Accessibility ROI Case Study: Measurable Returns from Live Captioning and Multilingual Event Access

Introduction: “We Support Accessibility” — But Can You Prove the ROI?

Most event teams say accessibility matters.

It’s in the mission statement. It’s on the website. It’s part of DEI language and compliance documentation.

But when budget season arrives, a hard question emerges:

What is the measurable return on accessibility investment?

For conference producers, universities, churches, and corporate communications leaders, this is where good intentions often stall. Accessibility gets framed as a cost center — something required, not something that drives growth.

That framing is outdated.

The accessibility ROI case study you’re about to read demonstrates something different: when live captioning and multilingual access are implemented strategically, they increase attendance, boost engagement metrics, reduce operational strain, and create repeatable financial returns.

This article breaks down:

• A realistic composite case study based on industry patterns
• The measurable metrics that changed
• The operational decisions that made the difference
• The repeatable model other organizations can apply

If you’re responsible for event performance, accessibility compliance, or audience growth, this analysis will help you make accessibility defensible, fundable, and scalable.

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The Baseline Scenario: A Mid-Sized Annual Conference

Let’s start with a composite case drawn from patterns seen across industry events.

Organization Type: Professional association
Event Format: 3-day hybrid conference
Average Attendance: 1,200 in-person / 800 virtual
Audience: 20% international, mixed age demographic
Accessibility Before Implementation:

• Limited CART for main stage only
• No multilingual support
• No session-level captioning for breakouts
• No usage tracking

The Problem

Post-event surveys consistently showed:

• 18% of virtual attendees reported difficulty following sessions
• International attendees reported lower satisfaction
• Replay view duration was under 12 minutes on average
• Accessibility requests were handled reactively

Leadership believed accessibility was “covered” because CART was available for the keynote.

The data told a different story.

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Intervention: Implementing Scalable Live Captioning and Translation

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The organization implemented three key changes:

1. Real-time captioning across all sessions (not just keynotes)
2. Multilingual translation for top 5 international attendee languages
3. QR-based access so attendees could view captions on personal devices

Instead of relying solely on traditional workflows, the event adopted a scalable platform model similar to what InterScribe provides — enabling real-time captions and multilingual translation without multiplying interpreter costs.

The shift wasn’t just technical. It was operational:

• Accessibility was promoted in marketing materials
• Registration forms asked about language preferences
• Speakers were briefed on caption-friendly presentation pacing
• Usage analytics were enabled

This allowed measurement — not assumptions.

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The Measurable Outcomes (Year One)

1. Increased Virtual Retention

Average virtual session watch time increased from 12 minutes to 22 minutes.

That nearly doubled engagement duration.

Longer retention meant:

• Higher sponsor exposure
• Increased perceived value
• Greater replay engagement

2. Higher International Participation

International registrations increased by 14% year-over-year.

Why?

Because multilingual access was clearly communicated in advance.

Removing language friction expands addressable market size.

3. Improved Satisfaction Scores

Post-event survey results showed:

• 24% improvement in “ease of following sessions”
• 19% increase in overall satisfaction among virtual attendees
• 31% of attendees reported captions improved comprehension (including native speakers)

Accessibility improved experience universally — not just for those with disabilities.

4. Reduced On-Site Support Requests

Previously, staff managed reactive accessibility accommodations. After implementing universal captioning:

• On-site accommodation requests dropped by 40%
• Staff time shifted from troubleshooting to engagement

Proactive accessibility reduces operational strain.

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Financial Framing: Where the ROI Becomes Clear

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Let’s break down revenue and cost implications.

Increased Registrations

A 14% increase in international attendees at $399 virtual registration:

If 100 additional international attendees registered: → $39,900 incremental revenue

Higher Sponsor Value

With longer session retention:

• Sponsor impressions increased
• Virtual booth engagement improved
• Sponsorship packages were repriced upward the following year

Retention equals monetizable attention.

