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Why Digital Accessibility Matters for Military Nonprofits

  • Writer: Jennifer Duncan
    Jennifer Duncan
  • Dec 3, 2024
  • 3 min read

Updated: Mar 15

Many Veterans and Military Families Live with Disabilities

Accessible websites, documents, and virtual events ensure these individuals can fully engage with your nonprofit’s programs and resources.

Over 4.7 million U.S. veterans have a service-connected disability, including blindness, hearing loss, mobility impairments, and PTSD.

Compliance with ADA & Section 508

  • Military nonprofits and associations that work with government agencies, receive federal funding, or serve public audiences must comply with:

    • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – Requires that digital services be accessible to individuals with disabilities.

    • Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act – Mandates that federal agencies and their partners provide accessible electronic communications.

  • Non-compliance can lead to legal risks, exclusion of members, and reputational damage.


Businesses can face fines of $75,000 for a single ADA violation, and up to $150,000 for further violations.
Non-compliance with ADA rules can lead to lawsuits and financial losses, with typical settlements ranging from $5,000 to $20,000. 

Expanding Membership & Engagement

  • Making digital content accessible helps engage more veterans, military families, and supporters.

  • Barrier-free websites, reports, and events make it easier for all members to participate, donate, and connect with your mission.

Strengthening Brand Reputation & Inclusivity

  • Nonprofits known for accessibility stand out as leaders in the military community.

  • Inclusion initiatives are stronger when branding, communications, and events are fully inclusive.

Boosting Event Attendance & Virtual Engagement

  • Hybrid and virtual conferences must be designed for attendees with disabilities to ensure full participation.

  • Accessible event materials, presentations, and registration portals increase attendance and engagement.


Key Accessibility Considerations for Military Nonprofits

Website & Digital Content Accessibility

Military organizations must ensure their websites comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards by:

  • Enabling screen reader compatibility.

  • Providing keyboard navigation for individuals with mobility impairments.

  • Using alt text for images and infographics.

  • Structuring content with clear headings, lists, and tables for easy navigation.

Accessible Reports, PDFs & Marketing Materials

Military nonprofits often publish digital documents, research papers, and membership guides. These must be:

  • Searchable (not scanned images).

  • Tagged properly for screen readers.

  • Formatted with clear headings, lists, and tables.

Social Media & Email Accessibility

To ensure accessibility across social media and email campaigns, organizations should:

  • Provide alt text for images and graphics.

  • Use CamelCase hashtags (#VeteranSupport instead of #veteransupport).

  • Structure emails with proper contrast and text formatting.

  • Include plain-text versions for emails and newsletters.


Multimedia & Virtual Events Accessibility

Many military nonprofits host webinars, record panel discussions, and create educational videos. To ensure accessibility:

  • Add closed captions for videos.

  • Provide transcripts for all recorded content.

  • Use audio descriptions for visually heavy content.

  • Ensure live-streamed events have real-time captioning and ASL interpretation.


How We Help Military Nonprofits with Branding, Events & Conferences

At Accessify Media LLC, we specialize in helping military nonprofits create accessible branding, marketing materials, and event experiences that engage all members.

Accessible Branding & Marketing

We help organizations develop inclusive branding and marketing strategies by:

  • Designing ADA-compliant logos, websites, and promotional materials.

  • Ensuring color contrast, font readability, and image accessibility.

  • Creating fully accessible digital brochures, event guides, and membership materials.

  • Providing social media strategies that follow accessibility best practices.

Accessible Event & Conference Support

We ensure in-person, hybrid, and virtual conferences are fully accessible with:

  • Captioning and ASL interpretation for live events and virtual sessions.

  • Accessible presentation templates for speakers.

  • Screen reader-friendly event schedules and registration pages.

  • Live transcription and audio descriptions for recorded sessions.

Website & Digital Content Accessibility Audits

Our team provides full accessibility audits and remediation services to ensure:

  • Your website meets WCAG and Section 508 compliance.

  • Event registration forms, applications, and member portals are accessible.

  • Your email and marketing campaigns follow accessibility best practices.

Training & Ongoing Accessibility Support

We help nonprofits embed accessibility into their long-term strategy by offering:

  • Accessibility training for staff, marketing teams, and event planners.

  • Ongoing compliance monitoring to keep websites and digital materials up to date.

  • Consulting on accessibility best practices for communications and branding.


Partner With Us to Strengthen Your Organization’s Accessibility & Impact

Ensuring accessibility isn’t just about compliance—it’s about creating an inclusive, engaging, and impactful experience for all members, partners, and event attendees.

By partnering with Accessify Media LLC, you gain:

  • Expert guidance in making your nonprofit’s branding and content fully accessible.

  • Seamless integration of accessibility into your digital strategy.

  • Higher engagement, stronger member retention, and a more inclusive reputation.

  • A competitive edge in hosting inclusive events and conferences.


Let’s work together to expand your reach, improve accessibility, and build a stronger military nonprofit.


Contact us today to learn how we can help!

 
 
 

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