Cheshire digital agency Sigma has called on the UK’s digital and technology sectors to take a more proactive approach to improving inclusion and accessibility to products and services.
The Macclesfield company, which hosted Manchester’s recent Camp Digital conference, said that agencies must “try harder” to make accessibility a key part of digital projects.
There are about 10 million people in the UK currently living with some kind of disability, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Sigma managing director Hilary Stephenson said: “There is a misconception in the industry that making products ‘accessible’ means adding additional components but this is not the case. Those elements, which make services accessible, have the same benefits for everyone else.
Sigma MD Hilary Stephenson
“At Sigma, we believe we can all try harder to be more inclusive from the start of any digital project. More than ever before, the need to deliver accessible digital products and services constitutes both a moral and a commercial imperative.”
The letter has already gathered support from The Molly Watt Trust, founded by usability and accessibility consultant Molly Watt.
Stephenson added: “We are thrilled to have already had commitment from organisations in these industries and we hope others will follow in the coming weeks. This is an issue that deserves the attention of everybody working in digital and technology roles.”
Sigma will be among those companies attending London Tech Week and will be holding talks and workshops on Wednesday on the importance of accessibility in tech.
For more information, visit this Eventbrite page.
