Accessibility

Accessibility is a general term used to describe how easy it is for people to get to, use, and understand things.

Disabilities

Accessibility is most often used to describe facilities or amenities to assist people with disabilities, as in "wheelchair accessible". This can extend to Braille signage, wheelchair ramps, audio signals at pedestrian crossings, walkway contours, website design, and so on. The disability rights movement advocates for more accessibility.

Various countries have legislation requiring accessibility:

• In the UK, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 has 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. Many states in the US have their own disability laws.

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 music is often valued by its creators and others for its high concentration of information while being criticized by Fred Lerdahl and others for being literally unintelligable.

See also Computer accessibility.

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