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Standards & Benchmarking

The Standard Is Experience. The Measure Is Excellence.

Compliance frameworks tell you the floor. GAC's standards-based approach helps organizations understand where they stand, where they need to go, and how to get there — across every dimension of accessibility.

Our Approach

Beyond Checklists. Toward Intelligence.

The accessibility standards landscape is complex, fragmented, and constantly evolving. WCAG 2.2, ADA, Section 508, EN 301 549, ISO 21902, the European Accessibility Act — each framework addresses a different domain, jurisdiction, or disability type. Organizations navigating this landscape without expert guidance often end up over-invested in compliance theater and under-invested in genuine inclusion.

GAC's approach is different. We integrate the full standards landscape into a unified intelligence model — the GAC Integrated Standards Crosswalk™ — that maps requirements, identifies gaps, and translates technical obligations into organizational action. The result is not a compliance report. It is a strategic roadmap.

Proprietary Framework

GAC Integrated Standards Crosswalk™

One Framework. Every Standard.

GAC has developed an integrated crosswalk methodology to help organizations understand the intersection of accessibility requirements, national and international standards, sustainability frameworks, organizational excellence, Universal Design, industry expectations, and leading practices. The detailed GAC crosswalk is a proprietary methodology maintained and updated separately from the public website.

Framework Types in the Crosswalk

Law / Regulation

Legally binding requirements — ADA, Section 504, Section 508, applicable state and local law, and relevant international requirements.

Technical Standard

Published technical standards — WCAG, ISO 21542, ISO 21902, ISO 22483, PDF/UA, and applicable additional ISO standards.

Industry Standard

Recognized industry standards and expectations specific to sectors including hospitality, tourism, healthcare, and higher education.

Guidance

Authoritative guidance documents, agency interpretations, and best-practice guidance from recognized bodies.

Sustainability Framework

GSTC sustainability standards and criteria, and other sustainability frameworks that intersect with accessible, inclusive development.

Organizational Excellence Framework

The Baldrige Excellence Framework and comparable organizational performance models that provide structure for continuous improvement.

Universal Design

Universal Design principles — equitable use, flexibility, intuitive use, perceptible information, tolerance for error, low physical effort, and size and space.

Best Practice

Recognized leading practices from disability organizations, research, and demonstrated organizational performance.

GAC Elevated Practice

GAC's proprietary elevated practice standards — developed through research, disability-informed evaluation, and organizational excellence expertise.

GAC Exceptional Experience

GAC's highest performance tier — defining what exceptional accessible experience looks like across physical, digital, communication, and organizational dimensions.

Digital Accessibility

  • WCAG 2.1 & 2.2 (Levels A, AA, AAA)
  • Section 508 (US Federal)
  • EN 301 549 (European)
  • ARIA Authoring Practices Guide
  • PDF/UA (ISO 14289)

Physical & Built Environment

  • ADA Standards for Accessible Design
  • ABA Accessibility Standards
  • ISO 21542 (Building Construction — Accessibility and Usability)
  • IBC Accessibility Requirements
  • Fair Housing Act Design Standards

Tourism & Hospitality

  • ISO 21902 (Accessible Tourism for All)
  • ISO 22483 (Hotel Service Requirements)
  • UNWTO Accessible Tourism Guidelines
  • EU Accessibility Act (Tourism Provisions)
  • GSTC Sustainability Standards and Criteria

Communication & Information

  • CVAA (21st Century Communications)
  • FCC Captioning Standards
  • WCAG 2.2 (Communication)
  • Plain Language Guidelines (PLAIN)
  • NISO Accessibility Standards

Employment & Organizational

  • ADA Title I (Employment)
  • Section 503 (Federal Contractors)
  • EEOC Guidance on Disability
  • Baldrige Excellence Framework
  • UN CRPD (Organizational Obligations)

International Frameworks

  • UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
  • Marrakesh Treaty (Accessible Publishing)
  • G3ict Digital Accessibility Maturity Model
  • Global Accessibility Reporting Initiative (GARI)
  • ITU Accessibility Guidelines
GAC Design Philosophy

Accessibility Should Be Designed In, Not Added On.

