Is your business accessible to people with functional diversity?
Accessibility is more than automatic doors, transferable
chairs and ramps. There are a variety of elements that make a business more
accessible. Consumers, including people with functional diversity (physical,
cognitive or psychological conditions), want and need to purchase products or
services, but when a company makes participating in its offer difficult, they
will look for another that is more accessible.
Creating a more inclusive business helps the participation
of people with functional diversity in the market, while providing your
business with new clients and positively reinforcing the image of your company.
We share some
elements that you could implement in your business, to make it more accessible:
• Have a counter height that is convenient for wheelchair
users to make payments comfortably.
• Install touch buttons on the number pad of POS terminals
so the blind can easily enter their PIN.
• Keep the corridors of your premises clear and with enough
space for the comfortable movement of people who use mobility aids.
• Respect the importance and role of service animals. They
are not recreational pets, but helpers trained to perform specific tasks for
the well-being of their owners.
• Provides printed material in braille (menus, relays,
business cards, etc.). Also make sure that the signs in your establishment have
Braille writing to identify important spaces.
• Require your customer service employees to always have a
pen and paper available so they can exchange notes with customers who cannot
communicate verbally.
• Add alternative text to images on your website so that
visually impaired readers can convey the information from the image to them.
Also, it helps them to think long and easy links to click . For example ,
instead of posting “Click here to access our offers”, use “Click here to access
our offers ”. This will make him easier for them to navigate with your
assistive technology.
Not everyone has had the opportunity to meet a person with
functional diversity, therefore, it is important that you tutor your employees
on the best way to serve them. Some important points are:
• Don't assume your abilities; ask if they need help and how
they would like to be assisted before taking action.
• Talk to the person with disabilities directly, not through
their companion, unless they explicitly tell you otherwise.
• When you help a visually impaired person navigate the
premises, offer them your arm and wait for them to accept it. Also, let the
client know when you are leaving their side.
Designing an accessible business is a good sign of social
commitment, in addition to helping to increase sales because you expose your
brand to a new segment ready to participate in your offer.
This article is informational and organizes not represent an
endorsement or guarantee of accuracy. Popular Inc., like its affiliates,
subsidiaries or related, are not and will not be responsible meant for any
special damages, direct or indirect, as a result of the information contained
in this article. In case you require any type of advice, you should always
request it from a competent professional of your choice.
