How to speak without excluding anyone? The 4th edition of the Accessibility Academy is underway
On 22 May, we invite you to join us and the Warsaw School of Economics for the Santander Bank Polska Accessibility Academy. This is a unique series of meetings on building accessibility and social inclusion. The next edition focuses on language – a tool that can connect, but also exclude. Participants of the event will discuss the best ways to speak and write so that no one feels left out or excluded.
The Santander Bank Polska Accessibility Academy is an initiative launched in March 2024. It brings together academic, business and non-governmental communities, creating a space for the exchange of experiences and discussion about accessible solutions. Previous meetings have addressed topics such as digital accessibility and best practices in the field of accessibility for deaf and hard of hearing persons.
The Accessibility Academy is a platform for sharing experiences and discussing how to build a more open and inclusive environment, both in organisations and in everyday relationships. The upcoming meeting on inclusive language is particularly important because it shows the significant role words play in creating a world without barriers.
As shown by the latest research conducted by Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford*, marketing campaigns that are free of stereotypes and authentically reflect the diversity of their audience translate into tangible business results. An analysis of nearly 400 brands from 58 countries has shown that this approach increases sales by 5% in the short term and by as much as 16% in the long term. In addition, it strengthens customer loyalty (+15%) and increases the likelihood that a brand will be selected as the first choice by over 60%.
The fourth edition will feature experts not only from Santander Bank Polska, but also from the University of Warsaw, the Polish Bank Association, IKEA Retail, the SYNAPSIS Foundation and the Barrier-Free Poland Foundation. The programme includes both a review of good practices and specific examples of implementing simple and inclusive language in the activities of organisations – from mobile applications and content design to intergenerational communication and social campaigns.
