Making your business more accessible helps create a welcoming and accommodating environment for both employees and customers. Here are six practical tips to enhance accessibility in your business.
1. Ensure ADA Compliance
Start by ensuring that your business is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Based on 2025 guidelines, the WCAG Pros* suggests small businesses conduct an accessibility audit, create an action plan, train staff, work with accessibility experts, and regularly monitor and update as needed.
"Start by evaluating your physical and digital spaces to identify areas that may not meet ADA requirements," it says. "Tools like WAVE or Lighthouse can help assess your website’s accessibility."
Once gaps have been identified, it adds, you can prioritize updates based on customer needs and potential risks. "For example: Address major physical barriers like inaccessible entrances. Update your website to meet WCAG standards."
2. Spread Awareness Among Staff
Make sure employees understand accessibility requirements and related company policies. Ensure that your team knows how to respectfully communicate and assist customers with their needs. Hold training sessions that discuss appropriate language, etiquette related to service animals, and ways to be helpful without being intrusive. Talk about invisible disabilities and the importance of not making assumptions about people. Invite disability organizations to provide workshops or share online training materials.
3. Be Open in Your Hiring Practices
Be open to hiring people who have disabilities. Your accessibility practices will enable you to accommodate them and meet their needs. You'll broaden the talent pool and provide work for people who may not have as many options for employment as others. Include information about your accessibility efforts in job postings, and provide an accessible application and interview process. Let potential candidates know that you are an equal opportunity employer.
4. Plan Accessible Events
Accessibility shouldn't stop with the day-to-day operations. It should also be factored into any event planning. If you host any event—from a workshop to a networking mixer—accessibility should be a priority. Consider accessible seating, sign language interpretation, braille versions of printed materials, and utilizing sensory-friendly spaces. It's a good idea to solicit special requests on invitations. Ask that those who require accommodation contact you ahead of time so you can not only be prepared, but also show that you want everyone to feel welcome.
5. Ensure Digital Accessibility
Physical accessibility is crucial, but don't forget accessibility in the digital space.
"Technological accessibility, or digital accessibility, is also a vital component of disability employment," notes Askearn.org.** "For small businesses, technology is one of the central drivers of productivity and success for all workers. When software, apps, online documents, and other technological platforms are inaccessible, employees may not be able to do their jobs. You can also contact your regional ADA Center for information, guidance, and training on physical and digital accessibility."
The regional center for the state of Nevada is the Pacific ADA Center.***
6. Keep Communication Clear
Simple clarity in communication can go a long way toward making your business more accessible. From language on your website to signage and product labels, the more clearly you can communicate, the easier it will be for everyone to understand—including those with cognitive disabilities or those whose first language is not English. Review marketing materials and any customer-facing documents and be sure they are as clear as possible. Avoid jargon and overly complex language.
Making your business more accessible makes sense for a variety of reasons. It's the right thing to do for employees and customers with disabilities, and it also makes your business more appealing to them and others who care about accessibility. Make it easier for people to do business with you and work with you, and everybody wins.
* https://wcagpros.com/wcag-guidelines/ada-compliance-for-small-businesses-in-2025-a-complete-guide/
** https://askearn.org/page/physical-and-technological-accessibility
