Understanding Access and Accommodation

Access

When we use the term ‘access’ when talking about people with disabilities, we’re using it just as we do in any other context – the ability to retrieve/use/benefit from/participate fully in something. Specifically, it is the ability to access something independently or without needing to ask for a modification or alternative format. For example, making sure a blind person can navigate a website or fill out a form without the help of a sighted person.

As accessibility has become a larger buzz word, it’s becoming more common to see it used to mean available. It’s important to distinguish these terms. An item may be available because it’s posted online. However, if not everyone can open/navigate/interact with the item, then it is not accessible.

Accommodation

The term accommodation refers to making a modification after the fact for someone to gain access or participate as fully as others. However, this doesn’t mean that if someone needs accommodations your materials are not accessible. There are cases where a student will need accommodations regardless of whether learning is accessible. For instance, the accessibility of online content will not necessarily eliminate the extra time it takes to complete a quiz with a screen reader or without the use of a mouse – that accommodation of extended time is still important.

Proactive vs Reactive Design

Access and accommodation aren’t defined based on the service, but based more on when the service is provided. Access usually involves ensuring everyone can use/participate from the very start. For instance, if I were hosting a meeting or event and made all of the handouts available digitally in addition to print, then participants who use assistive technology to read the handouts would be able to participate as fully as anyone using a printed handout.

Accommodations are made on an individual, as needed, basis. Accommodations are arranged once a person has brought to attention what they need to engage in the material/activity. For instance, if I did not plan on providing digital copies of my meeting handouts, then participants would need to make individual requests for digital or large print versions. Access is proactive (designing/planning with everyone’s needs in mind) and accommodation is reactive (making modifications based on an individual’s needs).

What does accessibility mean to people living with disabilities?

Video: What is Accessibility? [time: 5:46 min.]

Putting it Together

While there are cases where people will always need accommodations (like using a sign language interpreter, or extended time to allow for use of a screen reader), by making your materials accessible from the beginning, you eliminate some of the obstacles and cut down on some of the hassle it may take a person to navigate your content. Doing as much work as you can on the front end eliminates the potential for a lot of work put into modifying your content at the last minute when you find out someone needs an alternative/accessible format.

Focusing on access is proactive – you’re taking the steps to design materials that are usable for the most number of people. Focusing on accommodations is typically reactive – you’re waiting for someone to approach you with a problem before you make changes.

Because we’ve become so accustomed to and have benefited from physical access, sometimes it’s good to use physical spaces as examples to drive the point home. Imagine if architects didn’t prioritize accessibility. We would never find it logical to put an elevator into a multistory building only when someone using a wheelchair or crutches shows up. Designing learning content is the same – it’s often much more disruptive and time consuming to remediate materials rather than make them accessible from the start.

Text Attributions

• This chapter was adapted from SBCTC’s Library of Accessibility Resources. Licensed under a CC Attribution license.

Media Attributions

• “What is Accessibility?” video by Annie Elainey is licensed under the Standard YouTube license.