You should understand the importance of investing in accessibility and ensuring that your organization has the necessary tools, time, and expertise to make your digital content truly inclusive.
Why allocating resources for accessibility is essential
Allocating resources for accessibility is critical for several reasons:
- Legal compliance: Many countries have laws and regulations, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the U.S. and the Equality Act in the U.K., that require digital content to be accessible. Failing to comply can result in legal action, fines, and reputational damage. Investing in accessibility helps ensure that your organization meets these legal obligations.
- Inclusive user experience: Accessibility is fundamental to providing a positive user experience for all. By investing in accessibility, you ensure that your website is usable by everyone, including people with disabilities, which can increase customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Broader audience reach: Approximately 15% of the global population lives with some form of disability. By making your website accessible, you open your services to a larger audience, potentially increasing your customer base and revenue.
- Corporate social responsibility: Allocating resources for accessibility demonstrates your organization’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. It shows that you value all users and are dedicated to providing equal access to information and services.
- Sustainable accessibility: Accessibility is not a one-time fix; it requires ongoing attention. Allocating resources ensures that your organization can maintain and improve accessibility over time, keeping up with evolving standards and user needs.
Key areas to allocate resources for accessibility
To ensure that your website is accessible, you need to allocate resources across several key areas. Here’s how to do it effectively:
1. Invest in accessibility tools and technology
The right tools and technology are essential for identifying and fixing accessibility issues on your website.
- Accessibility evaluation tools: Invest in tools that can automatically scan your website for accessibility issues and provide actionable recommendations. Tools like the Silktide platform allow you to monitor your website’s accessibility score, identify problems, and track progress over time.
- Assistive technology testing: Ensure that your team has access to assistive technologies, such as screen readers, magnification software, and keyboard navigation tools. Testing your website with these tools is critical for understanding how users with disabilities experience your content.
- Development and design tools: Provide your development and design teams with software and resources that support accessible design practices, such as color contrast checkers, accessible template libraries, and coding frameworks that prioritize accessibility.
2. Allocate time for accessibility in project schedules
Time is a crucial resource that must be allocated for accessibility at every stage of a project.
- Incorporate accessibility from the start: Make accessibility a fundamental part of your project planning process. Ensure that sufficient time is allocated for accessibility considerations during the design, development, and testing phases.
- Regular accessibility audits: Schedule regular accessibility audits to assess your website’s compliance with accessibility standards. These audits should be part of your ongoing website maintenance routine.
- Time for training and education: Allocate time for your team to participate in accessibility training and workshops. This ensures that they stay informed about best practices and emerging trends in accessibility.
3. Invest in accessibility training and expertise
Knowledge and expertise are critical for achieving and maintaining accessibility.
- Accessibility training: Provide regular training for your content creators, designers, developers, and other relevant team members. Training should cover key accessibility principles, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), as well as practical techniques for implementing accessible design and content.
- Hire or consult accessibility experts: If your team lacks in-house accessibility expertise, consider hiring accessibility specialists or consulting with external experts. These professionals can provide guidance on complex accessibility issues, conduct audits, and offer strategic advice on improving your website’s accessibility.
- Cross-Training: Encourage cross-training among team members to ensure that everyone has a basic understanding of accessibility. This fosters a culture of accessibility and ensures that it is considered in every aspect of your digital projects.
4. Budget for accessibility enhancements
Financial resources must be allocated to support accessibility initiatives.
- Budget for accessibility improvements: Set aside a specific budget for accessibility improvements, such as updating your website to meet the latest accessibility standards, investing in new tools, or hiring accessibility experts.
- Ongoing accessibility maintenance: Accessibility is an ongoing commitment, so ensure that your budget includes provisions for regular updates, audits, and training to maintain and enhance your website’s accessibility over time.
- Accessibility in procurement: When procuring new software, platforms, or services, include accessibility as a key criterion in your decision-making process. Ensure that any third-party products or services you use meet accessibility standards.
5. Provide support for accessibility implementation
Implementing accessibility improvements requires support from leadership and across the organization.
- Leadership support: As a senior leader, your support is crucial for the success of accessibility initiatives. Champion accessibility within your organization and allocate the necessary resources to ensure it is prioritized.
- Cross-functional collaboration: Encourage collaboration between different departments, including design, development, content creation, and customer support. Accessibility requires a team effort, and all departments should have the resources they need to contribute.
- Accessibility goals and accountability: Set clear accessibility goals and hold teams accountable for achieving them. Regularly review progress and adjust resources as needed to ensure that accessibility remains a top priority.
How to justify accessibility resource allocation to stakeholders
Convincing stakeholders to allocate resources for accessibility may require building a strong business case. Here’s how to do it:
1. Highlight legal and financial risks
Explain the legal risks associated with non-compliance with accessibility standards, including potential lawsuits, fines, and damage to your organization’s reputation.
- Case studies: Provide examples of organizations that have faced legal action due to inaccessible websites. Highlight the financial and reputational costs they incurred.
- Risk mitigation: Emphasize that investing in accessibility is a proactive measure that reduces legal risks and protects the organization from potential penalties.
2. Demonstrate the ROI of accessibility
Show how accessibility can positively impact your bottom line by reaching a broader audience and improving user satisfaction.
- Market reach: Highlight the fact that accessible websites can reach a wider audience, including people with disabilities, elderly users, and those with temporary impairments. This can lead to increased traffic, conversions, and customer loyalty.
- Enhanced user experience: Explain how accessibility improvements often enhance the overall user experience, leading to higher customer satisfaction, lower bounce rates, and better engagement.
3. Align accessibility with corporate values
Position accessibility as a key component of your organization’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Corporate social responsibility: Frame accessibility as an integral part of your organization’s CSR efforts. Show how it aligns with your values and demonstrates your commitment to creating an inclusive environment for all users.
- Brand reputation: Explain how being known as an accessible and inclusive brand can enhance your organization’s reputation, attract a more diverse customer base, and strengthen customer loyalty.
Allocating resources for accessibility is essential for creating a digital environment that is inclusive, user-friendly, and legally compliant. As a web manager or senior leader, your role in championing accessibility and ensuring that your organization has the necessary tools, time, and expertise is critical to success.
By investing in accessibility tools, training, and ongoing support, you set your organization on a path to create a more inclusive and welcoming online experience for all users.