Championing Accessibility: The Root of Community Building

Accessibility in the context of digital creation is more than just an abstract concept or a series of steps. It’s a tangible commitment to embracing and acting on the core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. A commitment that’s becoming increasingly important to more and more businesses.

At Mangrove, we believe that prioritizing accessibility extends beyond business decisions—it’s about making a positive impact and fostering a more inclusive society. It’s a guiding principle that shapes who we are as an organization.

One of the things we cherish most about being a B Corp is the opportunity to have productive conversations about business strategy and principles within a community of organizations that share our values. It propels us forward and makes us feel part of something bigger. That’s why we’re thrilled to attend this year’s Champions Retreat, including participating in a panel discussion about this critical topic.

What is the Champions Retreat?

The Champions Retreat, hosted annually by B Lab, is a platform for individuals and organizations within the B Corp community to exchange ideas, establish connections, learn from one another, and drive positive change. Thought-provoking discussions, immersive workshops, volunteer opportunities, and community-building events, make it an experience that truly embodies the B Corp spirit of using business as a force for good. It’s an opportunity to gain genuine inspiration and discover tangible actions for building better businesses.

As part of this year’s event—to be held from March 18-22 in Vancouver, Canada—Mangrove Founder & CEO, Maiya Holliday, will join Daman Wandke, CEO of Wandke Accessibility and Jay Wall, Principal Creative Director at Briteweb in a breakout session on designing for accessibility.

Designing for accessibility: Inclusive practices for your digital presence

It’s estimated that 16% of people worldwide experience some form of disability. However, many branded and digital experiences lack this important aspect of inclusion and fail to prioritize this significant group. An accessible website recognizes and respects individual abilities and needs. It welcomes the largest group of people and reflects a conscious approach to inclusion.

This breakout session, taking place on March 21 from 3-4pm, brings together the unique expertise of Daman, an experienced accessibility tester and consultant; Jay, a creative leader skilled in designing impactful brands, websites, and campaigns; and Maiya’s extensive background in web development and coding for changemaking organizations. Their diverse viewpoints will provide a unique and comprehensive exploration of digital accessibility.

Some of the key takeaways for attendees include:

• An understanding of key considerations around digital accessibility
• Insights on how to make design processes more inclusive
• Tools for assessing website accessibility
• An understanding of accessible design versus accessibility overlay products
• Actionable next steps to improve digital accessibility for their B Corp

Whether your website is already accessible, in need of an accessibility upgrade, or somewhere in the middle, this session is a space to connect and learn. If you’re not attending the Champions Retreat, but you’d like to talk about accessibility, we’re here to support you. Connect with us today to discuss your website’s accessibility in detail.