What is Functional vs Inclusive Accessibility?
Sociability
|
Jun 30, 2025
Functional vs inclusive accessibility
Have you ever entered a space and felt like you weren’t supposed to be there? Like you were invited as a nicety, and if you hadn’t shown up people might have been relieved?
A long uphill route to the step-free entrance, or a portable ramp that takes 10-minutes to set up can make disabled people feel the same way.
In fact, 47% of disabled people say that one of the most common barriers to access is not being able to participate in an activity or experience the same way as others. Real accessibility means creating an experience that’s not only functionally accessible but also inclusive!
Functional vs inclusive accessibility: What's the difference?
What is functional accessibility?
Functional accessibility ensures disabled people can access and use the space. Often this approach to accessibility focuses on making adjustments to existing designs - like adding a portable ramp.
However, sometimes these adjustments can make accessibility feel like an add-on or afterthought, and although disabled people can use the space their experiences are more complicated and less welcoming.
At Sociability, our mappers visit hundreds of venues a month and see this all the time:
Step free entrances that are around the back through the bins.
Ordering screens that aren’t voice activated or screen reader compatible, requiring visually impaired people to wait longer to order their food at the counter.
Even when a space is accessible, disabled people still feel excluded and unwanted in social spaces, unable to have the same experience as non-disabled friends and family.
What is inclusive accessibility?
An inclusive approach to accessibility ensures that disabled people can not only use the space, but have the same experience as everyone else. Inclusive accessibility puts the experiences of disabled people at the centre rather than treating accessibility as an “extra”.
We’ve seen some stellar examples while we’re out mapping, including:
The platform lift at the main entrance of Sexy Fish that emerges from the stairs.
Braille and large print menus available at Wagamamas so everyone can read the menu independently.
Truly inclusive accessibility lets your disabled visitors know you genuinely want them to be there!
What are the benefits of inclusive accessibility?
If the moral argument isn’t enough for you, inclusive accessibility is also good for business! By prioritising inclusion you can:
Increase profit. High street shops are estimated to lose £267 million each month as a result of being inaccessible. By ensuring disabled people are guaranteed a warm and welcoming experience you can gain access to customers and profit you otherwise wouldn’t.
Create brand loyalty and increase referrals. Like everyone else, disabled people are more likely to return to a business where they can count on a good experience. 41% of disabled respondents say that they normally visit businesses they have been to before, and 54% count on recommendations from friends before visiting a new place.
Improve customer service. Inclusive accessibility makes sure everyone feels welcome in a space. Trust us, your staff will thank you when they face less dissatisfied customers, and less scramble to make last minute adjustments.
How do I design for inclusive accessibility?
Be flexible
Accessibility looks different for everyone. Inclusive design is flexible so that it can accommodate a wide array of experiences and needs. Furniture on wheels that can be moved to create new configurations, or menus in multiple formats, are great examples of how flexibility can be put at the centre of an experience.
Think about your own experience
Even if you are not disabled you can still draw on your own experience. Ask yourself how you normally interact with a space and then try to replicate that experience for those with different access needs. The goal is not to create a completely different experience for disabled visitors but to ensure everyone can experience the space together.
Seek feedback from visitors
Don’t take negative feedback as criticism - use it to improve! By making sure visitors know that their feedback will be listened to and acted upon, you’ll make it more likely that they’ll share their thoughts and experiences.
Only 31% of companies think about accessibility when doing customer research. Encouraging customer feedback sets you a part and helps you create an experience that works in practice, not just theory. Check out how some of our clients are leading the way in designing for inclusion!
Take the next step towards inclusivity?
Inclusive accessibility has clear benefits for building brand loyalty, gaining more customers and improving customer experience. If you’re ready to become a truly inclusive business:
Book a discovery call to see how Sociability can help you achieve your goals;
Join industry leaders like Arup and Toyota who are setting new standards for access; and
Sign up to our newsletter and join an engaged community of DEI professionals
Functional vs inclusive accessibility
Have you ever entered a space and felt like you weren’t supposed to be there? Like you were invited as a nicety, and if you hadn’t shown up people might have been relieved?
A long uphill route to the step-free entrance, or a portable ramp that takes 10-minutes to set up can make disabled people feel the same way.
In fact, 47% of disabled people say that one of the most common barriers to access is not being able to participate in an activity or experience the same way as others. Real accessibility means creating an experience that’s not only functionally accessible but also inclusive!
Functional vs inclusive accessibility: What's the difference?
What is functional accessibility?
Functional accessibility ensures disabled people can access and use the space. Often this approach to accessibility focuses on making adjustments to existing designs - like adding a portable ramp.
However, sometimes these adjustments can make accessibility feel like an add-on or afterthought, and although disabled people can use the space their experiences are more complicated and less welcoming.
At Sociability, our mappers visit hundreds of venues a month and see this all the time:
Step free entrances that are around the back through the bins.
Ordering screens that aren’t voice activated or screen reader compatible, requiring visually impaired people to wait longer to order their food at the counter.
Even when a space is accessible, disabled people still feel excluded and unwanted in social spaces, unable to have the same experience as non-disabled friends and family.
What is inclusive accessibility?
An inclusive approach to accessibility ensures that disabled people can not only use the space, but have the same experience as everyone else. Inclusive accessibility puts the experiences of disabled people at the centre rather than treating accessibility as an “extra”.
We’ve seen some stellar examples while we’re out mapping, including:
The platform lift at the main entrance of Sexy Fish that emerges from the stairs.
Braille and large print menus available at Wagamamas so everyone can read the menu independently.
Truly inclusive accessibility lets your disabled visitors know you genuinely want them to be there!
What are the benefits of inclusive accessibility?
