Accessible, inclusive communications benefit everyone

Earlier this year, the Department of Justice announced a new rule that will transform how we access information online. For the public sector in particular, the rule establishes a stricter standard on digital accessibility starting in 2026 and 2027.

Designed to strengthen online accessibility for people with disabilities, the ruling will improve the experiences of Americans connecting with digital information on essential public programs like voting, health care, education and more. Serious consequences loom for organizations that fail to meet these standards.

Here at Goff Public, we know that regardless of regulations and rules, more accessible, inclusive content benefits everyone and it’s part of our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. While clear standards exist for some organizations, accessibility is a spectrum. We can all strive to move further and further toward the goal.

Now is the time to ensure your communications are accessible.

The internet has become essential to how we live, work and play. As a cornerstone of both our lives and our democracy, it’s no wonder why digital content must consider the diverse needs and abilities of all people throughout their lifetimes.

The most prevalent disabilities are often unseen or temporary, and few people recognize the need to accommodate them. An estimated 48 million Americans experience hearing loss – more prevalent today than diabetes or cancer – and the number is expected to increase by 30 million over the next four decades. Worsening hearing or vision loss, pregnancy and carpal tunnel syndrome are just a few commonplace conditions that often require accommodations that we don’t immediately picture when discussing accessibility.

When local governments, businesses, nonprofits and other organizations share information online, they have the opportunity to reach audiences with vision, hearing, cognitive and manual dexterity disabilities that can be left out of traditional communications. Accessible features like captions, screen reader compatibility and simple navigation menus are more inclusive – and even make things easier for folks without disabilities as well.

No matter your organization, the consequences of poor accessibility are real.

Failure to make your website, documents, videos and other online materials accessible can exclude people from important information they rely on. It can also have serious financial consequences for your organization.

When the rule goes into effect, content on public entities’ websites that does not meet the new ADA compliance standards will place organizations at risk of lawsuits and significant fines. Meanwhile, website accessibility lawsuits are increasing exponentially – even for private organizations – and  this trend is likely to continue.

Accessibility opens our conversations to a wider audience with diverse perspectives and experiences. Designing and retrofitting your organization’s communications to be highly accessible should be standard practice for everyone – so why isn’t it yet?

Checking your accessibility practices: questions to ask:

• Do your social media posts and web images always include alternative text?
• Are your web documents screen reader compatible?
• Do your videos include captions?
• Are your presentations designed to be accessible for people with vision, hearing and cognitive disabilities?
• Is there sufficient color contrast for text in your digital and print pieces?

Not sure if your content is ADA compliant?

Every day, we produce accessible documents, videos, graphics, web content and more for our clients. As communicators, we know how important it is to make sure you’re reaching the widest, most diverse audience possible – that’s why accessibility is part of any solid communications strategy. Call us to talk about what this looks like for your organization!