IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Image of icons of all the different assistive technologies and icons to demonstrate types of disabilities.

EMBRACE INCLUSIVENESS

What is a disability?  It will mean something different to everyone.  It can affect a person’s capacity to communicate, interact with others, physically move, learn, and/or get around independently.  However, it is sometimes recognized to inspire others, achieve “regardless” or show differences between people.  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over a billion people, about 15% of the world’s population, have some form of disability (WHO, 2021).[1]  Accessibility and inclusion play a role and broadens opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in every aspect of their life to the fullest extent possible.

web-accessibility-what-is-it
Closed Caption: What is Accessibility and How it Works for Everyone

In addition to a well-designed physical space, accessibility and inclusion must also be at the forefront for products and services.  Is your website accessibility compliant? Is the structure and content accessible to people with visible and invisible disabilities?  The disability market touches 53% of consumers and represents a huge opportunity for business controlling more than $366.5 billion. Globally, this market opportunity is more than $10 trillion (Rich Donovan, Special to the Globe and Mail, 2017).[2]


Can people receive your services and/or buy products with physical/motor, visual, audio, mental, neurological and/or cognitive challenges?  Is it easy to navigate and operate with assistive tools (e.g. screen reader), use clear and concise language, and offer functionality that is easy to understand and access with safety and inclusiveness?  Is it efficient enough to work across platforms, browsers and devices?  Organizations and businesses of all sizes that integrate web accessibility are more likely to build attraction, be innovative, robust, inclusive enterprises that will have global impact — it maximizes the capacity to connect with the world of opportunities and profit, provides equal access, and equal opportunity to all.


HOW BEST DO YOU LEARN?

Visually?  Are you an auditory learner?  Do you learn best in an interactive environment, hands-on, and/or experience?  It is extremely important to remember that everyone learns best in different ways — not a single, one-size-fits-all solution.  The focus should always be to understand the unique needs and help people learn with their different abilities and NOT the disability.

A couple of happy interracial friends using sign language to communicate while sitting on a sofa.
Caucasion man using both computer and mobile phone having virtual session with 3 participants while sharing screen.
Young Asian girl smiling while sitting in wheelchair at a desk using a laptop.
A black gentleman standing in front of flip chart speaking to elderly students with microphone in one hand and guide cane in the other.
Black woman working from home having group videoconference using tablet and portable keyboard.

Closed Caption: Collage of different ways of learning

All these questions lead to the required accessibility standards and guidelines which consist of a variety of accessibility laws. 

LEGISLATION

There are global, country-specific, and/or provincial accessibility legislations. This includes the:

  • Accessible Canada Act, 2019 (Bill C-81),
  • Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA, 2005),
  • Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1 AA),
  • Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR)
  • Universal Design for Learning 2.0 (UDL 2.0),
  • Accessibility for Manitobans Act, 2013
  • User Agent Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (UAAG 2.0),
  • Authoring Tools Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (ATAG 2.0),
  • Section 508, and the
  • Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990 (ADA, 1990).   

This is to ensure that everyone can access your services.

Living with a disability can be a challenge to some…but, ensuring your products and services are accessible, inclusive, and compliant just makes good business sense! We help companies serve the untapped target market of people with disabilities as a competitive advantage and the community as a Diversity and Inclusion Champion.

Our Key Accessibility Services

  • Integration of Accessibility Legislation (AODA, 2005, WCAG 2.1, Bill C-81) for Products and Services
  • Accessibility Documentation Remediation
  • Digital Accessibility
  • Accessibility-compliant Curriculum Development
  • Accessibility-compliant Online Course Development
  • Workshops and Webinars (virtual and in-person)
  • Web Accessibility Assessment

The simple principles… accommodate, hire, respect and design for the widest range of people will benefit EVERYONE.  The results and impact(s) are immeasurably successful with satisfied customers, no costly retrofits, corporate responsibility, dedicated employees, happy users, community, and return on investment!

Our motivated goal is to be a trailblazer of spreading accessibility knowledge in a variety of dynamic ways, help maximize inclusion of people with disabilities in the workforce, change mindsets, build a supportive learning community, and ensure all training is well prepared for a lifetime of inclusion and learning from the very start.  Let’s give all individuals equal opportunities to learn…with ACCESS, COMFORT, SAFETY, and JOY!

We would be happy to help.  Contact us to assess and learn how we can assist you at info@embrace2learn.com.


REFERENCES:

  1. Disability and Health Fact Sheet. World Health Organization, 2021.
  2. Exploring a $55-billion Untapped Market. The Globe and Mail, 2017.
  3. Inclusive Design and the Duty to Accommodate Fact Sheet. Ontario Human Rights Commission, n.d.

See also…
Customized Training
Motivational Speaking
Learning Support Services