If the moral argument isn’t enough for you, inclusive accessibility is also good for business! By prioritising inclusion you can:
Increase profit. High street shops are estimated to lose £267 million each month as a result of being inaccessible. By ensuring disabled people are guaranteed a warm and welcoming experience you can gain access to customers and profit you otherwise wouldn’t.
Create brand loyalty and increase referrals. Like everyone else, disabled people are more likely to return to a business where they can count on a good experience. 41% of disabled respondents say that they normally visit businesses they have been to before, and 54% count on recommendations from friends before visiting a new place.
Improve customer service. Inclusive accessibility makes sure everyone feels welcome in a space. Trust us, your staff will thank you when they face less dissatisfied customers, and less scramble to make last minute adjustments.
How do I design for inclusive accessibility?
Be flexible
Accessibility looks different for everyone. Inclusive design is flexible so that it can accommodate a wide array of experiences and needs. Furniture on wheels that can be moved to create new configurations, or menus in multiple formats, are great examples of how flexibility can be put at the centre of an experience.
Think about your own experience
Even if you are not disabled you can still draw on your own experience. Ask yourself how you normally interact with a space and then try to replicate that experience for those with different access needs. The goal is not to create a completely different experience for disabled visitors but to ensure everyone can experience the space together.
Seek feedback from visitors
Don’t take negative feedback as criticism - use it to improve! By making sure visitors know that their feedback will be listened to and acted upon, you’ll make it more likely that they’ll share their thoughts and experiences.
Only 31% of companies think about accessibility when doing customer research. Encouraging customer feedback sets you a part and helps you create an experience that works in practice, not just theory. Check out how some of our clients are leading the way in designing for inclusion!
Take the next step towards inclusivity?
Inclusive accessibility has clear benefits for building brand loyalty, gaining more customers and improving customer experience. If you’re ready to become a truly inclusive business:
Book a discovery call to see how Sociability can help you achieve your goals;
Join industry leaders like Arup and Toyota who are setting new standards for access; and
Sign up to our newsletter and join an engaged community of DEI professionals
Functional vs inclusive accessibility
Have you ever entered a space and felt like you weren’t supposed to be there? Like you were invited as a nicety, and if you hadn’t shown up people might have been relieved?
A long uphill route to the step-free entrance, or a portable ramp that takes 10-minutes to set up can make disabled people feel the same way.
In fact, 47% of disabled people say that one of the most common barriers to access is not being able to participate in an activity or experience the same way as others. Real accessibility means creating an experience that’s not only functionally accessible but also inclusive!
Functional vs inclusive accessibility: What's the difference?
What is functional accessibility?
Functional accessibility ensures disabled people can access and use the space. Often this approach to accessibility focuses on making adjustments to existing designs - like adding a portable ramp.
However, sometimes these adjustments can make accessibility feel like an add-on or afterthought, and although disabled people can use the space their experiences are more complicated and less welcoming.
At Sociability, our mappers visit hundreds of venues a month and see this all the time:
Step free entrances that are around the back through the bins.
Ordering screens that aren’t voice activated or screen reader compatible, requiring visually impaired people to wait longer to order their food at the counter.
Even when a space is accessible, disabled people still feel excluded and unwanted in social spaces, unable to have the same experience as non-disabled friends and family.
What is inclusive accessibility?
An inclusive approach to accessibility ensures that disabled people can not only use the space, but have the same experience as everyone else. Inclusive accessibility puts the experiences of disabled people at the centre rather than treating accessibility as an “extra”.
We’ve seen some stellar examples while we’re out mapping, including:
The platform lift at the main entrance of Sexy Fish that emerges from the stairs.
Braille and large print menus available at Wagamamas so everyone can read the menu independently.
Truly inclusive accessibility lets your disabled visitors know you genuinely want them to be there!
What are the benefits of inclusive accessibility?
If the moral argument isn’t enough for you, inclusive accessibility is also good for business! By prioritising inclusion you can:
Increase profit. High street shops are estimated to lose £267 million each month as a result of being inaccessible. By ensuring disabled people are guaranteed a warm and welcoming experience you can gain access to customers and profit you otherwise wouldn’t.
Create brand loyalty and increase referrals. Like everyone else, disabled people are more likely to return to a business where they can count on a good experience. 41% of disabled respondents say that they normally visit businesses they have been to before, and 54% count on recommendations from friends before visiting a new place.
Improve customer service. Inclusive accessibility makes sure everyone feels welcome in a space. Trust us, your staff will thank you when they face less dissatisfied customers, and less scramble to make last minute adjustments.
How do I design for inclusive accessibility?
Be flexible
Accessibility looks different for everyone. Inclusive design is flexible so that it can accommodate a wide array of experiences and needs. Furniture on wheels that can be moved to create new configurations, or menus in multiple formats, are great examples of how flexibility can be put at the centre of an experience.
Think about your own experience
Even if you are not disabled you can still draw on your own experience. Ask yourself how you normally interact with a space and then try to replicate that experience for those with different access needs. The goal is not to create a completely different experience for disabled visitors but to ensure everyone can experience the space together.
Seek feedback from visitors
Don’t take negative feedback as criticism - use it to improve! By making sure visitors know that their feedback will be listened to and acted upon, you’ll make it more likely that they’ll share their thoughts and experiences.
Only 31% of companies think about accessibility when doing customer research. Encouraging customer feedback sets you a part and helps you create an experience that works in practice, not just theory. Check out how some of our clients are leading the way in designing for inclusion!
Take the next step towards inclusivity?
Inclusive accessibility has clear benefits for building brand loyalty, gaining more customers and improving customer experience. If you’re ready to become a truly inclusive business:
Book a discovery call to see how Sociability can help you achieve your goals;
Join industry leaders like Arup and Toyota who are setting new standards for access; and
Sign up to our newsletter and join an engaged community of DEI professionals
