Accessibility-Washing

Introducing a New Term: Accessibility-Washing??

I’m excited to share a concept that’s been on my mind: accessibility-washing.?

What is Accessibility-Washing??

It occurs when organisations mistakenly believe good intentions are sufficient without delivering positive experiences for people with disabilities and their allies. This mindset not only leads to burnout and psychosocial injury but also dismisses the vital contributions of those with lived experiences to workplace culture and practices.?

From my experience, I’ve learned to identify accessibility-washing in various settings, and I’m confident that many organisations would be surprised (and disappointed) to discover they engage in these practices.?

Common Examples of Accessibility-Washing:?

• Talking big on inclusion while overlooking accessibility barriers????

• Spinning diversity targets without acknowledging lived experiences.?

• Designing systems with accessibility as an afterthought.?

• Speaking for not listening to lived experience experts.?

• Accepting accessibility barriers with ‘workarounds’ as an everyday practice in place of finding sustainable solutions????

• Placing the load and responsibility of leading business improvement on people with disabilities.?

Can You Spot Accessibility-Washing??

Here are my top three indicators:?

• Strategy without Effort?

• Targets over Experience?

• Announcements without Ownership?

These practices often lead to a disconnect between intent and impact, ultimately affecting the workplace environment, making it harder for everyone to work at their best.??

An expert at the intersection of accessibility and inclusion, Teresa Penny emphasises,

“There is no inclusion without accessibility.” She clarifies that “accessibility means that a person with a disability can perform tasks in a similar amount of time and effort as someone without a disability."

When systems and documents are not screen reader-friendly, it significantly hinders the ability to complete learning and work tasks.

Reflecting on her university experience, Teresa noted,

“I had multiple conversations about reasonable adjustments to set me up for success, but documents and exam conditions were not accessible to me as a person with a vision impairment. These discussions often fell short, focusing more on the perceived unfair advantage I might gain rather than on my actual needs.”?

Teresa advocates for increasing the recruitment of managers and executives who openly share their lived experiences with disability. She believes this will drive real change, address accessibility-washing and close the accessibility inequality gap.??

?How to Avoid Accessibility-Washing?

To foster genuine accessibility, consider these FIVE (+ one) recommendations:?

1. Collect Clean Data?

1. Build an Accessibility Framework with Delivery Pathways and Executive Accountability?

1. Create Clear Goals and Action Plans with Executive Ownership?

1. Transparent Public Reporting on Experience, Progress, and Goal Achievement?

1. Conduct Accessibility Audits Focused on Policy, Process, Systems, and Experience?

?Bonus Tip:? Recruit a qualified and experienced Accessibility Engineer (stay tuned for more on this topic soon!).?

?A special thank you to Lesh Prasad for deepening my understanding of accessibility investment through his insights on “Effort.” Lesh emphasizes the importance of the three 'E's: Education, Effort, and Employment Pathways, in fostering inclusive and accessible workplaces. He explains

"'Effort' encompasses the energy needed to get things done—actively building knowledge and leveraging data to identify opportunities and gaps for progress. This effort requires costs in terms of finances, time, patience, and curiosity, as well as challenging historical cultural norms and behaviours. Ultimately, Effort represents the conscious, collective lifting that drives meaningful change."

Thank you, Lesh, for your invaluable perspective!??

?Let’s move beyond intention and create truly inclusive workplaces!

What does accessibility-washing look like to you? Share your thoughts!

#Accessibility #Inclusion #Diversity #AccessibilityWashing #livedexpereince #humandesign Accessibility #Inclusion #Leadership?