Accessibility

Accessibility can be defined as the "ability to access" the functionality, and possible benefit, of some system or entity and is used to describe the degree to which a product such as a device, service, environment is accessible by as many people as possible.

Accessibility is often used to focus on people with disabilities and their right of access to entities, often through use of assistive technology. Several definitions of accessibility refer directly to access-based individual rights laws and regulations. Products or services designed to meet these regulations are often termed Easy Access or Accessible.

While accessibility is often used to describe facilities or amenities to assist people with disabilities, as in "wheelchair accessible", the term can extend to Braille signage, wheelchair ramps, elevators, audio signals at pedestrian crossings, walkway contours, website design, and so on.

Another dimension of accessibility is the ability to access information and services by minimizing the barriers of distance and cost as well as the usability of the interface. In many countries this has led to initiatives, laws and regulations that aim toward providing universal access to the internet and to phone systems at reasonable cost to citizens.

The disability rights movement advocates equal access to social, political, and economic life which includes not only physical access but access to the same tools, services, organizations and facilities which we all pay for.

Different countries currently have legislation requiring physical accessibility:

In the US, under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, new public and private business construction generally must be accessible. Existing private businesses are required to increase the accessibility of their facilities when making any other renovations in proportion to the cost of the other renovations. The U.S. Access Board is "A Federal Agency Committed to Accessible Design for People with Disabilities." Many states in the US have their own disability laws.

In South Africa The Promotion of Equality and the Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 2000 has numerous provisions for accessibility.

In Ontario, Canada, the Ontarians with Disabilities Act of 2001 is meant to "improve the identification, removal and prevention of barriers faced by persons with disabilities."

In Australia the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 has numerous provisions for accessibility.

In the UK the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 has numerous provisions for accessibility. In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport have mandated that each local authority produce an Accessibility Plan that is incorporated in their Local Transport Plan. An Accessibility Plan sets out how each local authority plans to improve access to employment, learning, health care, food shops and other services of local importance, particularly for disadvantaged groups and areas.

Further Information Regarding Accessibility

Disability Accessibility a Priority for UK Digital Services
Digital services for people with a disability are a priority in a new report, Access and Inclusion: Digital communications for all, released by Ofcom, the UK communications regulator.

Review Website Connects Businesses to Consumers with Disabilities
People with disabilities are included in school communities from pre-school through high school. Like their peers without disabilities, these young adults finish high school ready to continue their education, find meaningful jobs, make new friends and find a good place to live.

If Its Accessible They Will Come
Gates of public access unlocked during the last decade of the 20th Century have revolutionized life for people with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act has brought many public places within easier reach of those who "walk" in wheelchairs, read in Braille, communicate in sign language or hear with technology.

Color Contrasting for Accessibility
There are over two million registered blind people in the UK with more than five million unregistered. 94% of those blind people can see to some degree or other be it colors, shades or distorted shapes etc. It is because of this I would like to share the importance of color and luminance contrasting to give aid to the many vision impaired people in the world.