How ExceedAbility Delivers Accessibility Engagements: A 5-Stage Methodology

Every ExceedAbility engagement follows the same five-stage framework. Inputs, deliverables and handoffs are written down before work begins, so your team, our team and your steering committee see the same picture of progress.

Quick answer

What is the ExceedAbility accessibility methodology?

ExceedAbility uses a five-stage delivery methodology: Scope, Audit, Remediate, Validate and Embed. Each stage has defined inputs, deliverables and written handoffs. The framework scales from a two-week document remediation batch to a multi-year compliance programme - what changes is effort at each stage, not the sequence.

The framework

Five stages. One accountable lead. Written handoffs.

The stages scale from a two-week document batch to a multi-year programme. What changes is effort at each stage - not the sequence.

  1. Scope

    Before we quote, we understand the obligation. What standard applies (WCAG 2.2 AA, PDF/UA, DDA), what the deadline looks like, what has already been tried, and what success looks like for your steering committee.

    InputsStakeholder list, applicable standards, known constraints, target dates, existing reports.
    DeliverableWritten scope document with sample pages/files, effort, deliverables, acceptance criteria and named accessibility lead.
    HandoffSigned scope becomes the contract. No surprise-scope changes without a written variation.

  2. Audit

    Three layers of evidence against the agreed standard. Automated scans catch what tools are good at. Manual expert review catches the 30-40% automated tools miss. Assistive-technology testing shows whether the product actually works for real users.

    InputsAccess to staging or production, representative content, credentials where relevant, content owners available for clarification.
    DeliverablePrioritised findings report tied to specific WCAG 2.2 criteria, with impact, effort and recommended remediation pattern. Executive summary. Technical detail with code-level examples. Statement-ready content.
    HandoffRead-out workshop. Your team leaves with a shared view of what’s broken, what matters most, and what to fix first.

  3. Remediate

    Either you fix, or we fix with you. We can embed accessibility specialists into your delivery team, remediate documents directly, or pair with your developers. The model is decided in scope - we don’t hand you a list and walk away.

    InputsFindings report, priority order, development environment, content source files where applicable.
    DeliverableClosed findings, remediated files, pull requests or content updates - tracked against the findings register so nothing is forgotten.
    HandoffProgress dashboard with each finding’s status: open, in progress, fixed-awaiting-validation, closed, risk-accepted.

  4. Validate

    A separate, narrower pass that verifies each finding is closed and no regressions were introduced. This is what makes a conformance claim defensible. Validation is always done by a different pair of eyes to the remediation.

    InputsRemediated product, list of findings marked fixed, changes log so we know where to look for regressions.
    DeliverableConformance statement suitable for public publication. Updated findings register. Known-issues list with owners and timelines for anything intentionally deferred.
    HandoffPublished accessibility statement. Evidence pack for DTA reporting or equivalent. Sign-off workshop with your governance body.

  5. Embed

    An audit you repeat every 18 months is not a programme. Embed is how accessibility survives your next release, your next procurement, your next team rotation. We build the governance, training, templates and checks that keep the work closed.

    InputsCurrent governance, team roles, design system, content workflows, procurement templates.
    DeliverableTailored accessibility governance model. Role-based training plan. Design-system and content-template updates. Procurement clauses. Self-assessment cadence.
    HandoffYour team owns it. We leave with a written operating rhythm and a shared definition of what “staying compliant” actually looks like.
How the stages combine

Four common engagement shapes

Compliance audit

Scope · Audit · Validate (post-fix)

When you need a defensible conformance position - typically before a launch, a renewal, or a reporting deadline.

Document remediation programme

Scope · Audit · Remediate · Validate

Batch remediation of PDF, Word and InDesign publications to PDF/UA - with template updates so new content starts compliant.

Embedded accessibility lead

Scope · Audit · Remediate · Validate (ongoing)

A senior accessibility specialist embedded in your delivery squad for a fixed engagement. Reviews, coaching, direct fixes, release-gate participation.

Capability uplift

Scope · Audit (maturity) · Embed

For organisations that need a programme, not a project. Governance, training, design-system updates, procurement language, self-assessment cadence.

What you get in writing

Predictable artefacts at every stage

Scope document

Sample, effort, deliverables, acceptance criteria, named lead.

Findings report

Prioritised WCAG-tagged issues with impact, effort and remediation pattern.

Executive summary

One-page compliance position and top-five risks for your steering group.

Technical detail

Developer-ready examples, code snippets, ARIA patterns, tested alternatives.

Conformance statement

Publishable accessibility statement content tied to the evidence.

Governance kit

Roles, cadence, self-assessment, procurement clauses, training plan.

Common questions about our methodology

Plain answers to the questions buyers ask us most often.

What are the five stages of the ExceedAbility methodology?

The five stages are: (1) Scope - understand the obligation, deadline and definition of done; (2) Audit - independent WCAG 2.2 review with assistive technology testing; (3) Remediate - fix issues with developer-ready guidance and embedded support; (4) Validate - re-test and produce conformance documentation; (5) Embed - governance, training and procurement language so accessibility sticks.

What deliverables does the methodology produce?

Predictable artefacts produced across the five stages include a scope document, prioritised findings report, executive summary, technical detail with code examples, a publishable conformance statement, and a governance kit covering roles, cadence, self-assessment, procurement clauses and training plan.

Does the methodology work for both audits and full uplift programmes?

Yes. The same five stages apply whether you only need an audit (Scope and Audit only), a remediation engagement (all five), or a multi-phase compliance programme. Effort and duration vary; the stage sequence and handoff discipline do not.

Who is accountable across the methodology stages?

Every engagement has one named accessibility lead who stays end-to-end across all five stages. This is the person identified in your proposal, signs off on the scope document, presents findings, and remains accountable through validation and handover.

Can the methodology adapt to our internal SDLC or governance process?

Yes. The five stages map cleanly onto common government and enterprise SDLCs and governance gates. We tailor the cadence and reporting format to fit your existing steering committee, change boards, and reporting calendar - the underlying discipline does not change.

Want to see how this fits your engagement?

A 20-minute scoping call is enough for us to sketch the stages, effort and timeline against your deadline.

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