In many cases, more people without a disability will find features useful than the number of people in the original target audience. The elimination of special, duplicative, and more costly elements to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities. For example, incorporating access features into voice-mail services could eliminate the need for deaf persons to purchase expensive text telephone answering machines. For example, we know that hearing and vision impairments are common to the aging process. Incorporation of universal design features, such as larger buttons with high colour contrast on public and private telephones will enable more old people to maintain their independence and avoid institutionalization.
Profitability is enhanced, and cost is contained.
Europe's ICT industry must incorporate accessibility features in their products and services in order to be competitive with US industry on the world market. US companies are obliged by law to ensure that their products and services are accessible for people with disabilities. Incorporating disability standards at the design stage is cheap - amending products and standards or making specialist provision is expensive, time consuming and ultimately discriminatory. It makes economic sense to ensure full accessibility of products. It is recognized at the political level States should develop strategies to make information services and documentation accessible for different groups of people with disabilities.