Make accessibility a competitive advantage for your company
- News
Accessibility means that everyone can move, work and participate without obstacles. Investing in accessibility at the workplace is useful in many ways.
Accessibility is not only about mobility needs and the associated ramps, automatic doors and accessible toilet facilities. Accessibility also concerns seeing, hearing and information processing. There are many ways for improving accessibility in these areas.
- Add clear signage.
- Make the facilities safer.
- Design the colours and contrasts to suit the needs of the visually impaired.
- Ensure good acoustics.
- Install an induction loop, i.e. a wireless sound transfer system, to assist hearing aid users.
Steps towards accessibility
By investing in accessibility, you promote equality and improve safety. Improved accessibility also improves the utilisation rate, service life and adaptability of your facilities. Accessibility gives you a competitive advantage and improves your image as a responsible company. Accessible facilities also attract and serve a wider range of employees and customers.
How should you proceed if you want to improve accessibility in your workplace?
- Evaluate the current state of accessibility in the workplace. You may consult an expert.
- Add the accessibility information to your company’s website and job advertisements.
- Make plans, such as a two-year development and budget plan, for accessibility improvements.
- Start with small changes. A single concrete improvement can trigger larger change. Move towards broader solutions one step at a time. It is important that accessibility becomes an integral part of your organisation's culture.
The article is based on the speech ”Esteettömyydestä kilpailuvaltti”, which was given at the social enterprise event ”Yhteiskunnallisten yritysten päivä 2025: Rohkeasti kestävään kasvuun” on 3 October 2025. The speech was given by Accessibility Specialist Ella-Riikka Isometsä.