Survey Shows Good Access is Good
Business
By Cindy Powell
Marketing to people with disabilities, their families and
friends is profitable to businesses. According to U.S. Census Bureau's 2000
survey and the 2004 National Organization on Disability/Harris Interactive Poll
of Americans with Disabilities, people with disabilities have $220 billion
annual discretionary income, the highest buying power of any traditionally
underrepresented group. 
The largest minority group in the nation is the more than
one in five Americans with a disability 30% of the nation's families have at
least one family member with a disability. 73% of people with disabilities are
heads of household. 62% of people with disabilities claim they spend their
money at businesses that treat all customers and employees equally.
The IRS provides annual tax credits to qualifying
businesses for making their businesses accessible to people with disabilities,
such as:
- " Removal of architectural barriers in buildings or
vehicles;
- Accessible reserved parking spaces;
- Curb cuts with accessible path from parking to barrier
free entrances;
- Walkways at least 48 inches wide;
- Building ramps;
- Widening doors;
- Accessible restrooms, drinking fountains, telephones
and counters, to accommodate people using wheelchairs;
- Installing elevators;
- Sign language interpreters for customers/employees who
have hearing impairments;
- Readers or printed materials in alternate formats
(e.g., Braille, audio tape, large print) for customers/employees with
visualimpairments; and ,
- Job coach or co-worker to provide support to an
employee with a disability.
The hospitality industry benefits $27 billion per year by
providing accessibility. Four out of ten American travelers are people with
disabilities and their companions. Because ?77% of people with disabilities
have no children in their households, they have more discretionary income and
free time for travel and leisure activities.
?$13.6 billion is spent on 31.7 million trips each year by
travelers with disabilities. Annual spending by travelers with disabilities is
$3.3 billion in the airline industry, and ?$4.2 billion in the lodging
industry.
50% of Americans 65 years and older have a disability. By
2030, the number of Americans over age 65 will more than double. ?More than 70%
of Americans will acquire a disability prior to reaching the age of 75. Wise
business owners acknowledge that good access is good business!
For informal ADA guidance, information or materials,
please contact DBTAC Rocky Mountain ADA Center at (800) 949-4232 between 8 am
to 5 pm weekdays. 3630 Sinton Road, #103, Colorado Springs, CO 80907;
www.adainformation.org
Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center
(DBTAC) - Rocky Mountain ADA Center is one of ten regional "one-stop"
comprehensive Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) resource centers. Located
in Colorado Springs, DBTAC - Rocky Mountain ADA Center serves a six state
region.
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