URB-B.03.F - Accessibility Stakeholder Engagement
Does the company communicate and engage with affected stakeholders on 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
To meet this element, the company should disclose the channels or type of engagement with affected stakeholder group (e.g., workshops, consultation, community forums, etc) AND specify the frequency of these engagements (e.g., ongoing, quarterly, annually).
Simply listing the channels is insufficient unless the company clarifies how each channel corresponds to the affected stakeholder group.
General awareness raising activities such as blogs or talks about accessibility are only accepted if accompanied by evidence of specific actions the company is taking to improve accessibility in its products or services.
The company can report on how all communication is accessible to its stakeholders with disability. This can include providing materials in braille, large fonts or other accessible languages as well as ensuring digital communications comply with accessibility standards like WCAG.
The company's description of activities in sustainability reports is sufficient if the company provides evidence how its engagement has resulted in meaningful action or improvement in accessibility.
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
To meet this element, the company should disclose the channels or type of engagement with affected stakeholder group (e.g., workshops, consultation, community forums, etc) AND specify the frequency of these engagements (e.g., ongoing, quarterly, annually).
Simply listing the channels is insufficient unless the company clarifies how each channel corresponds to the affected stakeholder group.
General awareness raising activities such as blogs or talks about accessibility are only accepted if accompanied by evidence of specific actions the company is taking to improve accessibility in its products or services.
The company can report on how all communication is accessible to its stakeholders with disability. This can include providing materials in braille, large fonts or other accessible languages as well as ensuring digital communications comply with accessibility standards like WCAG.
The company's description of activities in sustainability reports is sufficient if the company provides evidence how its engagement has resulted in meaningful action or improvement in accessibility.
License
Topics
Framework Mappings
Value Type
Category
Options
Yes
No
Assessment
Steward Assessed
Report Type
Aggregate Data Report