Better for People, Better for Business
Many small business owners assume that digital accessibility is something only large corporations need to worry about, or that it's expensive, technical, and full of rules they'll never understand.
Others think that accessibility simply means the building needs to have a wheelchair ramp and don't realise that accessibility is more than physical access. It also includes how people experience and interact with your website, documents, publications and information online.
Accessibility when it comes to your marketing is about making it easier for more people to use, understand, and engage with your business. This is where Accessible Design comes into your visual marketing and business communications.
Accessible design matters
Accessible design means creating websites, documents, publications, branding, and marketing materials that can be used by people with a wide range of abilities.
That includes people who:
Have low vision or colour blindness
Use screen readers
Have hearing loss
Experience dyslexia or other learning differences
Have mobility challenges that make using a mouse difficult
Are older and finding technology harder to use than it used to be
But accessibility isn't only for people with disabilities. Think about someone trying to read your website on their phone in bright sunlight. Or a tired parent scrolling social media late at night. Or someone whose first language isn't English. Good accessible design is better for everybody.
Why businesses should care
Accessibility is about making sure more people can genuinely use, understand, and enjoy what you create.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, around 1 in 6 people are disabled (stats.govt.nz) and a large portion of them experience barriers when accessing information digitally. This number doesn't include people who have a temporary disability like and injury or fatigue, or a situational disability because of the device or environment they’re in at the time.
When your website is easy to navigate, people don’t have to struggle to find what they need.
When your documents and publications are easy to read and follow, people feel included rather than excluded.
When your branding is clear, consistent, and legible, it builds trust and makes your business feel more approachable.
Accessibility also quietly supports something every business cares about: reputation and credibility. When people can easily interact with your business, it sends a message that you’re thoughtful, professional, and considerate of your audience’s experience.
At its heart, accessibility is about removing barriers — not just for “some” people, but for more people, in more situations. And when that happens, everything becomes a little easier to understand, connect with, and engage in.
Accessibility is about people
At its heart, accessible design is about inclusion.
It's about recognising that your audience isn't made up of identical people using identical devices in identical situations.
The easier you make it for people to access your information, understand your message, and engage with your business, the more people you'll reach.
And that's good for everyone.
If you're planning a new website, refreshing your branding, or creating business documents and marketing materials, accessibility doesn't have to be overwhelming. With the right support, it can be a natural part of creating design that works for more people.
Find out more
Curious to see how you and your business rate for accessibility? If you’re not sure how accessible your own website or documents are right now, I’ve put together a simple quiz to help you get a clearer picture. It's a quick way to see where things are working well and where there might be a few easy improvements to make things better for your audience. Take the accessibility quiz.
Accessibility is a real focus of my design work, so if you'd like to chat about how I can help your business's marketing and communication be more accessible, contact me.
