
Last reviewed
27 July 2026

Find guidance on embedding accessibility throughout the product lifecycle.

As a product manager you will keep the team accountable for the design and build of accessible and inclusive products in every phase of delivery.

You must champion accessibility and make it part of the team's culture and ways of working.

Plan for accessibility

If you ensure that accessibility is considered by the whole team, and the necessary planning is in place, accessibility should be fully embedded in the product lifecycle.

Include accessibility in ceremonies, such as sprint planning and review. Work with the delivery manager and business analysts to embed accessibility into delivery. For example, include it in the 'definition of ready' and 'definition of done' for tickets.

This will help the team know what to consider and whether the work done is accessible and meets standards.

Plan for testing

When building a product or website, the team should carry out their own internal testing using testing tools. As a product manager, you should plan in advance the time needed to do this.

Encourage the team to get into the habit of testing from the start of a project. They can use manual and automated tools on low and high-fidelity prototypes.

Plan for an audit

You should plan an accessibility audit. This includes considering funding needed, and the time it takes, to do an audit.

The average cost of an external audit is usually between £3,000 to £7,000, but can vary depending on the size and complexity of your service.

Ensure that the audit has been procured and planned - with time for it to happen, and major issues to be resolved - before moving into public beta.

Review how to get an audit.

Get familiar with accessibility standards

You should have a basic understanding of:

This will help to make sure the service meets accessibility requirements and legislation.