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Accessibility

Accessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a product (e.g., device, service, and

environment) is accessible by as many people as possible. Accessibility can be viewed as the "ability to

access" the functionality, and possible benefit, of some system or entity. 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 termedEasy Access orAccessible. [Citation needed]

Accessibility is not to be confused with usability which is used to describe the extent to which a product

(e.g., device, service, and environment) can be used by specified users to achieve specified goals with

effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction in a specified context of use.

Accessibility is strongly related to universal designwhen the approach involves "direct access." This is

about making things accessible to all people (whether they have a disability or not). However, products

marketed as having benefited from a Universal Design process are often actually the same devices

customized specifically for use by people with disabilities.[citation needed] An alternative is to provide

"indirect access" by having the entity support the use of a person's assistive technology to achieve access(e.g., screen reader).

Contents

1 Disabilities

2 Transportation

o 2.1 Accessibility planning

o 2.2 Low floor

3 Housing

o 3.1 Adaptations and accomodations 4 Telecommunications and IT access

5 Meeting and Conference Access

6 Test accessibility

7 See also

8 References

9 External links

Disabilities

The disability rights movementadvocates 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.

This is the internationally recognized symbol for accessibility

While it is often used to describe facilities or amenities to assist people with disabilities, as in

"wheelchair accessible", the term can extend to Braille signage, wheelchairramps, elevators, audio

signals atpedestrian crossings, walkway contours,website design,reading accessibility, and so on.

Various countries have legislation requiring physical accessibility which are (in order of enactment):

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
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the cost of the other renovations. The U.S. Access Board is "A Federal Agency Committed to

Accessible Design forPeople with Disabilities." The Job Accommodation Networkdiscusses

accommodations for people with disabilities in the workplace. Many states in the US have their

own disability laws.

In Australia, Disability Discrimination Act 1992 has numerous provisions for

accessibility.

In the UK, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995has numerous provisions for

accessibility.

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 Actof 2001 is meant to "improve the

identification, removal and prevention of barriers faced by persons with disabilities..."

Transportation

Accessibility to allbuses is provided inCuritiba'spublic transport system, Brazil.

An adapted bus in So Lus,Brazil .

In transportation, accessibility refers to the ease of reaching destinations. People who are in places that

are highly accessible can reach many other activities or destinations quickly, people in inaccessible

places can reach many fewer places in the same amount of time.

A measure that is often used is to measure accessibility in atraffic analysis zonei is:

where:
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i = index of origin zones

j = index of destination zones = function of generalized travel cost (so that nearer or less expensive places are weighted

more than farther or more expensive places).

For a non-motorized mode of transport, such as walking orcycling, the generalized travel cost may

include additional factors such as safety orgradient.

Automobile accessibility also refers to ease of use by disabled people.

This section requires expansion

Accessibility planning

In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport have mandated that each local authority produce

an Accessibility Plan that is incorporated in theirLocal 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. Accessibility targets

are defined in the accessibility plans, these are often the distance or time to access services by differentmodes of transport including walking, cycling and public transport.

Accessibility Planning was introduced as a result of the report "Making the Connections: Final Report

on Transport and Social Exclusion" [1]. This report was the result of research carried out by the Social

Exclusion Unit. The United Kingdom also has a "code of practice" for making train and stations

accessible: "Accessible Train and Station Design for Disabled People: A Code of Practice" [2]. This code

of practice was first published in 2002 with the objective of compliance to Section 71B of the Railways

Act 1993, and revised after a public consultation period in 2008.

Low floor

"Low floor" redirects here

See also: Low-floor bus andLow-floor tram

A significant development in transportation, andpublic transportin particular, to achieve accessibility, is

the move to "low-floor" vehicles. In a low-floor vehicle, access to part or all of the passenger cabin is

unobstructed from one or more entrances by the presence of steps, enabling easier access for the infirm

or people withpush chairs. A further aspect may be that the entrance and corridors are wide enough to

accommodate a wheelchair. Low-floor vehicles have been developed forbuses,trolleybuses and trams.

A low floor in the vehicular sense is normally combined in a conceptual meaning with normal pedestrianaccess from a standard kerbheight. However, the accessibility of a low-floor vehicle can also be utilised

from slightly raising portions of kerb atbus stops, or through use of level boardingbus rapid transit

'stations' or tram stops. The combination of access from a kerb was the technological development of the

1990s, as step-free interior layouts for buses had existed in some cases for decades, with entrance steps

being introduced as chassis designs and overall height regulations changed.

Low-floor buses may also be designed with special height adjustment controls that permit a stationary

bus to temporarily lower itself to ground level, permitting wheelchair access. This is referred to as a

kneeling bus.

