How do you communicate the value of accessibility and inclusion to stakeholders and clients?

The business case for accessibility and inclusion should not be an afterthought. In a competitive landscape, organizations that neglect this aspect of design risk being left behind. Emphasizing the long-term financial gains and risk mitigation will compel stakeholders to take accessibility and inclusion more seriously.

Communicating the value of accessibility and inclusion to stakeholders and clients is essential for fostering an inclusive environment and ensuring broad usability of products or services. To begin this off, the first tip would be to emphasize how accessibility and inclusion open up new market segments, including people with disabilities, the elderly and those who use diverse technologies. This expansion translates to a wider customer base and increased revenue.

It is quite simple. The more business and accessible a company is to the (disabled) community, the better chance it will gain revenue. The disability market is a huge, untapped market that everyone, ignores for some reason.

Disability is the largest minority group in the world at around 1/4 of the population according to both the CDC and the WHO. Disabled people are growing in earning power as well. Legislation like the ADA in the US is driving educational attainment for disabled people, resulting in a growing supply of workforce-ready, highly qualified young adults with disabilities. Meanwhile assistive technology advancements lower barriers further still. This makes disabled people a large and growing target demographic - both as customers and employees. Investments in Accessibility help to make you more authentically relevant to the community. If that weren't enough, accessibility features tend to make life easier for everyone, not just the disabled.

It’s not just about being compliant. Or the risk of fines. Creating an inclusive experience benefits everyone and can be a real market differentiator.

Illustrate the challenges faced by users with disabilities throughout real-life scenarios or demos. Show how can accessible design improve their overall experience. Use data and feedback from users who benefit from inclusive designs to show tangible improvements in user satisfaction and engagement. Compare with competitors who have successfully implemented accessibility, demonstrating the positive impact on user experience and the overall market share.

When stakeholders and clients can see tangible improvements in user experience, they'll be more inclined to invest in accessibility and inclusion. Designers should place a strong focus on showcasing real-world examples of how accessible and inclusive design benefits all users, creating an empathetic connection that underscores its importance.

Conduct educational sessions about the importance of accessibility, covering legal standards and how can inclusive design benefit everyone. Use case studies and success stories of companies that have effectively implemented accesibility and seen tangible benefits. Encourage empathy by having stakeholders and clients experience the barriers themselves, for example, navigating a website using screen readers or with limited mobility.

There are many disabled advocates, like me, who could easily help a company out with this. Some of us can help from our experience in the workplace as a disabled person and can help make companies more accessible and more aware from the combination of our lived experience and professional experience that is often unmatched by most peers in a company. So why not, use us to help further your company into a better company for all.

It's crucial for stakeholders and clients to understand that accessibility and inclusion aren't merely buzzwords or a box to check. By sharing inspiring success stories and driving home the benefits of inclusive design, designers can spark genuine enthusiasm for adopting these principles, creating a culture of innovation and empathy.

Be selective in your tone and examples when educating about disabled customers and user experiences. In 2024 disability is more synonymous with innovation, opportunity, and independence than it is about empathy or charity. This gives rise to disability pride, and sayings like "Disabled and Proud." Try to avoid "inspiration porn" which is the term reserved for heartstring-tugging messaging designed to make the audience feel inspired. It is better to focus on the success stories of people who are thriving professionally and personally along with their disabilities, not despite their disabilities. Disabled people don't need our help! Instead they need an equal opportunity to participate without barriers.

Vulnerability can be transient. I have found some that having some key statistics that really resonate works well. For example: 15% of the world’s population self identify as having a disability. Stakeholders needs to consider whether they are spending money on strategies that only appeal to a proportion of their customer base.

Encourage collaboration between people with varying abilities and backgrounds in the design process to ensure diverse perspectives are considered. Regularly involve stakeholders in discussions about accessibility goals, progress and achievements to keep them engaged and informed. Establish continuous feedback mechanisms with users and stakeholders to iterate and improve accessibility features based on real-world usage and preferences.

Seek out qualified and intelligent disabled people in your companies and communities to help foster accessibility, awareness and education for the company. People like me can help with my tremendous experience in the workplace as a disabled person and in the HR/TAC area which is often not found from a disabled point of view.

Collaboration is the key to unlocking the full potential of accessibility and inclusion. By fostering an environment of co-creation, designers empower stakeholders and clients to see the value of accessible and inclusive design firsthand, ultimately leading to more invested and passionate advocates for these principles.

There are hundreds of useful resources that are easily findable on LinkedIn that will help guide your accessibility journey. We are all on the accessibility journey, whether we know it or not. I for one believe that in the next ten to fifteen years accessibility checks will be as common as spelling checks and cybersecurity reviews.

In my opinion to communicate the value of accessibility and inclusion to stakeholders and clients, designers should frame it as a business advantage and highlight how it can lead to better customer satisfaction, improved brand reputation, and increased revenue opportunities. Sharing research and case studies, using inclusive language, collaborating with stakeholders and clients, and providing training and resources can also help to build knowledge and confidence in designing with accessibility and inclusion in mind.

Implementing accessibility and inclusion effectively requires a change in mindset, transforming the way designers, stakeholders, and clients perceive design. By consistently promoting the benefits of accessible and inclusive design, we can shape a future where every user, regardless of ability or background, can enjoy seamless, enjoyable experiences that cater to their needs.