Unlock the $21B Market: Why Accessibility is Your Biggest Opportunity
Kristin Smedley
Visionary Leader & Filmmaker | Unlocking Competitive Advantage, TEDx Speaker, Best Selling Author | 2 of my 3 Children Were Born Blind (CRB1) All are Thrivers
Why Accessibility is a Game-Changer for Businesses
Did you know? People with disabilities make up the third largest market in the US. The discretionary income for working-age Americans with disabilities is a whopping $21 billion. And the companies that prioritize inclusive hiring? They see 28% higher revenue, double the net income, and 30% higher economic profit margins compared to their competitors (Source: 埃森哲 report).
That’s why I was thrilled to moderate a panel on accessibility at the Global Genes #WeekInRare Patient Advocacy Summit. We dove deep into how accessibility—both digital and physical— is not just the right thing to do but also a strategic business advantage.
Here are some key takeaways from our conversation:
Kendra Gottsleben (Marketing Communication Specialist, Center for Disabilities, Sanford School of Medicine):
"Websites are like the front door to an organization. Make sure it's welcoming to everyone." She shared practical steps like using alt text, ensuring screen reader compatibility, and following universal design principles.
@Rachelle Cook (Rare Disease Advocate, Assistive Technology Professional):
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"Accessibility is both a mindset and an action." Rachelle emphasized that not trying to be accessible—whether due to fear of making mistakes or not knowing where to start—still means you’re choosing not to be inclusive. "It doesn’t need to be perfect, but you need to try."
Lori Renna Linton (Rare Disease Advocate and Filmmaker):
“Inclusion is more than a word.” When creating accessible spaces, it’s crucial to understand the diverse needs of your audience. Lori encouraged organizations to have their teams experience spaces firsthand—like navigating a venue in a wheelchair—to build empathy and true inclusion.
My takeaway? Remember, accessibility makes business, engagement, and advocacy sense!
By ensuring that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can access your spaces and content, you’re not only doing good—you’re also future-proofing your organization’s success.
Thank you to Global Genes for another extraordinary and empowering event! Many many thanks to these panelists for not only being rockstars in this industry, but for being a heck of a lot of fun to work with!
If you want to continue the conversation on how to make your organization more accessible, comment below or send me a message.
#Accessibility #Inclusion #RareDisease #Advocacy #BusinessStrategy
First Responder @ SERVPRO | Emergency Services Expert
5 个月Just wanted to reach out and share something I’ve been going through. I’m involved in a court case where I feel like I was really taken advantage of. Like it often happens in family court, things got messy, and I found myself without an attorney just 5 days before the trial. On the first day, I disclosed a disability, but the court completely ignored it. As you might expect, the other side took advantage of the situation. They pushed me into an agreement without me fully understanding everything, and to make things worse, they lied about the numbers. It’s crazy, especially in family court, where so many people can’t afford legal counsel. That in itself can feel like a disability when you’re dealing with major life decisions like the care, custody, and control of your kids. I’m trying to see if there’s anything I can do through the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) to fix this, but I need help. If you or anyone you know has any advice or experience with this kind of thing, I could really use some guidance on next steps. Thanks for any insight you can offer.
CEO @ Vicktorious Academy | Transforming Lives Through Perseverance and Positivity
5 个月Thank you for sharing! It’s so important that we share the financial games as well as the societal gains of creating inclusive spaces for people of all abilities. I have seen many of the adaptations that are created to increase accessibility, increase the workflow. Especially in relation to assistive technologies. Witnessing the changes and inclusion of assistive technologies over the last several decades has been amazing and leaves me with much hope for future universal design spaces and technologies.