ACCESSIBILITY - A Business and Market Imperative
Ray Ingram
The Productivity Works, Inc
April, 1998
There are 4 items we will be discussing
Slide 03
OPPORTUNITY
To create products for the widest range of users and markets:
Accessibility is not for people with disabilities - it is for everyone
Without Accessibility, markets become restricted and limited
Slide 04
OPPORTUNITY
750,000,000 people with disabilities World-Wide
but
All these people have SITUATIONAL DISABILITIES
Different interactions and different delivery modalities are required to match their needs
Slide 05
OPPORTUNITY
Access to Information should be a fundamental human right
Access to Information and Services through multiple modalities is required to support today's life-styles - You Cannot be Chained to a desktop or laptop PC
UNIVERSAL DESIGN - design for all users and modalities results in products for all market segments
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LEGISLATION
Within the USA (a major geographic market)
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LEGISLATION
The (Telecommunications) Act requires manufacturers of telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment to ensure the equipment is designed, developed, and fabricated to be accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, if readily achievable
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ACCESSIBILITY - By Whom?
Firstly, remember good Human Factors design already incorporates the needs of the audiences we have described
What types of disabilities are we referring to:
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ACCESSIBILITY - By Whom?
Everyone - different times, places, and situations
Providing access to Information and Services across these changing environments can double, or even triple, potential markets. Handling real and situational disabilities.
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ACTION STEPS Everyone Should be Taking
Integrate issues of Universal Design into basic design and design verification processes
Review and participate in the work of the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)
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RESOURCES
Slide 12
ACCESSIBILITY - A Business and Market Imperative