You Just Need To Give a DAMN.
I have someone who is doing cold outreach on LinkedIn. And Whew seeing how many people are basically trying to say, thanks but no thanks when it comes to thinking about accessibility. I get many responses back, oh we need people like you out here. But do they hire me? Nope.
I hate it here.
Then there is this white man that got me completely PISSED off. He says that he’s not considering building accessibility into his business because
"The numbers don’t add up..."
He flat out told me they didn’t see the point of making their business accessible because only 10–20 visitors out of 1,000 per week might be disabled.
His solution? Spend $5–$10 more on ads to “replace” those people.
Let me be clear:
If you believe people with disabilities are expendable, replaceable, or not worth your time, you’re part of the problem.
Accessibility isn’t about numbers on a spreadsheet.
It’s about people. Real humans with real needs, experiences, and buying power.
And I’m not speaking from the outside looking in.
I’m a deafblind business owner who’s been building my business for 7 years. I started in graphic design, pivoted into online business management, and now I’m focused on accessibility—not just because it’s needed, but because I’m tired of being left behind.
You might say that’s selfish.
But I say it’s necessary.
I’ve seen, firsthand, what happens when businesses ignore accessibility because they think the ROI isn’t worth it.
I’m constantly trying to show business owners that it can’t always be about the numbers. I get it—businesses want to see ROI.
But if your idea of return means excluding real people because they don’t scale well on a chart... what kind of business are you actually building?
You don’t need 10,000 disabled visitors a month to justify accessibility.
You just need to give a damn.
Would you ignore someone if they couldn’t walk into your store?
Would you tell a customer, “Sorry, you’re not worth the effort because there’s only a handful of you”?
Because that’s exactly what happens when businesses refuse to invest in accessibility.
Here’s the thing: People with disabilities notice.
We remember who includes us—and who doesn't.
There is a Return On Accessibility:
People with disabilities and their families control over $8 trillion globally in disposable income.
Making your business accessible isn't charity—it's smart, ethical business.
It creates better experiences for everyone, not just disabled folks.
Inclusive businesses build trust—and trust converts.
Just look at what happened to Target when they walked back their DEI commitments.
They built their brand on inclusion and earned people’s loyalty—especially those who felt seen for the first time in their lives. But the moment they backed down, people noticed.
People cared.
Trust was broken, and once that happens, it’s not easy to earn it back.
People are watching. People give a damn.
So no, I don’t accept “the numbers don’t make sense” as a reason to exclude people.
If your strategy depends on ignoring or replacing customers with disabilities, it’s time to rethink your strategy.
Accessibility isn't optional. It’s foundational.
And if you’re not building with everyone in mind, who are you really building for?
