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. The U.S. Access Board is "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 Act of 2001 is meant to "improve the identification, removal and prevention of barriers faced by persons with disabilities..."