Critical Areas
of IR Communications Requiring Accessibility

It is key to note that Accessibility is an ongoing project and process.

As platforms and tools change so will global standards. When prioritizing your Accessibility programming, we recommend evaluating the following channels.

IR Websites

Your company's Investor Relations website is its corporate and financial information hub. Designing these websites per WCAG guidelines ensures that all investors, including those with disabilities, can access the critical financial information they need. Key accessibility features include:

User-friendly navigation
Clear color contrast for text and visual elements
Alternative and descriptive text on images
Compatible multimedia content that works with screen readers

With these modifications, companies can improve the overall user experience and ensure that their IR website is an effective tool for investor engagement.

Earnings Calls and Webcasts

Earnings calls and webcasts are vital channels for investors to receive real-time financial updates and corporate announcements.

According to the ADA and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, companies must ensure digital content such as quarterly calls is accessible to all users.

Providing real-time captions and transcripts during these events is an easy way for all participants, including those with hearing impairments, to access your financial information. In addition, AI-powered, real-time captioning can improve accessibility by learning and adapting to industry-specific terminology, making the content more exact and engaging.

Incorporating these accessibility features benefits everyone. It ensures you're meeting regulatory requirements, increases your potential investor pool and enhances investor confidence through an inclusive experience.

Annual General Meetings (AGMs) and
Other IR Events

AGMs and other IR events, whether virtual, hybrid, or in-person, should be accessible to all shareholders. Ensuring accessibility includes physical accommodations (e.g., wheelchair access, sign language interpreters) for in-person events and virtual accessibility tools (e.g., closed captioning, sign language interpretation, and screen reader compatibility) for online participants.

As hybrid and virtual meetings become more common, making sure that all shareholders—regardless of location or ability—can take part is essential for transparency and inclusivity. Earnings calls, AGMs and other IR events benefit from including real-time captioning and transcripts. To ensure broad accessibility, choose a virtual AGM platform that follows WCAG 2.1 AA.

Regulatory Filings

They’re often forgotten, but regulatory filings, such as 8-Ks, 10-Ks, etc., and other mandatory disclosures, must also meet accessibility standards.

Companies can create inclusive regulatory documents by:

Providing screen-reader-friendly formats
Using standardized language, like eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) for structured data formats

These simple additions can make the filings easier to navigate and understand for all investors.