Are you leaving money on the table?
How much is too much money to lose? Think about this… if you are not including people with disabilities and the elderly when communicating your ideas or presenting your material, then you are most definitely leaving money on the table.
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce suggests that in Canada alone, the disposable income of people with disabilities is approximately $55 billion annually! Can any of us really afford to not tap into such a significant market? Especially when doing so is not just about money, but also about being a good corporate citizen, a good person, as well as making sure that we are using our platform to make everyone in the audience feel welcome and included, feel like they matter.
No doubt, going down that path and embracing the idea of speaking more inclusively will involve more work, but the payoff is well worth the effort. Wait until you realize how doing so will keep your entire audience more engaged and feeling cared for!
Not only will you create an environment of inclusion, but you will also make yourself stand out from the competition. When people talk about you to friends, colleagues, and relatives (potential clients and prospects), and you know they will, how do you want to be thought of? Wouldn’t you rather have them raving about how you went the extra mile to create a presentation that was accessible…
