Welcome back! So far, we’ve explored inclusive personas, accessible testing, story writing, and the core principles that connect Agile to accessibility. Now we ask: How do we measure what matters, not just what’s easy?
Why Accessibility KPIs Belong in Agile
Agile teams measure velocity, sprint goals, and user satisfaction. But accessibility? It’s often buried under “nice to have” or “technical debt.”
Making accessibility a Key Performance Indicator (KPI):
- Elevates inclusion to a priority, not a checkbox
- Aligns product development with organizational values
- Surfaces real user impact, not just regulatory compliance
- Encourages continuous improvement through data-driven reflection
Types of Accessibility KPIs for Agile Teams
Here are five categories of KPIs teams can track:
1. Usability Feedback from Diverse Users
Track the number of testing sessions including users with disabilities or varied contexts KPI: % of usability tests conducted with diverse participants
2. Backlog & Story Inclusion
Are accessibility-related stories part of your backlog from the start? KPI: % of stories that include accessibility acceptance criteria
3. Defect Tracking
Accessibility bugs often go unnoticed. Start tracking them like any other issue. KPI: # of accessibility defects vs. resolved per sprint
4. Automation & Coverage
Automated tools aren’t perfect, but they help you catch what you might miss. KPI: % of pages/components passing automated accessibility scans
5. Team Learning & Growth
If teams aren’t learning, they’re repeating old patterns. KPI: # of team trainings, audits, or accessibility retrospectives per quarter
How to Integrate Accessibility KPIs into Agile Workflows
Let’s make it practical:
- Sprint Planning: Include KPIs as part of definition of done
- Daily Standups: Surface blockers related to accessibility criteria
- Testing: Use inclusive personas and assistive tech scenarios
- Sprint Reviews: Report on accessibility metrics alongside velocity
- Retrospectives: Reflect on what improved, what stalled, and who was impacted
Metrics with Meaning
Tracking accessibility isn’t just about compliance, it’s about accountability to real users. KPIs empower teams to shift from good intentions to great outcomes.
So ask your team: Are we measuring accessibility with the same rigor we measure delivery, and if not, what’s holding us back?
Next up in the series: Facilitating Inclusive Agile Ceremonies We’ll explore how daily standups, sprint planning, and retrospectives can invite more voices and reduce participation barriers.
