When people think about accessibility, they often picture major renovations, big budgets, or long timelines. And while long-term planning is important, the truth is you don’t have to wait to start being more accessible.
In fact, there are simple, meaningful things you can do today that will make a real difference for people with disabilities, and many of them take minutes, not months.
At A Life Worth Living, we believe accessibility starts with awareness and grows through action. So, here’s a list of practical, human-centred tips to help you make your space, service, or communication more inclusive right now.
Clear your pathways
Take a quick walk through your physical space. Are aisles wide enough for someone using a wheelchair or walker? Are there objects, boxes, or displays blocking the way?
Cluttered spaces aren’t just inconvenient; they can be completely inaccessible. Rearranging furniture or removing obstacles is an easy win that helps everyone move more freely and safely.
Use plain language
Whether it’s on your website, signs, forms, or brochures, aim to make your language clear, simple, and jargon-free. Avoid overly technical or complex words when plain ones will do.
Plain language helps people with cognitive disabilities, non-native speakers, and anyone who just wants to understand you better. And let’s be honest, don’t we all want that?
Add image descriptions on social media
Posting a photo or graphic? Add a brief image description (also called “alt text”) in the caption or use the platform’s alt text feature.
This makes your content accessible to people who use screen readers, especially those with vision loss—and it takes just a few extra seconds.
Example: “A golden retriever lying on a sunny porch with a tennis ball between its paws.”
Offer multiple ways to contact you
Not everyone can or wants to use the phone. Others may struggle with online forms. Offering multiple contact options (like email, text, in-person, or live chat) gives people the flexibility to choose what works best for them.
It’s a small gesture that shows respect and makes your service more accessible to a wider audience.
Add captions to videos
If you’re sharing video content, make sure it includes captions. Captions support people who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as people watching in noisy (or quiet!) environments.
Many platforms now offer automatic captions, but reviewing and editing them for accuracy is key. It’s a simple step that opens your message to so many more people.
Train your team on inclusive customer service
You don’t need to overhaul your whole training program to start making a difference. Even a quick conversation with your team about treating all customers with dignity, offering assistance respectfully, and never making assumptions can go a long way.
Better yet, invite someone with lived experience of disability to share their perspective, it makes it real.
Check your contrast
That grey-on-light-grey menu might look sleek, but can everyone read it?
High contrast between text and background improves readability for people with low vision or colour blindness and, honestly, for everyone else, too. Tools like the WebAIM contrast checker make it easy to assess and adjust.
Listen and learn
The best way to improve accessibility? Ask.
Invite feedback from customers, employees, and community members with disabilities. Be open to learning, and when someone points out a barrier, thank them. They’ve just given you a gift: the chance to do better.
Accessibility starts with intention
Making your business or organization more accessible doesn’t require perfection—it just requires care. The small steps you take today may be the reason someone feels welcome, included, or safe tomorrow.
So, pick one thing from this list and start there. Then, pick another. Keep going. Accessibility is a journey, not a destination, and every step you take matters.
Because, in the end, being accessible isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about creating a world where everyone belongs.