accessibility
Last updatedWhat to know
Broadly, accessibility is the design of a public space, website, or any other object that makes that object as usable for a person with a disability as it is for any person without that specific disability. It should give a person with a disability not only the opportunity but also a feeling of permission and right to access it. Accessibility is meant to ensure equal and integrated opportunities for more people. “Universal design” considers accessibility in its guiding principles, though universal design also considers nondisability experiences such as age.
Accessibility is not a static feature. A given public space may be accessible for a person with one disability but not to someone with a different disability. Accessibility features may also be physically apparent to some people (e.g., a wheelchair ramp at an entrance) or may seem hidden or less tangible (such as whether closed captions/subtitles are available on a video).
The Americans With Disabilities Act gives specific guidelines for certain features of buildings and public spaces, including ramps, curbs, and table heights, but these standards vary according to when a building was constructed, and violations are not consistently reported or enforced, leading to ongoing issues with accessibility.
If discussing accessibility, being as specific as possible about the issue(s) and how they impact someone with a certain disability adds essential context. Providing an accessible option in web-based and other publishing ensures your content is available to a wider audience.
Additional resources
- Accessibility guidelines and requirements (Vox Media)
- New Library Is a $41.5 Million Masterpiece. But About Those Stairs. (New York Times)
- Accessibility: Start with the 7 Core Skills (University of Minnesota)
- What is Accessibility? (Interaction Design Foundation)
- Disability/Accessibility (Equal Rights Center)
Summary
Accessibility generally means how easily a person with a disability can access something compared to a person without that disability. It is not a static feature. A given public space may be accessible for a person with one disability but not to someone with a different disability. If discussing accessibility, being as specific as possible about the issue(s) and how they impact someone with a certain disability adds essential context. Providing an accessible option in web-based and other publishing ensures your content is available to a wider audience.