Business Case for Accessibility
How many people have disabilities?
About 20% of the world's population (500 to 750 million people) has a disability. Of this number, 10 percent have severe disabilities.
What is the spending power of people with disabilities?
According to U.S Census reports, Americans with disabilities have a combined annual income of nearly $700 billion. Of that total, $175 billion is thought to be discretionary income.
Who buys accessible products?
By enhancing the accessibility of your products, you will increase their appeal for:
- Seniors: Statistics show that the likelihood of disability increases as people age. Older individuals also tend to have the descressionary income to purchase a greater number of incidental items.
- Children: Well-designed products are easier for children to use, and children are being exposed to technology at earlier and earlier ages.
- Families of people with disabilities:
1 in 5 families has a member with a disability. These families will be more likely to purchase products that can be used effectively by everyone in the household.
- Professionals who serve people with disabilities: Occupational therapists, rehabilitation and biomedical engineers and assistive technologists recommend accessible products to their clients every day.
- Organizations that serve people with disabilities: Many hospitals, private and public rehabilitation agencies, academic institutions, and state Departments of Rehabilitation purchase a variety of accessible products as part of technology loan programs, or for instructional and demonstration purposes. Technologies are also purchased for clients if they can support their educational and vocational goals.
- Organizations that deal with accessibility and disability issues: Advocacy groups, social justice groups, and human rights watchdogs can give accessible products excellent media exposure--increasing sales and improving the corporate image of organizations that devote resources to such efforts.
- Organizations that train people with disabilities to use assistive devices: These venders are more likely to purchase your product if it functions well with a range of assistive technologies.
- Organizations that choose products and services according to some criterion of accessibility for people with disabilities: Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires all federally funded agencies to purchase accessible products and services. These public sector customers spend approximately $34 billion on electronic and information technology each year.
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