How do you sell accessibility and inclusion to clients?

1 Show the benefits

One of the most effective ways to sell accessibility and inclusion to clients is to show them the benefits of doing so. Accessibility and inclusion can improve user satisfaction, retention, loyalty, and advocacy, as well as reduce costs, risks, and errors. You can use case studies, testimonials, or data to demonstrate how accessibility and inclusion have helped other businesses achieve positive outcomes and avoid negative consequences. You can also highlight the potential market size, reach, and diversity of users with different abilities, preferences, and backgrounds, and how accessibility and inclusion can help them meet their needs and expectations.

2 Address the challenges

Another way to sell accessibility and inclusion to clients is to address the challenges or objections they may have. Some clients may think that accessibility and inclusion are too expensive, complex, or time-consuming to implement, or that they are not relevant or important for their target audience or industry. You can counter these arguments by showing them the costs and benefits analysis, the best practices and standards, the tools and resources, and the legal and ethical implications of accessibility and inclusion. You can also educate them on the common myths and misconceptions about accessibility and inclusion, and how they can be debunked or overcome.

3 Involve the users

Users are the best source of feedback and insight on how accessible and inclusive a product or service is, and how it can be improved. Invite users with different abilities, preferences, and backgrounds to participate in user research, testing, or co-design activities, and share their stories, opinions, and suggestions with the clients. You can also use personas, scenarios, or empathy maps to help the clients empathize with the users and understand their goals, needs, and challenges.

4 Align with the goals

Accessibility and inclusion are not separate or optional features, but integral and essential aspects of UX design. You can show the clients how accessibility and inclusion can support and enhance their vision, mission, values, and objectives, and how they can be incorporated into the UX strategy, process, and deliverables. Use metrics, indicators, or benchmarks to measure and communicate the impact and value of accessibility and inclusion on the project, the product, or the business.

5 Lead by example

Show clients that you care about accessibility and inclusion by applying them to your own work, communication, and interaction. You can use accessible and inclusive tools, methods, formats, and languages, and follow the principles and guidelines of accessibility and inclusion in your UX design. Share your own learning, challenges, and successes with accessibility and inclusion, and inspire the clients to follow your lead and adopt a culture of accessibility and inclusion in their organization.

6 Collaborate with the clients

A final way to sell accessibility and inclusion to clients is to collaborate with them throughout the UX project. Accessibility and inclusion are not something that you can impose or dictate to the clients, but something that you can co-create and co-deliver with them. Involve clients in the UX process, from defining the problem and the scope, to generating ideas and solutions, to evaluating and iterating the design. You can also empower the clients to take ownership and responsibility for accessibility and inclusion, by providing them with guidance, support, and resources, and by celebrating their achievements and progress.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?