diff --git a/.changeset/tall-doors-smile.md b/.changeset/tall-doors-smile.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f0f014a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/tall-doors-smile.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@clack/core': minor
+---
+
+Add `isAccessible()` and an `accessible` setting as the foundation for accessible mode. Resolution order: per-call option > `updateSettings({ accessible })` > the `ACCESSIBLE` environment variable (any non-empty value enables it, except `0` and `false`).
diff --git a/packages/core/src/index.ts b/packages/core/src/index.ts
index 4383a3df..be3c9fdb 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/index.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,6 @@ export { default as TextPrompt } from './prompts/text.js';
 export type { ClackState as State } from './types.js';
 export { block, getColumns, getRows, isCancel, wrapTextWithPrefix } from './utils/index.js';
 export type { ClackSettings } from './utils/settings.js';
-export { settings, updateSettings } from './utils/settings.js';
+export { isAccessible, settings, updateSettings } from './utils/settings.js';
 export type { Validate } from './utils/validation.js';
 export { runValidation } from './utils/validation.js';
diff --git a/packages/core/src/utils/settings.ts b/packages/core/src/utils/settings.ts
index 7b35959e..b3d008cf 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/utils/settings.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/utils/settings.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ interface InternalClackSettings {
 		error: string;
 	};
 	withGuide: boolean;
+	accessible: boolean | undefined;
 	date: {
 		monthNames: string[];
 		messages: {
@@ -54,6 +55,7 @@ export const settings: InternalClackSettings = {
 		error: 'Something went wrong',
 	},
 	withGuide: true,
+	accessible: undefined,
 	date: {
 		monthNames: [...DEFAULT_MONTH_NAMES],
 		messages: {
@@ -94,6 +96,12 @@ export interface ClackSettings {
 
 	withGuide?: boolean;
 
+	/**
+	 * Force accessible (static, screen-reader friendly) output on or off.
+	 * Overrides the `ACCESSIBLE` environment variable.
+	 */
+	accessible?: boolean;
+
 	/**
 	 * Date prompt localization
 	 */
@@ -145,6 +153,10 @@ export function updateSettings(updates: ClackSettings) {
 		settings.withGuide = updates.withGuide !== false;
 	}
 
+	if (updates.accessible !== undefined) {
+		settings.accessible = updates.accessible === true;
+	}
+
 	if (updates.date !== undefined) {
 		const date = updates.date;
 		if (date.monthNames !== undefined) {
@@ -170,6 +182,21 @@ export function updateSettings(updates: ClackSettings) {
 	}
 }
 
+/**
+ * Resolves whether accessible (static, screen-reader friendly) output is enabled.
+ *
+ * Resolution order: per-call option > global `accessible` setting > `ACCESSIBLE`
+ * environment variable (any non-empty value enables it, except `0` and `false`).
+ *
+ * @param accessible - Per-call override; takes precedence when defined
+ */
+export function isAccessible(accessible?: boolean): boolean {
+	if (accessible !== undefined) return accessible;
+	if (settings.accessible !== undefined) return settings.accessible;
+	const value = process.env.ACCESSIBLE;
+	return value !== undefined && value !== '' && value !== '0' && value !== 'false';
+}
+
 /**
  * Check if a key is an alias for a default action
  * @param key - The raw key which might match to an action
diff --git a/packages/core/test/utils/settings.test.ts b/packages/core/test/utils/settings.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bd427d72
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/test/utils/settings.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, test } from 'vitest';
+import { isAccessible, settings, updateSettings } from '../../src/utils/settings.js';
+
+describe('isAccessible', () => {
+	const originalEnv = process.env.ACCESSIBLE;
+
+	afterEach(() => {
+		if (originalEnv === undefined) {
+			delete process.env.ACCESSIBLE;
+		} else {
+			process.env.ACCESSIBLE = originalEnv;
+		}
+		settings.accessible = undefined;
+	});
+
+	describe('ACCESSIBLE env var', () => {
+		test('disabled when unset', () => {
+			delete process.env.ACCESSIBLE;
+			expect(isAccessible()).toBe(false);
+		});
+
+		test.each(['', '0', 'false'])('disabled when set to %j', (value) => {
+			process.env.ACCESSIBLE = value;
+			expect(isAccessible()).toBe(false);
+		});
+
+		test.each(['1', 'true', 'yes'])('enabled when set to %j', (value) => {
+			process.env.ACCESSIBLE = value;
+			expect(isAccessible()).toBe(true);
+		});
+	});
+
+	describe('global setting', () => {
+		test('updateSettings({ accessible: true }) enables it', () => {
+			delete process.env.ACCESSIBLE;
+			updateSettings({ accessible: true });
+			expect(isAccessible()).toBe(true);
+		});
+
+		test('updateSettings({ accessible: false }) overrides the env var', () => {
+			process.env.ACCESSIBLE = '1';
+			updateSettings({ accessible: false });
+			expect(isAccessible()).toBe(false);
+		});
+	});
+
+	describe('per-call option', () => {
+		test('true overrides a false global setting', () => {
+			updateSettings({ accessible: false });
+			expect(isAccessible(true)).toBe(true);
+		});
+
+		test('false overrides the env var', () => {
+			process.env.ACCESSIBLE = '1';
+			expect(isAccessible(false)).toBe(false);
+		});
+
+		test('undefined falls through to env var', () => {
+			process.env.ACCESSIBLE = '1';
+			expect(isAccessible(undefined)).toBe(true);
+		});
+	});
+});