Recite Me is at the Forefront of Ramping Up Web Accessibility
Businesses are slowly becoming aware of the massive market that consumers with disabilities in the US and UK represent and are beginning to take steps to ensure that their online content is accessible. Recite Me, (RM) a UK based company, is at the forefront of these efforts. On November 12, I spoke with Michael Halpin, RM’s Global Marketing Manager. Fittingly on 11/8, Halpin's attention was focused on the UK and “Purple Tuesday." Purple Tuesday is a UK -wide day of awareness, dedicated to highlighting how and why making businesses accessible online and in-person, increases profits and brand presence. From the get-go, Halpin equated the crucial nature of assistive technology in opening the web to people with disabilities, to a very familiar piece of assistive technology (AT), a ramp. Indeed, similarly to a ramp,RM provides a critical role in ensuring that people with disabilities can access online content. Indeed, the AT, developed by founder Ross Linnett, is both easy to use and life-changing.
RM provides free, cloud-based software that gives users access to portable, customizable AT that augments existing AT or, in the case of machines without AT, instantly gives users options including: Changing font/screen color, screen reading ,completely disabling all media, blocking out text so that only a few lines are visible at a time and translating content into a myriad of languages. Our conversation then turned to the main factors that brought Halpin to RM.
Prior to coming to RM, Halpin spent more than a decade in construction. While going over blueprints, he began to notice that “over time, [the installation] of ramps and other accessible much needed accommodations increased in frequency. This got me thinking, that it’s only a matter of time before this comes to the online space.” Halpin continued, “to make a website fully accessible, you need enhanced assistive technology to allow people to use the website to it’s full potential. “We’re [Recite Me] are the ramp online.” Halpin expanded on this point. He emphasized that "to take full advantage of a WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines [to make a website] accessible you need assistive technology to make that website usable in the way that it was intended for all.” According to Halpin, the need for such action, is critical.
Presently, 70% of American websites have critical accessibility issues. Consequently, businesses with inaccessible websites are missing out on $490 billion, the total disposable income for US working-age people with disabilities. In the good news category, Halpin and his colleagues are making strides every day to open the web to more people with disabilities.
Halpin described how RM has continued to build positive working relationships with Premiership Football franchises including Newcastle United, Everton FC, Watford FC and Leicester City FC. What’s more, Kick it Out, a non-profit dedicated to tackling racism in football, has been added as a Recite Me partner, as disability inclusion is very much a part of their overall goal, total inclusiveness across soccer.
In further testament to RM’s impact, they continue to rapidly grow throughout the US as well. Their office in Washington DC puts Recite Me at the heart of the DC metro area, close to tech giants including Microsoft and Amazon. Matt Cox, US Country Manager, is leading the team to expand the company’s portfolio, supporting companies with their accessibility concerns and needs. On this side of the Atlantic, Recite Me is working closely with the United States Disability Chamber of Commerce, National Disability Rights Network, and many other governmental organizations to support people with disabilities online. Finally, RM is also advising American companies regarding the tech accessibility requirements within the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Thanks to Recite Me, the web is becoming more accessible every day and businesses are becoming aware that website accessibility is good for their bottom line. If that’s not good news heading into 2020, I don’t know what is!
Steve McEvoy is an NYC-based Disability Employment Specialist. He's a firm believer in the power of consumers and employees with disabilities to increase the profits and brand presence of companies across all industries and sectors.