Well, it’s that time of year again. The time that many of us reflect on the year gone by and look at the coming year as an opportunity for change, personal growth, and goal-setting. Whether it's committing to losing those pesky 10 pounds, spending more time with your family and less time at the office, or finally begin saving up for that dream vacation, it’s time to make our New Year’s Resolutions.
This year, consider making one of those resolutions a resolution to become a more active advocate for accessibility and inclusion. Don’t think of this as a big, lofty goal that will be a struggle to obtain and sustain. Quite the opposite. Making a resolution should not be something that causes stress and / or anxiety. Rather it should be viewed as a tool for making a positive impact on ourselves and the people around us.
Here are two simple, easy-to-reach goals that will guarantee success in keeping your commitment to becoming a more active advocate:
- If you're searching the web for movie times at your local theater or checking the balance on your credit card, and you encounter difficulty accessing information, completing a task, or just simply being able to read the content, contact the organization or individual that owns the website. Your feedback is necessary for them to make the needed changes that in turn increase the accessibility for you and other website visitors. Many organizations may not realize their website has accessibility issues and need feedback from advocates like yourself. The W3C’s Web Accessibility Initiative has a great resource that provides step-by-step guidance for contacting and reporting a website accessibility issue .
- Are you a socially conscious consumer? Do you support certain businesses because they’re committed to the environment? Or maybe you choose to shop at a local business that donates a percentage of its profits to a charity you also support. Take a few minutes and evaluate the places you spend your money… restaurants, grocery stores, specialty shops, etc. Would someone with abilities different from yours have the same experience as you do in those spaces? Consider adding "accessible and inclusive" to the criteria you have set for being a socially conscious consumer. You may also want to take a look at your investment portfolio…do the companies you invest in support a culture of accessibility and inclusion?
Being an advocate doesn’t always mean leading a public protest, speaking in front of congress, or being the strongest voice in the room. Sometimes it means leading by example and making those simple yet impactful resolutions.
From all of us at DubBot, here’s wishing you health, happiness, and success in 2023!
