As business leaders, we’re constantly seeking competitive advantages: better talent, stronger brand reputation, untapped markets. Yet many executives overlook one of the most powerful strategic opportunities available: accessibility.

We’re not simply discussing compliance or ticking boxes. We’re talking about removing barriers that prevent people from fully engaging with your organisation, whether they’re employees, customers, or stakeholders. And today, this matters more than you might think.

A Business Case You Can’t Ignore

Let’s start with the numbers. According to the World Health Organisation, over 1.3 billion people worldwide live with some form of disability. That’s approximately 16% of the global population, or one in every six people. This community represents a combined purchasing power estimated at $13 trillion annually. These aren’t niche demographics. They represent significant spending ability and talent pools that forward-thinking organisations are learning to engage effectively.

When your organisation isn’t accessible, you’re essentially telling millions of potential customers that their business doesn’t matter. You’re signalling to talented professionals that they can’t apply. That’s not just a missed opportunity. It’s a strategic blind spot that could be costing you more than you realise.

Accessible design benefits everyone. Curb cuts were designed for wheelchair users, but they also help parents with prams, travellers with luggage, and delivery personnel. Similarly, when you make your communications, spaces, and digital platforms accessible, you create better experiences for all users. It’s a rising tide that lifts all boats.

Beyond the Legal Imperative

The legal landscape is evolving. The Accessible Canada Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, European Accessibility Act, etc., are setting clear expectations for organisations. Non-compliance can result in significant penalties and reputational damage. But leading companies aren’t waiting for regulations to catch up; they’re recognising accessibility as a catalyst for innovation and a driver of competitive advantage.

Microsoft, for instance, has made accessibility central to their product development philosophy. Their Xbox Adaptive Controller wasn’t just good corporate citizenship. It opened an entirely new market segment and garnered extraordinary brand loyalty. That’s the power of inclusive thinking translating directly into business results.

Similarly, companies like Apple have discovered that features initially designed for users with disabilities, such as voice control and speech-to-text, have become mainstream tools that millions of people use daily. The innovation sparked by accessibility challenges often leads to breakthroughs that benefit everyone.

Where to Begin

The prospect of making your entire organisation accessible can feel overwhelming. The good news? You don’t need to transform everything overnight. Incremental progress is still progress. Start with these practical steps:

Audit your current state. Where are the barriers in your organisation? Look at your physical spaces, your digital properties, your communications, and your processes. Be honest about the gaps. This baseline assessment will help prioritise your efforts and measure your progress over time.

Engage with your people. Your employees and customers with disabilities are your best consultants. Create channels for them to share their experiences and insights. Listen to what they tell you. Their lived experience will reveal barriers and potential solutions you might never have considered.

Prioritise your communications. This is often the easiest place to start and can yield immediate results. Write in plain language. Ensure your documents are screen-reader friendly. Add captions to your videos. Use sufficient colour contrast in your designs. Make sure your website works with keyboard-only controls. These changes are relatively simple but profoundly impactful.

Train your teams. It isn’t the sole responsibility of your IT department or HR – invest in training that helps your people understand why accessibility matters and how to implement it in their daily work. When it becomes part of your organisational culture, accessibility becomes sustainable.

Build it into your processes. Retrofitting, rather than embedding accessibility into your operations from the outset can be costly. Include requirements in your procurement processes. Make it part of your project planning from day one. Incorporate it into your performance metrics. Make it business as usual rather than an afterthought.

The Talent Advantage

In today’s tight labour market, accessible workplaces have a significant recruiting edge. When you remove barriers to employment, you open a broader, more diverse talent pool. People with disabilities bring unique perspectives, problem-solving approaches, and resilience.

You also send a powerful message about your values – one that resonates with top talent across all demographics. Employees who see their organisation genuinely committed to inclusion are more engaged, more loyal, and more likely to become brand ambassadors. That’s invaluable in an era when company culture and reputation matter more than ever to both recruiting and retention.

The Customer Connection

Accessible experiences transform how you connect with customers. When people can easily access your products, services, and communications, they’re more likely to become advocates for your brand. Conversely, poor experiences don’t just lose individual transactions, they can damage your reputation in communities that share experiences widely. One person’s frustrations with an inaccessible website or product can reach thousands through social media. But positive experiences spread too, creating powerful word-of-mouth marketing among communities you might struggle to reach through traditional channels.

So, What’s Next?

Accessibility isn’t a project with a finish line. It’s an ongoing commitment to doing business better. As technology evolves and our understanding deepens, new opportunities and expectations will arise. Artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and other emerging technologies present both challenges and opportunities that we’re only beginning to understand.

The organisations that thrive will be those that embed accessibility into their DNA now. They’ll be the ones attracting the best talent, serving the broadest markets, and building the strongest reputations. They’ll be positioned to adapt as expectations evolve and new possibilities emerge.

The question isn’t whether your organisation can afford to prioritise accessibility. In today’s business environment, the real question is whether you can afford not to. The time to act is now. Every day you delay is another day of missed opportunities, untapped potential, and barriers that could be removed. Start small if you need to but start. Your future success may well depend on it.

About the Authors

Lisa Riemers is a communications strategist and accessibility advocate who helps organisations craft powerful, inclusive narratives that connect and inspire diverse audiences.

Matisse Hamel-Nelis is an award-winning Métis communications and digital accessibility consultant based in Toronto, specialising in helping organisations build inclusive digital experiences. Together, they are co-authors of Accessible Communications, a comprehensive guide to creating inclusive business communications.