The most effective accessibility solutions are often those considered before barriers exist. GAC helps organizations move accessibility upstream — from remediation toward intentional design.

This approach can improve usability, reduce avoidable remediation, support sustainability, strengthen customer and employee experiences, and create better environments for everyone.

Before construction.
Before procurement.
Before technology deployment.
Before policies are finalized.
Before employees are trained.
Before customers encounter the barrier.
Benchmarking Model

The GAC Benchmarking Model

GAC's four-level benchmarking model provides a clear, actionable framework for understanding where an organization stands on its accessibility journey — and what it takes to advance.

Level 01
Foundation

Awareness & Basic Compliance

The organization is aware of accessibility obligations and has taken initial steps toward compliance. Policies may exist but are inconsistently applied. Accessibility is reactive rather than proactive.

  • Basic ADA/WCAG compliance in some areas
  • No formal accessibility program
  • Accessibility addressed on complaint or audit
  • Limited staff awareness
Level 02
Functional

Systematic Compliance

The organization has established systematic processes for accessibility compliance. Standards are applied consistently across most areas. Accessibility is a recognized operational function.

  • Documented accessibility policies and procedures
  • Regular audits and remediation cycles
  • Designated accessibility responsibility
  • Staff training programs in place
Level 03
Elevated

Strategic Integration

Accessibility is integrated into organizational strategy, design processes, and culture. The organization goes beyond compliance to deliver genuinely inclusive experiences in most areas.

  • Accessibility embedded in design and procurement
  • Disability community engagement
  • Proactive barrier identification and removal
  • Leadership commitment and accountability
Level 04
Exceptional

Excellence & Leadership

The organization is a recognized leader in accessibility — setting standards, sharing knowledge, and continuously innovating to deliver exceptional experiences for people with disabilities.

  • Industry-leading accessible experiences
  • Active disability community co-design
  • Accessibility innovation and thought leadership
  • Mentoring and influencing sector standards
How We Work

Our Standards-Based Approach

01

Standards Mapping

We identify every applicable standard, guideline, and framework for your organization — by jurisdiction, sector, disability type, and operational domain.

02

Gap Analysis

We assess your current state against the mapped standards — identifying gaps, risks, and opportunities across physical, digital, programmatic, and communication dimensions.

03

Benchmarking

We place your organization on the GAC Benchmarking Model — providing a clear, evidence-based picture of where you stand and what advancement requires.

04

Strategic Roadmap

We translate the gap analysis and benchmarking into a prioritized, actionable roadmap — with clear milestones, resource requirements, and success metrics.

05

Implementation Support

We support implementation — through advisory, training, design review, and ongoing benchmarking — to ensure progress is sustained and measured.

Certification & Recognition

GAC Certification & Recognition

Coming Soon

GAC is developing a suite of certification and recognition programs for organizations that demonstrate exceptional accessibility performance.

In Development

GAC Accessible Destination Certification

For destinations, tourism boards, and destination management organizations that meet GAC's Accessible Tourism Standards at the Elevated or Exceptional level.

In Development

GAC Accessible Hotel Recognition

For hotels and resorts that demonstrate exceptional accessible guest experience performance across the AGEI framework.

In Development

GAC Digital Accessibility Certification

For organizations that achieve and maintain WCAG 2.2 AA conformance with demonstrated commitment to ongoing digital accessibility.

In Development

GAC Organizational Excellence Award

Annual recognition for organizations that demonstrate outstanding leadership, innovation, and impact in accessibility across any sector.

Understand Where You Stand

A GAC benchmarking engagement gives you a clear, evidence-based picture of your accessibility performance — and a roadmap to advance it.

Request a Benchmarking Engagement View Our Services