Reduced Interpreter Scaling Costs

Previously:

• Each additional language required separate interpreter coordination

With scalable AI-powered multilingual support:

• Marginal cost per language decreased significantly

The organization reduced per-language expansion cost by an estimated 60%.

Risk Reduction

Compliance alignment with frameworks like the :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2} (ADA) reduced potential exposure and reputational risk.

While harder to quantify, legal avoidance has real financial implications.

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The Repeatable Patterns in Accessibility ROI

This accessibility ROI case study reveals patterns that apply across sectors.

Pattern 1: Universal Design Outperforms Reactive Accommodation

Waiting for individual requests:

• Creates friction
• Signals exclusion
• Increases staff burden

Making captions available to everyone:

• Normalizes accessibility
• Reduces stigma
• Increases usage

Pattern 2: Multilingual Access Expands Market Share

According to the :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}, over 1 billion people live with some form of disability globally. Add non-native speakers and aging populations, and the reachable audience expands dramatically.

Events that remove communication barriers grow geographically.

Pattern 3: Accessibility Improves Metrics Beyond Compliance

Captioning improves:

• Focus
• Comprehension
• Information retention
• Content shareability

That means:

• Better session ratings
• Stronger brand reputation
• Increased likelihood of repeat attendance

Accessibility drives performance metrics.

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Applying This to Universities and Churches

The ROI case isn’t limited to conferences.

Universities

Universities face compliance obligations under laws like :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.

But beyond compliance:

• Captioned lectures increase academic performance
• Multilingual support aids international students
• Hybrid accessibility improves enrollment competitiveness

When accessibility becomes part of the academic experience, it enhances institutional positioning.

Churches and Ministries

Faith-based organizations often serve multilingual communities.

Providing:

• Live captions
• Language translation
• Hybrid viewing accessibility

Signals welcome.

It also increases:

• Online service retention
• Community reach
• Engagement across generations

Accessibility aligns with mission-driven communication.

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Why Accessibility ROI Accelerates Over Time

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The second year of implementation typically shows stronger ROI than the first.

Why?

Because:

• Accessibility messaging strengthens marketing differentiation
• International word-of-mouth expands
• Attendee expectations shift positively
• Data allows smarter targeting

In the case study scenario, year two saw:

• 9% additional growth in international attendance
• Sponsorship revenue increase tied to higher engagement metrics
• Accessibility usage metrics included in annual reporting

Once accessibility becomes embedded operationally, it compounds.

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The Role of Technology in Scaling ROI

The turning point in most accessibility ROI case studies is scalability.

Traditional models:

• Linear cost growth
• Limited language expansion
• Manual coordination

Modern platforms like InterScribe:

• Deliver real-time captions
• Offer multilingual translation
• Integrate with hybrid platforms
• Provide usage analytics

That combination turns accessibility into infrastructure — not a special request.

When infrastructure scales, ROI becomes predictable.

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Key Metrics to Track in Your Own Accessibility ROI Case Study

If you want defensible results, track:

1. Caption usage rate
2. Language selection breakdown
3. Virtual watch time
4. International registration growth
5. Satisfaction scores tied to comprehension
6. Accommodation request volume
7. Sponsor engagement metrics

Accessibility ROI becomes visible when you measure it intentionally.

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Conclusion: Accessibility Is an Investment Category, Not an Expense Line

This accessibility ROI case study demonstrates a simple truth:

When accessibility is implemented strategically — not reactively — it drives measurable outcomes.

It increases:

• Attendance
• Engagement
• Retention
• Sponsor value
• Operational efficiency

And it reduces:

• Risk
• Staff burden
• Language barriers
• Audience exclusion

If you’re planning an event, leading institutional communications, or responsible for accessibility strategy, the question is no longer whether accessibility matters.

The question is whether you are measuring it.

Because once you track the data, the ROI becomes clear.

And when accessibility delivers both impact and revenue, it stops being a compliance checkbox — and starts becoming a growth strategy.