5 reasons why accessibility is important
1. Avoid potential accessibility lawsuits
A11y or Accessibility has increased recognition, initiated by the increased number of lawsuits. This is why the main concern for most companies is the fear that they will be hit with a lawsuit. But waiting for this to happen is a big gamble.
The amount of money spent to get make your website accessible is significantly less than the fallout of a potential lawsuit.
Let’s take a look at some numbers. If you do a quick Google you find out that:
- Making your website accessible costs between $3,000 to $50,000
Admittedly, that’s not cheap. However, …
- An Accessibility lawsuit will cost you between $10,000 to $350,000
Making your website WCAG-compliant is a bargain by comparison!
Ok, but will I get hit with an accessibility lawsuit?
Don’t think it will happen to you? Here’s Adatitleiii.com with the data. ADA Title II Accessibility lawsuits in federal courts have increased significantly. This chart represents the number of lawsuits from 2017 to 2022. The number of lawsuits is projected to increase in the coming years.
ADA lawsuits & states
The number of lawsuits is worse in some states. Once again, Adatitleiii.com provides the information you need. Reviewing the number of lawsuits in 2022, New York had the most lawsuits (totaling 2,560).
NOTE: While NY law has a cap on the maximum reward a plaintiff can receive in a settlement, CA does not. This makes CA companies more vulnerable to legal attacks
2. Positive Public Relations
A company’s reputation can increase or decrease its profits.
Users with disabilities are known to promote and show loyalty to companies that account for their needs.
Of course, that means the opposite is also true. This close-knit community will share lists of websites that are not accessible and are to be avoided.
3. Improved Usability
A11Y goal = make products, services, and environments that are more accessible to users with disabilities.
Usability goal = improve a product or service’s ease of use and user experience.
Usability and accessibility are in sync with their goals, often guiding a team in the same direction.
4. Improved SEO
SEO & Accessibility share many of the same best practices, including:
- Responsive websites
- Quick page loads
- Page title tags
- Heading structure
- Text alternatives
- Site map/Navigation
Improve your web ranking!
5. Financial
Increasing profits should be the main driving force for companies to pursue web accessibility.
Globally, WCAG compliance reaches 2.3 billion people (when you include the family and close friends of individuals with disabilities) who have significant disposable income.
…in the U.S. alone, people with disabilities control an estimated $544 billion in annual disposable income.
Gaudiano, P. (2016, October 31). Richard Branson Supports People With Disabilities — Here Are Six Ways You Can Do It, Too. Forbes.
A11y opens you up to an untapped market!
Conclusion
The video below features Mr. Burns from Simpson’s show asking: “Are you saying my money’s all gone?” His employees have a chart showing how much money he’s lost.
A11Y has many positives and one VERY expensive negative. Act now to protect your business.
