As a person with a physical disability I encounter accessibility problems on a daily basis, particularly when out and about. So accessibility in business is something that has always been important to me.
I care about how people are able to access my content, even if they are never going to be a customer.
When I’m at home I have a lot of adaptations that make it possible for me to live my life as independently as possible. I have level wheelchair access throughout most of the house, a lift to transport me and my chair upstairs, the usual grab rails and disability aids to help me move about. I have a medical profile bed that supports my sleeping position, grips and aids to help me in the kitchen and numerous apps on my smartphone to help me remain independent.
“I care about how people are able to access my content, even if they are never going to be a customer.”
A lot of the digital technologies that I use were not designed with accessibility in mind, but they have become invaluable to people with disabilities. Apple, Google and Amazon are just a few of the companies that have developed apps to help automate large parts of our lives. It’s not just disabled people who use them. Ables love having these apps and devices as it makes their lives easier.
It’s great that these products exist, but also a shame that the only driving force behind them is able bodied people wanting new technology rather than companies caring about the accessibility of their products. But I’ll take whatever is on offer if it makes my environment more accessible.
I can control my central heating, open and close my curtains, turn appliances on and off and even programme these things to happen at set times of the day. Some people may describe these devices as a luxury, or even label them unnecessary, but to me they are a vital part of my life.
“It doesn’t matter that a blind person may be unlikely to need the products I sell but that they have the right to access the information about them.”
So when it comes to making my business and website accessible to as many people as possible, it is always going to be important to me. It doesn’t matter that a blind person may be unlikely to need the products I sell and the help that I offer, but it matters that they have the right to access the information I give out about my business, in order to make their own decision about whether or not it is suitable for them.
It is not for me, or anyone else, to determine if a person with a specific disability should need to access our businesses. I liken it to when I was told that “theme parks don’t need to be accessible because people in wheelchairs can’t go on rollercoasters.”
I don’t even know where to start to unpick everything that is wrong with that statement, but I’ll name three big ones just in case you are unsure.
-
-
-
- Wheelchair users have families. So we like to see our families enjoy days out at theme parks as much as anyone else does.
- Lots of wheelchair users can go on roller coasters and love them (I know I certainly do)
- Theme parks have more to offer than just roller coasters
-
-
I liken it to when I was told that “theme parks don’t need to be accessible because people in wheelchairs can’t go on rollercoasters.”
So you see the problem when a non-wheelchair user tries to make a decision about what a wheelchair user might want to do in life. It really isn’t for able bodied people to make these decisions on behalf of all people with disabilities. The same as it is not for me to decide if a blind person should want to access my website about running a sewing business.
It’s not my decision to make.
So when I saw there was an event coming up called Festival of Accessibility, I knew it would be good to attend. It’s happening today and I’ve already sat in on a couple of sessions and heard people speak.
One of my aims is to make my website more accessible to those with visual impairments. So I am particularly keen to find out more about what makes a website an enjoyable experience for someone who is blind, rather than an ordeal that they would rather not have to endure.
Already I have learned a bit about what it is like for a blind person using a screen reader to try and navigate a mobile website to book a flight. It was quite painful to watch as I realised how difficult it is to navigate a website that hasn’t been designed with inclusivity in mind. You can watch the video about their experience here on the AbilityNet website.
“It is not for me, or anyone else, to determine if a person with a specific disability should need to access our businesses.”
If you are thinking that accessibility doesn’t apply to you, I hope that this article will help you see how important it is to make your business accessible to all, regardless of your preconceived ideas about why a person with disabilities would want to access your products and services, read your content on social media or access your website.
Everyone deserves to be considered and included in everything that we do. Try and think about it in terms of inclusivity, rather than accessibility. Take the focus off being accessible for specific disabilities and start thinking about how to be as inclusive as possible for everyone.
Accessibility isn’t just for people with disabilities. It doesn’t matter why someone needs to access your website, but it matters that they are able to.
Accessibility isn’t just for people with disabilities. It doesn’t matter why someone needs to access your website, but it matters that they are able to. There are lots of reasons why someone might struggle to read the text on your website or your social media posts. Maybe your text is too small or perhaps you chose colours that make it hard to read. Even the images you post might not be conveying the topic you are posting about very easily. So think about ways of making your content more inclusive to all.
I’m looking forward to taking part in the rest of today’s session at the Festival of Accessibility and hope to be able to share some tips with you soon about how you can be more inclusive in your content.
I hope you found this blog helpful and feel like it’s worth investing in your business to make it more inclusive and accessible for all. If you would like to hear more about the work I am doing with my business, you can sign up for my emails below. I don’t send emails that often and you can unsubscribe at any time if they are not for you.
