The Value of Accessibility Audits: Setting a Benchmark for Inclusive Spaces
by Garrett | August 1, 2023 | Included by Design
Image: From Daniel Ali
In today’s world, where inclusivity and accessibility are paramount, there’s a growing emphasis on ensuring spaces – both physical and digital – are accessible to all. Yet, many organizations still ponder the necessity of an accessibility audit and assessment. It’s easy to assume that if there haven’t been complaints or evident problems, then everything must be okay. However, this reactive approach can be problematic and costly in the long run.
Understanding Accessibility Audits & Assessments
Before diving into the benefits, let’s clarify what an accessibility audit entails. In essence, it’s a comprehensive assessment of a space or platform, examining how user-friendly and accessible it is for everyone, including people with disabilities. This detailed review uncovers potential barriers and offers recommendations to enhance accessibility.
Benefits of Conducting an Accessibility Audit & Assessment
Uncovering Hidden Barriers: Even with the best intentions, it’s easy to overlook potential accessibility barriers. These could range from doors that are too heavy to open, stairways without accompanying visual features, or even digital assets that aren’t friendly to screen readers. An audit shines light on these overlooked areas.
Financial & Legal Barriers: The elephant in the room. What do spaces HAVE to do. In Canada this is an evolving benefit with the ascension of the Accessible Canada Act. Proactive audits reduce the risk associated with these legislative barriers, ensuring compliance with upcoming standards and laws. The proactive approach can save significant amounts in potential fees, penalties and capital costs.
Enhancing Brand Image and Reputation: Inclusivity isn’t just a trend; it’s a societal shift. Organizations that prioritize accessibility are seen as forward-thinking and socially responsible. This positive brand image can lead to increased loyalty among customers and stakeholders.
Increase Market Reach: By making your space more accessible, you inherently cater to a larger audience. This includes not only individuals with disabilities but also the elderly, those with temporary impairments, families with young children who utilize strollers as well as the friends and family of these groups. In essence, an accessible space is a more marketable and profitable space.
The Power of Knowing Your Benchmark
It’s often said that you can’t improve what you don’t measure. This is where the concept of benchmarking comes into play in accessibility audits and assessments.
Establishing a Clear Starting Point: By understanding where you currently stand in terms of accessibility, you can set clear, tangible goals for improvement. It provides a roadmap for future renovations, upgrades, and enhancements.
Informed Decision Making: With a clear benchmark, organizations can make informed decisions on where to invest time, money, and resources. It eliminates guesswork, ensuring that every effort maximizes impact.
Monitoring Progress Over Time: Future audits can be compared with this benchmark, allowing organizations to monitor progress. This not only keeps accessibility goals on track but also continually emphasizes the importance of inclusivity.
Stakeholder Assurance: Stakeholders, be they customers, investors, or partners, gain assurance from clear benchmarks. It showcases an organization’s commitment to continuous improvement and provides transparency in its operations.
Accessibility audits aren’t just a tick on a compliance checklist; they’re an investment in a more inclusive, welcoming, and profitable future. Organizations can become empowered to make strategic decisions fostering inclusivity by understanding the current state of accessibility in a space. In a world that’s constantly striving for equal opportunity, knowing and improving upon your accessibility benchmark isn’t just beneficial – it’s essential.
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