What is involved in the W3C's 'plan' stage?

The 'plan' stage in the W3C's framework emphasizes the importance of establishing a clear accessibility policy along with stakeholder engagement. This stage involves formulating a comprehensive strategy that outlines how accessibility will be integrated into the organization's processes, products, and services. By creating an accessibility policy, the organization sets the foundation for expectations and objectives, ensuring that everyone involved understands their roles and responsibilities concerning accessibility.

Engaging stakeholders is crucial during this stage because it fosters a collaborative environment. Stakeholders may include individuals from various departments, users with disabilities, and accessibility experts. Their input is valuable in identifying needs, assessing current practices, and creating an inclusive approach from the outset.

In contrast, other stages related to building skills, assigning tasks, or monitoring technologies focus on different aspects of implementation and improvement rather than the initial foundational planning that is critical for successful accessibility outcomes. The emphasis in this stage is specifically on policy and collaboration, which are essential for a holistic and effective approach to accessibility in web development and design.