The Importance of Incorporating Design for Accessibility in User Experiences
In today's digital age, businesses must ensure that their products and services are accessible to all users. This is particularly important when considering the diverse range of devices and user abilities that exist.
Neglecting accessibility can lead to a significant loss of potential customers. According to various studies, approximately 14% of the global population identifies as having a disability, which includes vision, hearing, mobility, and cognitive impairments [3][4]. If products or websites are not designed with accessibility in mind, this entire segment may be excluded from purchasing or fully engaging with the business.
Beyond disabilities, other factors such as color blindness, the aging population, and internet connectivity issues expand the number of people facing barriers to using inaccessible products or services. For instance, color blindness affects approximately 8% of men and 0.5% of women [3], potentially impacting user experience if color is the sole method of conveying information. The aging population faces declining vision, hearing, and motor skills, so accessible design expands usability to older adults, a growing market segment [4]. Poor internet connectivity can hinder user experience, especially when accessibility tools add extra load or require real-time interaction; designing with offline or low-bandwidth modes can reduce friction here.
The combined effect means businesses ignoring accessibility risk missing out on up to 1 in 7 customers with disabilities alone [3][4], an additional customer base among the aging population and those with color blindness or connectivity challenges, and legal risk and costs related to non-compliance with accessibility laws such as the ADA [3][5]. Thousands of lawsuits have been filed primarily against inaccessible websites, which can lead to costly settlements and harm to reputation [3][5].
Moreover, if a business does not cater to people with accessibility needs, they risk losing both the business of those individuals and the business of the other 50% of their audience due to their friends, family, colleagues, etc. making a switch.
Testing for image rendering issues on smartphones and PDAs is necessary before releasing a product. Smartphones and PDAs often do not support image rendering properly, which can lead to a poor user experience for a significant portion of the population [6]. Organizations for the blind estimate that 4% or more of a population may have vision impairments [2], further emphasizing the need for accessible image design.
In conclusion, neglecting accessibility can directly translate to losing at least 14% of potential customers, and realistically more when including other factors. This lost revenue can be significant in competitive markets, and complying with accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG 2.1 AA) both expands market reach and reduces legal risks [3][5]. By prioritizing accessibility, businesses can ensure they are catering to a wider audience and reducing potential legal and reputational risks.
References:
[1] Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/
[2] American Foundation for the Blind. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.afb.org/
[3] World Health Organization. (2011). World Report on Disability. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/disabilities/world_report/2011/en/
[4] Pew Research Center. (2014). The aging of the world's population. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/04/09/the-aging-of-the-worlds-population/
[5] National Federation of the Blind. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nfb.org/
[6] Smartphone and PDA image rendering issues. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.w3.org/TR/mobile-bp/#media-queries-and-images
