Why is Digital Accessibility Necessary?

• Equal access to information and opportunities by breaking down barriers and empowering these individuals to participate in different online communities, access educational resources, find employment opportunities, and engage in various online activities.
• Digital accessibility is also deeply intertwined with upholding human rights and dignity by providing digital platforms that are accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability, and promote non-discrimination, equality, and participation as basic human rights. It promotes dignity by allowing individuals to participate in society on an equal footing with others.
• Ensuring digital accessibility encompasses all individuals and is all about fostering inclusivity and creating a landscape that resonates with every user. This refers to acknowledging various situations such as navigating noisy environments, dimly lit spaces, or dealing with glare and sunlight by addressing these challenges through accessibility design principles.
• Digital accessibility also plays an important role in empowering marginalized groups. This includes individuals from low-income groups, senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, and minority communities, ensuring digital accessibility for all these groups.

Impact of Digital Accessibility on the Economy and Business

Accessibility is crucial in many aspects. Although many organizations are embracing new technologies and techniques to improve various aspects of their business, they often neglect accessibility either due to a lack of awareness or difficulties in execution. What these organizations fail to realize and understand, is the interconnectedness of accessibility that benefits businesses and the economic factors.

1. Increase in Revenue Generation

When websites are accessible, it boosts traffic, expands market reach, and improve SEO. This enables businesses to serve millions of potential customers with disabilities, driving sales and growth. Prioritizing accessibility attracts customers who value social justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Additionally, it also ensures compliance with accessibility standards, saving costs.

2. Consumer Engagement and Loyalty

Digital Accessibility promotes inclusivity. Hence, it allows customers to engage with a brand’s digital content effectively, increasing customer satisfaction. Features such as clear and consistent navigation structures, resizable text, and compatibility with assistive technologies, can benefit customers by making websites easier to navigate and read, ultimately making a site more accessible. This promotes customer loyalty since they feel heard and see your website as a trusted and reliable source of information.

3. Mitigating Legal Risks and Avoiding Legal Mitigation

Ensuring digital accessibility is not only a moral obligation, it’s a legal mandate as per the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. By guaranteeing compliance with these laws and digital accessibility standards, organizations can mitigate legal risk, and avoid financial and reputational costs associated with legal actions.

4. Efficiency and Convenience to All Users

Every user can experience the ease of navigating a website through accessibility.  When websites and apps are designed with accessibility features, like alternative text for images and clear navigation, users can interact and engage more efficiently, saving time and effort. This not just benefits those with disabilities, but also users who prefer different ways of engaging with technology, making it easier for an organization to stand out in the market.

Strategies for Achieving Digital Accessibility

Incorporating Accessibility into the Project Communication & Marketing

Not only is accessibility a technical need but also a crucial aspect of the user experience that affects the overall performance and even customer experience. When considering accessibility in marketing, it encompasses the requirements of all users including elderly users, users with visual, auditory, cognitive, or motor impairments, and even those from rural or developing countries. Incorporating accessibility into project and marketing communications also involves using the right terminology and moving the focus from a technical checklist to a more inclusive and customer-centric approach.

Maintain Up-To-Date Digital Accessibility and Standards

Staying informed about the latest accessibility best practices and legal requirements helps to create a more inclusive and accessible digital experience, catering to the diverse needs of the customers. This includes research, and incorporating accessibility standards to ensure all assets and communication channels are accessible to all. Additionally, it helps an organization stay compliant with legal requirements and avoid potential legal risks.

Upskill and Re-Skill The Existing Workforce

Training the existing workforce is crucial to ensure the employees understand the vitality of digital accessibility and are well-equipped to create accessible products. This is achieved through proper training programs, workshops, and courses that focus on accessibility standards. By investing in professional development, organizations can create a more inclusive workforce, committed to creating products that cater to the diverse needs of users, and also fosters a culture of continuous learning.

Co-design with the customer, for the customer

Customers can sometimes help organizations level up their business. Involving customers with disabilities in the design process helps organizations gain valuable insights into their needs and preferences and create products catering to that. This approach fosters a user-centered design process by actively seeking feedback and input from customers, making the product truly accessible and usable by everyone.

Success Stories of Companies That Have Successfully Prioritized Accessibility

Accenture

Accenture implemented an IT accessibility program aiming to ensure 100% compliance with global accessibility standards including all technologies. Accenture understands the need to improve accessibility for everyone addressing language barriers, cultural diversity, and various disabilities. According to them, accessibility is a standard feature and not an exception.

Boeing

Boeing, a leading aerospace company, prioritizes accessibility for its customers with disabilities. They collaborate with ethnographic firms to gain insight into passenger experiences, include accessible elements in aircraft design, and employ a senior engineer dedicated to accessibility design. The organization is dedicated to providing equal opportunities and accommodation to all its employees, including those with disabilities.

Gartner

At Gartner, employees need to understand how corporate decisions affect effectiveness, efficiency, and impact. One decision they emphasize, which even clients are not allowed to overlook, is ensuring accessibility for disabled people. As per their research, a lot of companies don’t follow the best practices when it comes to hiring and supporting people with disabilities, resulting in a missed opportunity to tap into a valuable talent pool.

Digital accessibility is a necessity and must not be overlooked at any cost, not just for compliance but for fostering inclusivity, driving engagement, and mitigating legal risks. Organizations that invest and embrace accessibility empower their employees, improve consumer satisfaction, and open up new growth prospects. Magic EdTech is committed to accessibility, evident in our wide range of products and services provided. We offer immersive learning experiences, that cater specifically to the requirements of our customers. If you’re eager to learn more about our offerings, visit our website.