At rapid transit systems, vehicles generally have floors in the same height as the platforms but thestations are often underground or elevated, so accessibility there isn't a question of providing low-floor

vehicles, but providing a step-free access from street level to the platforms (generally byelevators,
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which are somewhere restricted to disabled passengers only, so that the step-free access isn't obstructed

by healthy people taking advantage).

Housing

Most existing and new housing, even in the wealthiest nations, lack basicaccessibility features unless

the designated, immediate occupant of a home currently has a disability. However, there are some

initiatives to change typical residential practices so that new homes incorporate basic access featuressuch as zero-step entries and door widths adequate for wheelchairs to pass through. Occupational

Therapists are a professional group skilled in the assessment and making of recommendations to

improve access to homes.[3] They are involved in both the adaptation of existing housing to improve

accessibility,[4] and in the design of future housing.[5]

Great Britain applies the most widespread application of home access to date. In 1999, Parliament

passed Section M, an amendment to residential building regulations requiring basic access in all new

homes. ("Doors to Be Swept Away in New Rules for Builders", Rachel Kelley, The Times, December 5,

1997.) In the United States, the 1988 Amendments to theFair Housing Act added people with

disabilities, as well as familial status, to the classes already protected by law from discrimination (race,

color, sex, religion and country of origin). Among the protection for people with disabilities in the 1988Amendments are seven construction requirements for all multifamily buildings of more than four units

first occupied after March 13, 1991. These seven requirements are as follows:

1. An accessible building entrance on an accessible route.

2. Accessible common and public use areas.

3. Doors usable by a person in a wheelchair.

4. Accessible route into and through the dwelling unit.

5. Light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats and other environmental controls in

accessible locations.

6. Reinforced walls in bathrooms for later installation of grab bars.

7. Usable kitchens and bathrooms.

(From Fair Housing First, a website sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban

Development).

Access is typically defined within the limits of what a person sitting in a wheelchair is able to reach with

arm movement only, with minimal shifting of the legs and torso. As such lighting and thermostat

controls should not be above and power outlets should not be below the reach of a wheelchair bound

person.

Sinks and cooking areas typically need to be designed without cupboards below them, to permit the legsof the wheelchair user to roll underneath, and countertops may be of reduced height to accommodate a

sitting rather than standing user. In some cases two food preparation areas may be combined into a

single kitchen to permit both standing and wheelchair users.

In spite of these advancements, the housing types where most people in the United States reside

single-family homesare not covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, or

any other federal law with the exception of the small percentage of publicly-funded homes impacted by

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. As a result, the great majority of new single-family homes

replicate the barriers in existing homes.

The broad concept of Universal Design is relevant to housing, as it is to all aspects of the builtenvironment. Furthermore, a Visitability movement begun by grass roots disability advocates in the

1980s focuses specifically on changing construction practices in new housing. This movement, a

network of interested people working in their locales, works on educating, passing laws, and spurring
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voluntary home access initiatives with the intention that basic access become a routine part of new home

construction.

Adaptations and accommodations

Many ranch style homes and manufactured homesutilize a main floor slightly raised above ground

level, but have an overall flat layout with either a crawlspaceor slightly raisedbasementbelow for

plumbing, electrical, and heating systems. These homes can be relatively easily modified to

accommodate wheelchairs and walkers, with the installation of a long low-rise ramp outside the

building, up to the house entrance, placed over the existing stairway. This ramp can then be removed at

a later time, reverting back to the stairway entrance if the handicapped access is no longer necessary.

Split level homestend to be designed with multiple internal stairways and half-floor landings inside the

building. There may be an entrance area inside the building at ground level, with stairs inside the

entrance that immediately go up and down from the ground level. These homes are difficult to

accommodate inexpensively since there is often no space available inside the structure to install long

sloping wheelchair ramps to access the various floors. It may be possible to retrofit stair lifts into the

stairwells orwheelchair liftsinto balconies near the stairwell.

Multi-story homes can sometimes be accommodated by installing a private residential elevator, which is

usually much less expensive and has fewer design and layout requirements than a full commercial

elevator. Homebuilders can in some cases plan for a future residential elevator by designing closet

spaces in each floor stacked vertically with the same dimensions and location. At a later time the closet

floors and ceilings are removed and the elevator equipment is installed into the open shaft.

This section requires expansion

Telecommunications and IT access

Main article: Design for All (in ICT)

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.

