Accessibility is no longer a “nice-to-have.” It’s a business essential.
When businesses make accessibility a core part of their operations, rather than an afterthought, they don’t just meet legal requirements; they create spaces where everyone can participate, contribute, and thrive. Whether you’re running a storefront, managing a team, or building a digital platform, accessibility isn’t just about ramps or captions. It’s about designing with everyone in mind.
Here are 10 reasons why your business should be embracing accessibility best practices right now:
1. It’s the Law
Let’s start with the obvious: in many places, including Ontario, accessibility is legally required. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) sets out specific standards businesses must follow, from customer service to employment practices. Failing to comply can lead to fines and reputational damage. But legal compliance should be the floor, not the ceiling.
2. 1 in 4 Canadians Live with a Disability
According to Statistics Canada, over 8 million Canadians aged 15 and older (more than 27%) identify as having a disability. That’s a massive customer base, talent pool, and community of potential partners your business could be excluding if accessibility isn’t prioritized.
3. Accessible Businesses Reach More Customers
Accessibility doesn’t just serve people with disabilities. It benefits seniors, parents with strollers, newcomers with language barriers, and people navigating temporary injuries. Whether it’s easy-to-read menus, step-free entrances, or inclusive websites, accessible design helps everyone engage with your brand.
4. Accessibility Boosts Your Brand Reputation
More and more consumers care about how businesses show up in the world. Companies known for their inclusive practices enjoy stronger brand loyalty, more positive reviews, and deeper community trust. Accessibility isn’t just good ethics, it’s good PR.
5. Inclusive Hiring Strengthens Teams
Accessibility also applies to your workforce. Hiring people with disabilities brings fresh perspectives, resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving skills to your team. Research shows that inclusive workplaces have higher employee engagement, lower turnover, and stronger collaboration.
6. Accessibility Fuels Innovation
When you design with diverse users in mind, you uncover better, more creative solutions for everyone. From curb cuts that help wheelchairs and suitcases, to closed captions that assist both D/deaf users and multitaskers, many innovations we use daily were born from accessible thinking.
7. Digital Inclusion Is Now a Business Must-Have
As the world becomes increasingly digital, your website, apps, and online platforms must be accessible. That includes proper contrast, keyboard navigation, alt text, and screen reader compatibility. If your site isn’t accessible, you’re leaving people and profits behind.
8. Accessibility Builds Loyalty
When people feel seen, respected, and welcomed, they keep coming back. Accessibility isn’t just about access; it’s about experience. A business that consistently removes barriers will earn the trust and loyalty of its community.
9. You’re Future-Proofing Your Business
Population trends indicate that aging and disability will become increasingly prevalent in the coming decades. Businesses that build accessibility into their DNA today will be better equipped to serve the customers and employees of tomorrow.
10. Because Everyone Deserves to Belong
At the heart of accessibility is a simple truth: people matter. And when we remove barriers, whether physical, digital, or attitudinal, we create communities where everyone can show up, be included, and belong. That’s the kind of world we should all want to build.
How ALWL Can Help
Not sure where to start? At A Life Worth Living, we offer online training through our Business Accessibility Toolkit (BAT), a growing collection of practical, lived-experience-driven courses that help businesses move from intention to action.
From accessible hiring and digital accessibility to inclusive customer service, our BAT courses help your team understand what accessibility entails and how to integrate it into everything you do.
Because when accessibility is part of your business strategy, everybody wins.