Most of us already know that accessibility is crucial for people with disabilities to lead successful lives. Improved access is about more than just social responsibility, though — it’s also a matter of economic importance. With 30% of Canadians (roughly 9 million adults) stating that accessibility is a consideration when they’re thinking about which places they frequent, a set of stairs can be a barrier to making a profit. If an individual can’t enter a building, how are they supposed to work or shop there?
Recent data1 shows that 24% of Canadians have a mobility, vision, or hearing disability or challenge, and as our population ages, almost half are helping someone in their life with a disability or challenge. This is a reality businesses can’t afford to ignore since spending by people who identify as having a physical disability is anticipated to grow at three times the pace of the overall population.
Many accessibility solutions are simple, such as visible fire alarms, widened hallways and doorways, or automatic doors. These small but meaningful changes have a powerful impact — a Conference Board of Canada report confirms that improving accessibility will increase our country’s GDP by $16.8 billion. A business plan that empowers people and boosts our economy? Count us in.
To learn how accessible your business is or to book a rating, visit rickhansen.com/RHFAC.
