SMEs 'should cater for the needs of disabled web users'

Owners of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) should maximise brand loyalty among their disabled customers by offering a more accessible online services, according to an information technology expert.

Julie Howell, director of accessibility at web design firm Fortune Cookie, claimed that many SMEs could increase revenue streams and take market share from larger businesses by offering a user-friendly web experience.

She said: "There are far more smaller businesses than big ones and disabled people as a group tend to have very good relationships with their local, smaller businesses.

"If bigger businesses are going to take the attitude that accessibility and disabled people is just a box they need to tick…it's a real opportunity for smaller businesses."

Ms Howell called on SMEs to take advantage by investing a similar amount of "time and attention" on improving the layout of their website as they spend on providing accessible services in person.