# 3.2.2.3 Foster a culture of inclusion

Foster a culture of inclusivity within the team and encourage ongoing education and awareness of inclusivity and diversity's best practices. \[resource on co-design]

### **Everyone benefits**

Accessible design isn't just for users with disabilities - it enhances usability for all users. Simple features like captions or clear language can help everyone.

### **Temporary/situational disabilities**

Accessibility isn't just about permanent disabilities. Users may experience temporary or situational impairments, like a broken arm or a bright environment, where accessibility features can improve their experience.

### **Ageing population**

Accessible design is particularly important for older adults who may experience changes in vision, hearing, and motor skills. Designing with accessibility in mind ensures your service is user-friendly for all age groups.

### **Legal/ethical duty**

In many places, accessibility is not just an ethical duty but also legally required. Providing accessible services ensures everyone can use your service, regardless of their abilities.

### **Future-proofing**

Accessible design often results in more robust and flexible services. By prioritising accessibility, you make your service more resilient to future changes and adaptable to different technologies or platforms.

### **Overhead cost**

Incorporating accessibility from the start of the design process is efficient. Retrofitting accessibility features later can be more time-consuming and costly. Make accessibility a foundational part of your design process, not an afterthought.