What Is Accessibility?

When a product or service is created, everyone should be able to make full use of it. However, to businesses and organizations, one common question arises with regard to users with special needs; how they could make their product or service in tune with the needs of persons with disabilities.

In response to this, government and non-government institutions have developed a practice that involves guidelines and criteria that address the concerns of persons with disabilities. This practice is known as accessibility.

Accessibility is a quality that determines the degree to which individuals with special needs can access and utilize a product or service. It supports the idea that persons with disabilities (e.g. the blind, deaf, and people with mental disabilities) should be able to use the said types of commodities.

Accessibility involves adding certain features, modifying existing ones, and/or removing barriers. For instance, a building that has elevators and wheelchair ramps lets wheelchair users move freely. Also, non-complex instructions in a public sign make people with learning disabilities understand its purpose. A video presentation whose audio is translated to sign language helps deaf viewers appreciate its content. Similarly, a facility that has Braille marks would make blind users move and work more independently.

Accessibility is a field that is being recognized by more and more groups. Every year, many conferences and forums are held to discuss accessibility issues both in the local and international level. In most countries, laws that mandate the accessibility of products and facilities have been established, and governments are creating and passing more legislation to make products and services accessible to all. Furthermore, companies are being set up to provide accessibility consulting to businesses and institutions. As a result, more people are becoming aware of accessibility and its effect on the society in general.