Currently there are a few major movements to coordinate a set of guidelines for accessibility for the

web. The first and most well known is TheWeb Accessibility Initiative(WAI), which is part of the

World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). This organization developed theWeb Content Accessibility

Guidelines (WCAG) 1.0 which explains how to make Web content accessible to people with disabilities.Web "content" generally refers to the information in a Web page or Web application, including text,

images, forms, sounds, and such. (More specific definitions are available in the WCAG documents.) [6]

The WCAG is separated into 3 levels of compliance, A, AA and AAA. Each level requires a stricter set

of conformance guidelines, such as different versions ofHTML(Transitional vs Strict) and other

techniques that need to be incorporated into your code before accomplishing validation. Online tools

such as the Watchfire WebXACT engine or theimergo Web Compliance Managerwill allow users to

submit their website and automatically run it through the WCAG guidelines and produce a report,

stating whether or not they conform to each level of compliance. Adobe Dreamweaveralso offers

plugins which allow web developers to test these guidelines on their work from within the program.

Another source of web accessibility guidance comes from the US government. Section 508 of the US

Rehabilitation Actis a comprehensive set of rules designed to help web designers make their sites

accessible. The U.S. General Services Administration have also developed a website where one can take

online training courses for free to learn about these rules[7].
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In general, for a website to comply with accessibility standards, they should at least have the following:

(X)HTML Validation from the W3C for the pages content

CSS Validation from the W3C for the pages layout

At least WAI-AA (preferably AAA) compliance with the WAI's WCAG

Compliance with all guidelines from Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act

Access keysbuilt into the HTML

Semantic Web Markup

A high contrast version of the site for individuals with low vision

Alternative media for any multimedia used on the site (video, flash, audio, etc)

Another good idea is for websites to include a web accessibility statement on the site. This page details

the accessible status of the page, lists access keys and can display which validations have been achieved

for the site as well as include their pledge for accessibility.Example of an accessibility statement

Meeting and Conference Access

Meetings and conferences should consider the needs of all of their participants. Checklists such as this

may make it easier to identify specific needs:

Mobility access:

Wheelchair accessible transportation

Reserved parking

Barrier-free meeting rooms / restrooms / podium/speaker's platform

Handicap accessible lodging

Hearing access:

Advance copies of papers

An assistive listening system

Sign language interpreters

A quiet place to gather for social conversation (a quieter space that is still visible to

others should be reserved at social events or dinners so that people who are hard of hearing may

go there to talk with their colleagues.)

TTY access or Internet-based TRS

Sight access:

Large print/braille copies of the program and papers A student volunteer to guide and describe the artwork, computer work, etc.

A tech to help with assistive devices and screen readers (e.g., JAWS reader)

Gloves to touch three dimensional work (where permissible)

Other issues:

Notification if social events include flashing lights and noises (these can cause seizures,

so either avoid them or announce them ahead of time).

Notices asking participants to refrain from allergy-producing problems (e.g., perfumes)

Inform food providers of food allergies (e.g., peanuts, shellfish, etc.)

Referral information for local personal care attendant agencies Referral information for veterinarian care for service animals

Access to a place to rest during the day (if the conference venue is far from the lodgings)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Access_keyshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semantichttp://www.bostonretinalimplant.org/accessibility.phphttp://www.bostonretinalimplant.org/accessibility.phphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Access_keyshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semantichttp://www.bostonretinalimplant.org/accessibility.php


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Test accessibility

Test accessibility is defined as the extent to which a test and its constituent item set eliminates barriers

and permits the test-taker to demonstrate his or her knowledge of the tested content. Test accessibility

involves an interaction between features of the test and individual test-taker characteristics.

With the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, student accountability in essential content

areas such as reading, mathematics, and science has become a major area of focus in educational reform.As a result, test developers have needed to create tests to ensure all students, including those with

special needs (e.g., students identified with disabilities), are given the opportunity to demonstrate the

extent to which they have mastered the content measured on state assessments. Currently, states are

permitted to develop two different types of tests in addition to the standard grade-level assessments to

target students with special needs. First, the alternate assessment may be used to report proficiency for

up to 1% of students in a state. Second, new regulations permit the use of alternate assessments based on

modified academic achievement standards to report proficiency for up to 2% of students in a state.

To ensure these new tests generate results that permit valid inferences about student performance, they

must be accessible to as many individuals as possible. The Test Accessibility and Modification

Inventory (TAMI)[8] and its companion evaluation tool, the Accessibility Rating Matrix (ARM), weredesigned to facilitate the evaluation of tests and test items with a focus on enhancing their accessibility.

Both instruments integrate principles of accessibility theory and were guided by research on universal

design, assessment accessibility, cognitive load theory, and research on item-writing and test

development. The TAMI is a non-commercial instrument that has been made available to all state

assessment directors and testing companies. Assessment researchers have used the ARM to conduct

accessibility reviews of state assessment items for several state departments of education.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accessibility#cite_note-7%23cite_note-7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accessibility#cite_note-7%23cite_note-7

accessibility.doc

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