Inclusive Technologies

Inclusive Technologies performs market research on the disability and aging market segments, and on what accessible products appear in the market. We provide a full range of market research and analysis services:

Consumer Research

• Secondary research from government and industry sources: Who are these consumers? What are their needs? What are their purchasing behaviors? There is a lot of information available from different public and private sources. We collect and compile the right information, and deliver it to you in a usable form.
• Primary research using accessible survey formats and grassroots recruited respondents. We have led research on all categories of disabilities, for almost every kind of product in the information and communications industries. We also perform satisfaction and company perception studies, using a sample of your current customers.
• Auditing how your company and its products and practices are perceived now by these customers. Our audits can usually identify five simple, inexpensive steps you can take to improve service.
• Focus groups — we can help you throughout North America with targeting, recruiting, developing discussion guides, moderating, and reporting the results.
• Consumer panels — establishing a long-term panel consisting of select advocates and unaffiliated consumers can provide you with valuable relationships. We can help with recruitment, organization, and communication.
• Market planning — we can help you “move and improve” in a cost-efficient, proportionate manner. Avoid guesswork in your accessibility program.

How to integrate disability and aging

One tricky issue in accessible technology market research is understanding how to connect disability and aging. The majority of people with disabilities are older consumers, but the leaders of the disability community are younger, better educated, and more severely disabled. We have worked with a number of companies on building connections between the two market segments, and in developing an integrated approach that pays off in both markets.

“Extend Their Reach: Marketing to Consumers with Disabilities: Interpreting the Numbers”

“Interpreting the Numbers” is a report on disability statistics and market research we prepared together with the Electronic Industries Foundation. “Interpreting the Numbers” gives the reader a brief picture of the disability market segment using federal statistics.

This report will get you past blanket claims that either overstate the market or dismiss it as insignificant. Different functional limitations affect the usability of different products; each category yields different numbers. Some demographic cross-tabulations are included and displayed graphically.

Worldwide Accessibility Market

Inclusive Technologies has performed studies of worldwide demand for accessible technology. Looking at high-growth regions, international development efforts, and the evolving public policy arena, we can see how and where accessible technology markets will change over the next 20 years. These studies, supported by a consortium of companies, get at how public and development policies will increase the demand for accessible technologies. Your company can have access to both general reports focusing on geographic sectors and industry segment reports.

Product Procurement Research

In order to comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, federal agencies (as well as some states, cities, universities, and many other public sector organizations) must purchase only electronic and information technology that is accessible. The Section 508 regulations provide some guidance, but not enough to really help you make the necessary purchasing decisions. In order to purchase accessible, compliant products, your agency must understand, beyond the VPAT, where accessibility appears in commercially available products and services. Inclusive Technologies offers training and technical assistance to public agencies. We have worked with federal agencies, state departments, municipal governments, and health care and educational institutions at all levels. We know 508, and we know accessibility. We understand how to analyze mainstream products for accessibility, and for their adherence to Section 508. Best of all, we understand how industry works, because we provide services to them on the same issue. Please contact us for procurement services.