Designing for Accessibility
Everyone will experience limitations in accessibility at some point in their life.
Disabilities are barriers that occur when this is a mismatch between the interaction of a person's body with life situations.
The World Health Organization uses disability as an umbrella term to cover:
- impairments
- activity limitations
- participation restrictions
Disabilities
A person in a wheelchair has an obvious, visible disability.
In fact, it is the international symbol of access.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
The Accessible Icon
There are efforts to update that symbol. MOMA has already added the Accessible Icon to its permanent collection.
Not All Disabilities Are Visible
However, there are many types of disabilities.
Image: Ellen From Now On
Types of Disabilities
They are often categorized by limitations with
- sight
- hearing
- movement
- thinking
Image: University of Omaha
Also, check out the 2019 Disability Awareness Month and Observance Calendar.
Cognitive
- Attention Deficit
- Memory Deficit
- Problem Solving Deficit
- Learning Disabilities
Image: Global Reach
Disabilities Are Context Dependent
Permanent
- Legally blind
- Aging
Temporary
- Broken leg
- Recovering from a concussion
Situational
- Looking at a phone screen in bright sunlight
- Watching a video without headphones
Image: Microsoft Inclusive 101 Toolkit | View larger version
Comparing Similar Disabilities in Context
Examples where a person is limited to using only one arm:
- Permanent: Have one arm
- Temporary: Have a broken arm
- Situational: New parent carrying baby with one arm
Accessibility Preferences
Look for this type of icon to get to a device's or web site's accessibility information.
Image: WikiProject Accessibility
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