13.08.2024 By Sena Pottackal and Ethan Chiu

Accessibility: The Key to Intersectional Inclusion for Everyone

As we reflect on July’s Disability Pride Month and step into August’s Intersectionality Awareness Month, it is a perfect time to explore how accessibility is vital for creating inclusive experiences. Both months remind us to consider how various aspects of identity—such as race, gender, and disability—intersect to shape our experiences. By focusing on accessibility, we can better support the diverse identities that make up our communities.

Understanding Intersectionality

Intersectionality is the concept that multiple aspects of a person’s identity, such as race, gender, and disability, overlap and interact, making each person’s experiences unique. Recognizing intersectionality helps us understand the diverse challenges people face and underscores the importance of creating spaces where everyone feels valued and included.

The term “intersectionality” was coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989 to illustrate how different forms of oppression, like race and gender, interact. You can hear Kimberlé Crenshaw talk about intersectional theory in this video.

Why Inclusive Communications Matters

Inclusive communication is essential for ensuring everyone can fully participate in work, social events, and daily life. It plays a key role in promoting intersectional inclusion by addressing the diverse needs of individuals. For example, Disability:IN,a nonprofit championing disability inclusion in business globally, held its annual Global Conference and Expo in Las Vegas in July. This event highlighted several innovations that underscore the importance of accessibility and its potential to transform experiences for everyone.

• Aira Partnership: Aira, a service that connects individuals who are blind or have low vision with trained sighted assistants via a mobile app, offered unlimited complimentary use throughout the conference. Aira also provided live audio descriptions for major sessions, empowering attendees to engage with visual content, demonstrating how technology can foster a more inclusive environment.

• Indoor wayfinding with NaviLens and GoodMaps: Navigating large spaces can be challenging, especially for people who are blind or partially sighted. NaviLens and GoodMaps are apps designed to assist users in finding their way indoors nonvisually. NaviLens uses colorful QR-style codes for precise directions, while GoodMaps offers step-by-step navigation, enabling independent exploration and fostering confidence.

• Captioning and Sign Language Services: Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) services provided live captions during sessions, benefiting those who are deaf, hard of hearing, or neurodivergent. American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters also ensured auditory information was accessible to all, creating an environment where everyone could participate fully and equitably.

The conference also showcased how communicators can tap into product innovations to make their content more accessible:

• Braille Accessibility with Dot Pad: Dot Pad is an innovative device that converts digital information into braille, allowing blind and partially sighted users to access digital content through touch. This technology enhances knowledge and communication for those with vision impairments.

• Tactile Labeling by Procter & Gamble (P&G): P&G’s tactile labeling system helps people with low vision identify products by touch, using raised symbols and textures on packaging. This innovation promotes autonomy and dignity by enabling users to navigate daily tasks with ease.

• Nike EasyOn: Nike’s EasyOn shoe system, designed for people with mobility challenges, features a hands-free design that simplifies daily routines, supporting independence and making footwear more accessible.

• Artificial Intelligence-Powered Beauty Tools from L’Oréal and Estee Lauder: L’Oréal’s HAPTA is a robotic applicator that stabilizes hand movements to assist people with limited hand mobility in applying makeup. Estee Lauder introduced an AI-powered app that provides verbal guidance for people who are blind or partially sighted, offering step-by-step instructions to ensure users can confidently achieve their desired look.

These accessibility innovations demonstrate that both emerging brands and established legacy brands are recognizing inclusion and accessibility as significant opportunities for inclusive marketing. Brands prioritizing accessibility can tap into a vast, often overlooked market of over a billion people, building loyalty and trust withconsumers who value inclusivity. By authentically integrating accessibility into their products and messaging, marketers can reach a broader audience and drive meaningful change in the way society views and values diversity.

The Value of Inclusion

As we transition from Disability Pride Month to Intersectionality Awareness Month, it’s clear that embracing accessibility and inclusivity is not just a moral imperative but a strategic advantage. By being intentional in our inclusive efforts, we support diverse identities within our communities and create opportunities for innovation, growth, and deeper connections. The advancements highlighted at the Disability:IN Conference reminds us that when brands commit to inclusivity, they unlock new possibilities for everyone, paving the way for a more equitable and dynamic future. Embracing inclusive communication practices drives societal progress and fosters a world where diversity is celebrated, and all contributions are recognized and valued.

Follow Current Global for insights on inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA), and discover how we create inclusive communications that ignite meaningful connections and ensure equitable experiences for all. To connect and collaborate, email us at hello@currentglobal.com.