Appendix: Defining Accessibility

There are many definitions for accessibility2. Below are a pool of definitions found from the literature and on the Web:

  1. Web accessibility means that people with disabilities can use the Web. More specifically, Web accessibility means that people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the Web, and that they can contribute to the Web. WAI / Thatcher, M. Burks, C. Heilmann, S. Henry, A. Kirkpatrick, P. Lauke, B. Law- son, B. Regan, R. Rutter, M. Urban, and C. Waddell. Web Accessibility: Web Standards and Regulatory Compliance, 2006. http://www.w3.org/WAI/intro/accessibility.php.
  2. Technology is accessible if it can be used as effectively by people with disabilities as by those without. Jim Thatcher http://www.jimthatcher.com/webcourse1.htm.
  3. Individuals with disabilities, who are members of the public seeking information or services from a Federal agency, have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that provided to the public who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. Section 508 http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/standards.htm#Subpart_a.
  4. Accessibility is the word used to describe whether a product (for example, a website, mobile site, digital TV interface or application) can be used by people of all abilities and disabilities. BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/best_practice/what_is.shtml.
  5. Web accessibility is about making your website accessible to all Internet users (both disabled and non-disabled), regardless of what browsing technology they’re using. Webcredible http://www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources/web-accessibility/basics.shtml.
  6. Web site accessibility is the ease with which people–all types of people–can use your site, regardless of situational or physical limitations. W3Access http://www.w3access.com/access.htm.
  7. Accessible web design is the practice of designing and developing websites that are usable by everyone. Knowbility http://wiki.knowbility.org/2010/03/02/web-accessibility-guidelines/.
  8. Web Accessibility is about the inclusion and participation of people with disabilities using the web. Imperial College http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/ict/services/teachingandresearchservices/elearning/webaccessibility.
  9. The principle that all web users should have access to information available on the internet. AccessibilIT http://www.accessibilit.com/public/content/glossary.html#W.
  10. Users with disabilities can only utilize a web site if it is designed to be compatible with the various assistive technologies. A web site that is sufficiently flexible to be used by all of these assistive technologies is called an accessible web site. Lazar et al. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2003.10.018.
  11. Universal design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extend possible, without the need for adaptation of specialised design. Universal design for Web applications by Chisholm and May
  12. The extend to which a product/website can be used by specified users with specified disabilities to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction in a specified context of use. ISO 9241 - quoted from Petrie and Kheir http://doi.acm.org/10.1145/1240624.1240688.
  13. The problem is that most websites have accessibility barriers that make it difficult or impossible for many people with disabilities to use them. Web accessibility is about removing those barriers so that people with disabilities can use and contribute to the web. Just Ask: Integrating Accessibility Throughout Design by Shawn Lawton Henry
  14. Accessible websites allow all users including elderly people and people with disabilities to use the Web content. Web content should be accessed by everyone regardless of disability. ‘What is Web accessibility’ by Ueki Makoto, Bulletin of the Japan Special Libraries Association, No: 218, pp 28-33 http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/200618/000020061806A0638159.php.
  15. A Website is accessible if it deploys services and information so that they can be exploited with no discrimination also by disabled persons. Italian Parliament http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-85200-1_9.
  16. A website is accessible if it it is effective, efficient and satisfactory for more people in more situations. J. Thatcher, C. Waddell, S. Henry, S. Swierenga, M. Urban, M. Burks, B. Regan, and P. Bohman. Constructing Accessible Web Sites. Glasshouse, 2002. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-85200-1_9.
  17. The removal of all technical barriers to effective interaction. Simon Harper
  18. There are no accessible pages. There are pages that are accessible to a person, in an environment (physical and technical), carrying out a task. In fact that is the only way you can determine that something is “accessible” in the absolute. That same page may be in accessible to the same person in a different environment (physical or accessible).

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Appendix: Ethics Annex