| “I look for businesses that are easy to use for me and my friends. When I find one that I can enter without a problem, I feel welcomed. When a business is accessible, has good services and an inclusive attitude it gives you a feeling of belonging. They’re the places I go back to and take my friends as well.” |
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From Missed Business: A Guide for Small Business, published by
Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA, 2006) |
Who are your customers? Do they include people with disabilities?
Here are some reasons why your customers should include people with disabilities.
- About 1.85 million people in Ontario have a disability. That’s approximately one in seven people. [Source: Statistics Canada, PALS (2006)]
- Over the next 10 to 20 years, seniors and people with disabilities will make up 20 – 25% of Canada’s recreation, retail, entertainment, workplace and housing markets. [Source: Construction Canada, July 2001]
- According to a Royal Bank estimate, in Canada, people with disabilities account for an estimated $25 billion a year in consumer spending and they influence the spending decisions of 12 to 15 million other consumers.
- In Canada, Europe and the United States, 75% of people with disabilities are physically and financially able to travel. [Kéroul, Best Practices in Tourism Accessibility for Travellers with Restricted Physical Ability, October 2003]
- According to the General Accounting Office, the United States hospitality industry estimates that after the Americans with Disabilities Act went into effect, annual revenue went up by 12%.
By making your business open to people with disabilities, you can:
- tap into a huge market with spending power
- enjoy customer loyalty and repeat business from people with disabilities and their families and friends
- improve your public image
- be at the head of the curve as baby boomers age, start experiencing limitations and begin demanding accessible services
Is that something you can afford to ignore?
Learn more