URB-B.03.B - Universal Accessibility Targets
Does the company set targets for universal accessibility?
About the data
The WBA Urban Benchmark measures and ranks the world's most influential companies on their efforts to shape sustainable, inclusive and resilient urban environments, tracking how companies address essential urban needs while respecting planetary boundaries across dimensions including decent work and human rights, environmental and climate impacts, social inclusion, and sustainability leadership. The 2026 edition assessed 300 companies across four key industries shaping urban environments: real estate, construction and engineering, transport, and utilities. Companies were scored on 24 urban-specific indicators plus 18 core social indicators, spanning four measurement areas: sustainable governance, inclusive cities, healthy cities, and climate change and resilient cities. The benchmark is designed to incentivise the private sector to take adequate responsibility for its role in ensuring affordable, safe and inclusive urban environments for all. More information can be found here.
Methodology
Cities across the world are often difficult to navigate, especially for children, elderly and
people with disabilities, since many buildings, transport infrastructures and facilities are not designed
with these groups in mind. In addition, access to essential information can create more barriers for
people with disabilities to be able to enjoy and take advantage of the urban environment. Ensuring
websites and apps comply with digital accessibility standards, offering support programmes and
adopting strategies for universal access are critical steps towards inclusion. Moreover, engagement
with users with disabilities is crucial to ensure that their needs are correctly considered and that
accessibility initiatives are effectively communicated.
Research Guidance
The company discloses time-bound, measurable targets for improving product/service accessibility.
All targets must include the baseline value and base year from which progress is measured.
All targets should have clear, quantitative, and measurable metrics. Qualitative targets may be accepted as long as their achievement is measurable, however, vague or general goals to deliver accessible products/services are not sufficient.
Targets must be short-term (now to 2030) - longer term targets (i.e. those with an end date past 2030) are only accepted if they are broken down into interim targets that are 5 years away or less.
Targets must cover all of the company's operations - targets only applied to one-off and isolated projects are not accepted.
Where necessary, targets must be set with reference to international recognised standards such as ADA, WCAG 3 and ISO 21542:2021 building construction.
If there are changes in targets within the latest reporting year, the company must provide an explanation of the rationale for those changes and their effect on comparability.
people with disabilities, since many buildings, transport infrastructures and facilities are not designed
with these groups in mind. In addition, access to essential information can create more barriers for
people with disabilities to be able to enjoy and take advantage of the urban environment. Ensuring
websites and apps comply with digital accessibility standards, offering support programmes and
adopting strategies for universal access are critical steps towards inclusion. Moreover, engagement
with users with disabilities is crucial to ensure that their needs are correctly considered and that
accessibility initiatives are effectively communicated.
Research Guidance
The company discloses time-bound, measurable targets for improving product/service accessibility.
All targets must include the baseline value and base year from which progress is measured.
All targets should have clear, quantitative, and measurable metrics. Qualitative targets may be accepted as long as their achievement is measurable, however, vague or general goals to deliver accessible products/services are not sufficient.
Targets must be short-term (now to 2030) - longer term targets (i.e. those with an end date past 2030) are only accepted if they are broken down into interim targets that are 5 years away or less.
Targets must cover all of the company's operations - targets only applied to one-off and isolated projects are not accepted.
Where necessary, targets must be set with reference to international recognised standards such as ADA, WCAG 3 and ISO 21542:2021 building construction.
If there are changes in targets within the latest reporting year, the company must provide an explanation of the rationale for those changes and their effect on comparability.
License
Topics
Framework Mappings
Value Type
Category
Options
Yes
No
Not Applicable
Assessment
Steward Assessed
Report Type
Aggregate Data Report