Send us a text

Are you unwittingly turning away potential customers because of an inaccessible website? Digital marketing expert Elizabeth Orley shares her personal awakening to the importance of accessibility after breaking her arm and suddenly finding herself unable to use a computer mouse with her dominant hand. This eye-opening experience transformed her understanding of how digital spaces can either welcome or exclude users based on their abilities.
Contrary to popular belief, digital accessibility isn't just about accommodating people with permanent disabilities. It benefits anyone who might be experiencing temporary limitations, aging-related changes in dexterity, or even someone who's simply forgotten their reading glasses. As Orley points out, "If we're not designing for everybody, then what are we doing?"
Beyond the ethical imperative, there are compelling business reasons to prioritize accessibility. The same elements that make your website accessible to screen readers—like proper heading structure and descriptive alt text—also improve your SEO performance. Google's algorithms crawl websites similarly to how accessibility tools do, making accessibility and search visibility two sides of the same coin.
Small business owners should be particularly concerned about the legal risks of inaccessible websites. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires digital spaces to be accessible, and lawyers are increasingly targeting non-compliant sites. Even if your business operates from a state without strict accessibility laws, you can be sued by customers from California or New York if you sell to those markets. With settlements averaging $15,000-$20,000 (not including remediation costs), accessibility isn't just good practice—it's protection against potentially devastating legal expenses.
Ready to make your digital presence more accessible? Start by using free tools like WAVE (wave.webaim.org) or Google's Page Speed tool to evaluate your current compliance. For social media, ensure all information appears in your post text rather than only in graphics, and always add descriptive alt text to images. When posting videos, manually review auto-generated captions for accuracy, knowing that 80% of videos are watched with no sound.
Take the first step toward digital accessibility today. Your customers—present and future—will thank you for it.

🎙️ Connect with Chrissy Myers and discover how resilience, expertise, and community can transform your world:

🔗 Follow Chrissy on LinkedIn for behind-the-scenes insights, leadership tips, and updates on her journey as the CEO of two thriving businesses.

📘 Grab your copy of 'Reluctantly Resilient' to learn how Chrissy turned challenges into opportunities and how you can do the same in your life and business.

🤝 Explore Clarity HR and discover how Chrissy’s team simplifies HR for small businesses, giving you peace of mind to focus on what matters most.

💼 Visit AUI to see how Chrissy's employee benefits expertise can help you build a healthier, happier workforce.