Accessibility

Accessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a system is usable by as many people as possible without modification. Specific focus is placed on users with alternate devices and disabilities. It is not to be confused with usabilitywhich is used to describe how easily a thing can be used by any type of user. One meaning of accessibility specifically focuses on people with disabilities, but there are other meanings discussed below.

Disabilities

Image:Handicap.png Accessibility is most often used to describe facilities or amenities to assist people with disabilities, as in "wheelchair accessible". This can extend to Braillesignage, wheelchairramps, audio signals at pedestrian crossings, walkway contours, website design, and so on. The disability rights movementadvocates for more accessibility.

Various countries have legislation requiring accessibility:

• In the UK, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995has numerous provisions for 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 Boardis "A Federal Agency Committed to Accessible Design for People with Disabilities." Many states in the US have their own disability laws.
• 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

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 a traffic analysis zonei is:

<math> Accessibility_i = \sum_j {Opportunities_j } f\left( {C_{ij} } \right) </math> where:

• i = index of origin zones
• j = index of destination zones
• f(C_ij) = function of generalized travel cost (so that nearer (or less expensive) places are weighted more than farther or more expensive places).

Art and entertainment

Pieces of music, novels, and other works of art are commonly judged on their accessibility, with some feeling that less-accessible works are superior and some considering them inferior. For instance, serial musicis often valued by its creators and others for its high concentration of information while being criticized by Fred Lerdahland others for being literally unintelligible.

See also

• Computer accessibility
• Inclusive Design
  • Web accessibility
• Assistive technology
• Public Transport Accessibility Level

External links

• Accessibility - American Foundation for the Blind
• In the United Kingdom a national registerof persons capable of auditing premises or designing modifications to them to raise their accessibility has been established.
• Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitalitybg:??????????

de:Barrierefreiheit es:Accesibilidad fr:Accessibilité ja:バリアフリー pt:Acessibilidade nl:Toegankelijkheid

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accessibility Wikipedia article Accessibility.