Empowering Businesses: Accessibility Insights with Angela Fowler

In a world where businesses strive to cater to diverse audiences, accessibility remains a crucial yet sometimes overlooked element. Angela Fowler, the founder of Real Life Access, joins us in this enlightening podcast episode to discuss the importance of making businesses accessible to people with disabilities. As an accessibility coach and advocate, Angela shares her personal journey and insights into how businesses can create a more inclusive environment for everyone.

A Hilarious and Insightful Beginning Angela Fowler joined our host, Devon Wieters, not just to provide professional insights but also to bring a touch of humor and authenticity. Angela, who is known for her delightful personality, brings a unique perspective to the table—one that combines lived experience with professional expertise.

A Real-Life Story Angela shares her story of how she became an accessibility advocate. Being totally blind, she has experienced firsthand the challenges posed by inaccessibility. Her career took a transformative turn in 2021 when she worked as a contractor for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Her responsibility was to educate designers and developers on making their digital platforms accessible. This experience shifted her mindset as she realized that most people genuinely want to do the right thing but simply lack the knowledge on how to do so.

Unlocking the True Benefits of Accessibility One of Angela’s key realizations was that accessibility is not solely about legal compliance but about understanding and implementing real-life benefits that change people’s lives. Even those resistant to change warmed up to accessibility when they understood its tangible impact. Angela candidly discusses how assumptions about disability, driven by outdated laws, can hinder progress. She emphasizes that true accessibility provides a legal backing, but should ultimately focus on practical, everyday applications.

Accessible Business Practices For businesses, Angela advocates a proactive approach to accessibility rather than responding reactively through legal mandates. She speaks passionately about the “pro business” approach, where small to medium-sized businesses can thrive by being genuinely user-friendly. Here are the services and strategies she offers through Real Life Access:

Digital Accessibility Coaching: Angela offers one-on-one and group coaching to guide businesses in creating digitally inclusive environments. Her courses focus on producing accessible digital content, ensuring everyone receives the important information they need.

Physical and Cultural Accessibility: Physical accessibility involves everything from building entrances to navigating inaudible environments. Cultural accessibility evolves when difference is accepted as an ordinary aspect of life, ensuring accessibility becomes second nature. Accessibility: A Path to Broader Usability Angela highlights that accessibility and usability go hand-in-hand. By catering to the needs of people with disabilities, businesses inadvertently make their services more user-friendly for all. In doing so, the return on investment can be substantial. Overcoming Challenges and Moving Forward Angela shares personal anecdotes about the significant obstacles she’s faced, such as navigating loud environments that interfere with her ability to hear and interact. These experiences not only spotlight challenges but also illuminate solutions for broader accessibility strategies.

Being Informed and Engaged Angela invites others to be informed and part of the solution by understanding the real benefits and challenges of accessibility. With a focus on realistic and cost-effective fixes, she stresses the importance of investing in meaningful accessibility efforts. Whether through writing accurate alt text or adapting environments to remove barriers, Angela emphasizes that most accessibility improvements require minimal financial investment—but make a world of difference.

Conclusion: A Call to Action Accessibility advocates like Angela Fowler inspire us all to rethink and rework our understanding and implementation of accessibility. As she eloquently puts it, we should always “assume capability unless proven otherwise” and approach challenges with curiosity instead of skepticism. Join Angela in her mission to make the world an accessible place for all by embracing these principles in your own life and business. --- For more insights and to connect with Angela Fowler, visit www.reallifeaccess.com. Follow her journey on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube to stay informed and inspired