Week Five

Accessibility for Small Teams and Budgets 

Accessibility for New Mexico Businesses

The meeting focused on digital accessibility challenges and solutions for small businesses in New Mexico, where approximately one in four people have disabilities. Eli provided strategies for improving website and app accessibility on limited budgets, including quick wins for color contrast and alternative text, while also discussing legal exceptions and available free resources for testing and validation. The discussion covered vendor responsibilities, the importance of VPATs and accessibility requirements in procurement processes, and concluded with guidance on using various tools and resources to ensure compliance with accessibility standards. 

Eli discusses the importance of accessibility for small businesses and provides information on available resources. He emphasizes that New Mexico has a higher percentage of people with disabilities compared to the national average, ranging from 24.2% to 26.3% across different regions. Eli explains that this higher prevalence is due to factors such as the state's rural nature, poverty, isolated Native American communities, and aging populations. He stresses the need for accessible websites and apps to ensure that businesses and organizations can effectively reach and serve approximately one in four people in the state who have disabilities.