What's Really Driving Change
The accessibility market isn't just growing—it's maturing rapidly. What started as a compliance checkbox has evolved into a competitive advantage. Organizations are discovering that accessible design often leads to better user experiences for everyone, not just people with disabilities.
Financial services companies are particularly interesting to watch. Take payment processors like Elavon—they're realizing that accessible checkout processes reduce cart abandonment rates significantly. When your payment form works seamlessly with screen readers, you're not just helping visually impaired users; you're capturing revenue that would otherwise slip away.
"The most successful businesses we work with treat accessibility as a design philosophy, not a compliance requirement. They're seeing measurable improvements in user engagement and conversion rates."
Small and medium businesses are catching up faster than expected. The availability of affordable testing tools and clearer guidelines has lowered the barrier to entry. Many Canadian SMBs are now proactively addressing accessibility before it becomes a legal issue.
However, there's still a significant knowledge gap in implementation. While awareness is high, the technical expertise needed for thorough accessibility integration remains scarce. This creates opportunities for specialized consultants and training programs.