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Organisational change often comes with disruption, but it also opens space for lasting improvements. When companies adopt new systems, shift team structures, or adjust strategy, those transitions provide the perfect moment to embed accessibility. Done well, accessibility becomes part of everyday practice rather than an afterthought.
In this guide we will explore why digital accessibility is so important, how leadership support shapes success, and the role of coaching, training, and measurement in building accessible organisations.
Why is digital accessibility important?
Digital accessibility ensures that tools and platforms are usable by everyone, including people with disabilities. During organisational change, digital systems are often upgraded or replaced, which makes inclusive design essential.
A strong example is HSBC, which worked with Zoom to add safeguards that protect staff with epilepsy from flashing imagery during calls. Guided by its accessibility policy, HSBC embedded accessibility into its wider digital transformation, improving safety for employees and showing that accessibility was integral to organisational change.
The same principle applies to everyday tools. Accessible platforms with features like captioning or screen reader compatibility allow staff to work independently, reducing barriers and improving productivity across the organisation.
How do you get leadership buy-in?
A long-term accessibility strategy cannot succeed without visible commitment from senior leaders. When executives demonstrate support, accessibility is recognised as a core business priority rather than a side project.
Securing buy-in often begins with framing accessibility in terms leaders value: risk management, productivity, recruitment, and customer satisfaction. Showing how inaccessible systems create legal exposure or hinder employee performance can make the case for investment more compelling.
Once commitment is established, leaders can reinforce progress by allocating budget, setting measurable goals, and ensuring accessibility is included in change-management reporting. Consistent communication from senior figures helps create accountability across departments and signals that accessibility is non-negotiable during organisational change.
Want to strengthen leadership commitment in your own organisation? Explore our Leadership Development programmes.
How to manage an accessibility coaching process within an organisation?
Coaching works best when introduced gradually. Starting with a pilot helps identify what works and where resistance may arise.
The Open University studied how to improve accessibility in its online learning environment. Instead of one-off training, coaching was delivered step by step alongside the redesign of course materials. Staff learned to spot issues such as missing captions or unlabelled images and grew confident in applying accessibility principles on their own.
Scaling up requires structure. Successful organisations set clear expectations, making coaching relevant not only for technical staff but also for managers, HR, and communications teams. Embedding it into professional development frameworks ensures accessibility is treated as a core skill rather than an optional extra.
How do we measure accessibility progress effectively?
Measurement is often where organisations struggle. Without clear indicators, it becomes difficult to show progress or justify investment. Regular audits provide one layer of accountability, but they should be combined with feedback from staff and inclusive user testing.
Training completion rates are another useful measure. A multinational company going through a major restructure tracked how many staff undertook accessibility awareness training. When rates fell below target in one division, leaders intervened with additional support. Tracking these indicators not only helped identify gaps but also demonstrated to stakeholders that accessibility was being taken seriously.
Some organisations integrate accessibility metrics into departmental goals. For example, a marketing team might be tasked with ensuring all campaigns are delivered in accessible formats, while IT is measured on the proportion of applications that meet accessibility standards. Clear targets give teams ownership and prevent accessibility from being side-lined.
How costly is it to fix accessibility issues late in the process?
Delaying accessibility planning is almost always more expensive than addressing it from the outset. Retrofitting digital platforms or physical environments requires additional time, specialist input, and often a reworking of core systems. Costs rise sharply because the work is done twice: once to deliver the original design, and again to correct the accessibility gaps.
During organisational change, these delays can also disrupt staff and customers. Emergency fixes introduced after a launch tend to cause instability, add technical debt, and frustrate users. Beyond financial waste, reputational damage often follows if people feel excluded by new systems or spaces.
The financial argument is clear. Early investment in accessibility avoids waste and reduces risk. Audits and inclusive user testing provide a way to catch issues early and prevent expensive fixes later. Just as important is the human impact. Employees and customers who encounter barriers often lose trust, and repairing that trust usually takes longer and costs more than building accessible systems in the first place.
Final Thoughts
Periods of organisational change can feel unsettled, but they also provide opportunities to make workplaces more inclusive. Companies that develop an accessibility policy, invest in workplace adjustments, deliver awareness training, and set a clear strategy not only meet compliance standards but also create environments where staff and customers can thrive.
Change is never simple, but with accessibility at the centre, it becomes more purposeful. The organisations that succeed are those that listen to their people, learn from mistakes, and treat accessibility as part of their core identity rather than a one-off project.
If you are preparing for organisational change and want accessibility at the heart of it, explore our Cultural Change services to build lasting impact.