Why Web Accessibility Matters (For Business)

Business nowadays are constantly looking for ways to stand out, striving to enhance their online presence and engage more customers. However, an essential aspect that often gets overlooked in the pursuit of a positive user experience is web accessibility.

Making sure your company website is accessible to everyone— regardless of their abilities, age, device, or circumstances— not only enhances the experience for users but also serves as a wise business strategy. For example, by providing a better user experience, you can improve SEO rankings, which in turn attracts a broader and more diverse audience.

Accessibility is Good for Business

An inclusive and innovative environment created by businesses that implement web accessibility will strengthen the businesses’ position in the digital world, reaching more people with positive brand image, here’s why:

Accessibility Drives Innovation

Web accessibility fosters innovation by removing barriers, focusing more on usability and inclusion that benefits everyone, for example:

• Accessible Design: provides flexible ways for users to interact with websites because mobile-friendly, standard-compliant, and responsive websites are useful for people with and without disabilities.
• Voiceover Technology: like Apple’s VoiceOver screen reader was initially developed for blind users and now evolved into a widely adopted voice assistants like Siri and Alexa.

Enhancing Brand Reputation

Businesses that genuinely commit to implement accessibility enhance their brand perception as it demonstrates that they have a genuine sense of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Organizations like Barclays and Microsoft have demonstrated how accessibility enhances brand loyalty and attracts a diverse customer base:

• Barclays: embeds accessibility into their digital services, fostering an inclusive culture and providing tailored services that help everyone to work, bank, and live their lives.
• Microsoft: once faced a long advocacy and criticism by accessibility advocates, now earned praise and loyalty in the community of people with disabilities, after they made a real commitment to accessibility, demonstrated by genuine engagement with stakeholders of all abilities.

Expanding Market Reach

With nearly 1 billion people worldwide living with disabilities and an extended market of 2.3 billion individuals, the market of people with disabilities expected to be $7 trillion globally:

• Approximately 15% of the world's population, or at least one billion people, have a recognized disability.
• As populations age, many more individuals acquire disabilities, even if they don't explicitly identify as having a disability.
• In countries where life expectancy exceeds 70 years, people spend an average of 11.5% of their lifespan living with a disability.
• The extended global market, including people with disabilities and their immediate circles, is estimated at 2.3 billion individuals, controlling an additional $6.9 trillion in annual disposable income.

Integrating accessibility into business practices not only taps into this significant market but also benefits:

• Older adults with age-related disabilities.
• Temporary disabilities (e.g., a broken arm or lost glasses).
• Situational challenges like poor lighting or noisy environments.

Minimizing Legal Risks

Ignoring web accessibility can expose businesses to significant legal risks as it has become a legal requirement because there are significant penalties for non-compliance, especially in the U.S. and European Union.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the United States

Signed into law on July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) marked the beginning of full inclusion for Americans with disabilities. It ensures everyone has the same rights and opportunities, prohibiting discrimination against people in all areas, such as jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open for public. There are 5 titles of ADA, each addressing different aspects of discrimination:

• Employment.
• State and local government.
• Public accommodations.
• Telecommunications.
• Miscellaneous provisions.

A critical aspect of the ADA is its requirement for "places of public accommodation," which includes websites, to be accessible to all individuals, meaning non-compliance can lead to lawsuits with penalties reaching up to $75,000 for the first violation and $150,000 for subsequent violations, in addition to incurring legal fees and settlement costs.

Furthermore, under Section 508, federal agencies and vendors who sell digital products to federal agencies are obligated to comply with the WCAG 2.0 AA standards, and failure to meet these standards could result in the loss of funding or contracts.

European Accessibility Act (EAA) in the European Union

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) mandates accessibility compliance for a broad range of products and services, including e-commerce websites, mobile apps, and digital technologies, to ensure inclusivity for people with disabilities across the European Union (EU). Originally proposed into law in 2011, passed in 2019, adopted by the EU nations in 2022, and effective starting on June 28, 2025, here is the list of digital assets and technologies that must follow the rules:

• E-commerce: accessibility for websites, apps, and public accessibility statements.
• Retail and Hospitality: point-of-sale devices, kiosks, and self-service technologies.
• Technology: accessibility for computers, mobile devices, and associated packaging and instructions.
• Transportation: websites, mobile apps, ticketing systems, and real-time travel information.
• Finance: banking websites, mobile apps, ATMs, and self-service machines.
• Media and Communication: streaming services, telephony equipment, and content delivery systems.
• B2B/B2G Companies: businesses selling technology must ensure compliance to meet procurement demands.

Non-compliance can lead to lawsuits with penalties reaching up to €100,000, depending on member state enforcement and severity of non-compliance. However, certain products and content, including some time-based media or third-party content, are exempt from these requirements.

Embracing web accessibility is not just a moral obligation but a strategic business advantage. By ensuring your website is accessible to everyone, your business can foster innovation, enhance brand reputation, expand market reach, and minimize legal risks. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, prioritizing accessibility will position your company as a leader in inclusivity and innovation, ultimately benefiting both your business and society as a whole.

Achieving Web Accessibility with AccessTime

At AccessTime, we understand the importance of web accessibility and are dedicated to helping businesses implement these crucial changes. businesses can confidently navigate the complexities of web accessibility, ensuring their websites are inclusive, legally compliant, and optimized for all users. Let us help you turn accessibility into a strategic advantage, enhancing your brand's reputation and market reach while minimizing legal risks. Together, we can create a digital world that is accessible to everyone.