The help of an accessibility professional can save money. Let's face it. Most designers and marketers don't know much about accessibility. They may know your website should follow accessibility laws or perhaps that you should add alternative text (also known as ALT text) to your images. But there is so much more to being accessible and inclusive in your design, marketing and communications. Making sure you are doing the right things is not always clear.
 

To be honest, I didn't know about accessibility either until disability became almost the sole focus in my life. I was a graphic designer for nearly 20 years before I knew what an Alt tag was. But after I understood what access and inclusion really meant, I couldn't work on projects that ignored their importance. It just was not right.
 

Everyone deserves access. We don't construct buildings anymore without ramps or elevators. We shouldn't be creating designs and marketing materials without accessibility features, either.
 

How much does it cost to make everything accessible?

The cost of adding accessibility to your projects will depend on several factors, such as:

• the current state of your marketing materials
• the level of accessibility you want to achieve
• the resources you have available.

Here are some potential costs to consider:

Audit and assessment

You may need to hire a professional to audit your website or marketing materials to determine how accessible they are. This work could cost anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the scope and complexity of the audit.
 

Design and development

Depending on the audit results, you may need to redesign or redevelop your website or marketing materials to meet accessibility standards. This work could require additional resources, such as hiring a designer or developer to make the necessary changes.
 

Training

You may need to invest in training for your team to ensure they understand accessibility best practices and how to implement them in your marketing materials.
 

Assistive technology

You may want to invest in assistive technology, such as screen readers or other tools, to ensure your marketing materials are accessible to users with disabilities. You can also hire people using these assistive devices to give you the feedback you need.
 

Overall, the cost of making your marketing accessible can vary widely depending on the changes you need to make. Creating accessible marketing can have significant benefits:

• You will expand your reach to a larger audience.
• You will improve the user experience for all your audiences.
• You will show your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• You will be following accessibility-related laws.

 

Ultimately, the cost of making your marketing accessible and inclusive will depend on the specific changes your projects need. It will also depend on the resources you have available. It's worth considering the long-term benefits and potential return on investment when you think about your next steps in accessibility.
 

It doesn't have to be hard!

Hiring an agency that builds accessibility and inclusive practices into your design, marketing and communications will help you avoid many costs.

Everything we do at Accessibrand is well thought out, tested and created by people with lived disability experiences. If you have an in-house creative team, we can support them and offer training, too.
 

Contact Accessibrand today to discuss the best options for you and your company. We are on a mission to make the world equitable for as many people as possible. We hope you will join us! Please reach out today to get started on your accessibility plans.