What is Accessibility?
Accessibility is the ability to use a product (service or system) under limiting
conditions resulting from functional or situational limitations. Functional limitations
can be physical or mental (cognitive) and are usually associated to individuals with
disabilities. Blindness, carpal tunnel syndrome, and arthritis are examples of functional
limitations. Situational limitations arise from the need to use some resource under
unfavorable conditions and affect us all. The need for eyes and hands free operation of a
cellular phone while driving is an example of a situational limitation.
Accessibility makes resources that are well designed and implemented usable for individuals
with disabilities. A person with disabilities uses some form of assistive technology to access
the resource. For example, when a blind person is using a screen reader.
Usability
Assistive technologies, accessibility, and usability are three components that work together.
For example in navigating the web, a person with a disability uses assistive technology to access
information that is accessible. Beyond the resource being accessible to the disabled user, the
information must be usable. A usable site is one that can be used effectively and efficiently
and leads to user satisfaction. Accessibility and usability are best implemented when considered
holistically and early in the design of the resource.
Why Consider Accessibility?
As a result of federal regulations (Section 508) accessibility is in the forefront of interface
design for organizations dealing with the production of hardware, software and websites. There
are however better reasons to develop accessible resources other than complying with the law.
In particular, the resources become available to a broader group of people and in situations
where use of the resource may have been limited. Resources designed with accessibility and
usability in mind result in more effective access to information and higher levels of user
satisfaction. Accessible sites often result in cost savings, and increased revenue from eCommerce
transactions. Most importantly, there are ethical considerations, accessibility is not only the
law, it's the right thing to do!