Accessibility
International ISO/IEC and European standards (CEN, CENELEC and ETSI) for accessibility, design for all, eAccessibility, assistive technologies, ergonomics, product safety and usability for people with disabilities.
More than a billion people around the globe have some disabilities. This is more true with the ageing of societies, as age is often associated with the loss of some capacities.
Ensuring that products, services, environments and processes are accessible to everyone is not only fundamental to human rights, but also a matter of addressing market and societal needs which pays back any investment in accessibility and design for all.
ISO, IEC, CEN, CENELEC and ETSI standards provide tools for companies and other organizations to comply with such important market needs and to assess if products, services or environments are accessible for all. They are essential to ensure the accessibility of products and services to all users, regardless of their physical or mental abilities.
These standards provide a practical framework for a wide range of organizations to ensure their products, services, processes and infrastructure are accessible. This includes, for example, making web content and mobile applications accessible to those with impaired vision, providing access to public transport for people with disabilities, and making sure digital products are accessible by those with impaired hearing or motor skills.
ISO, IEC and CEN, CENELEC standards provide technical guidance, best practices and tools to help organizations assess the accessibility of their products, services and infrastructure. The standards also provide a benchmark against which organizations can measure their progress.
Organizations use these standards to ensure that their products and services are accessible to all, including those with impaired vision, hearing, motor skills and cognitive abilities. The standards also provide guidance to help organizations understand the legal and regulatory requirements surrounding accessibility.
The standards also have specific advantages for organizations, such as the improved user experience, increased customer satisfaction and the potential for increased revenue. Additionally, conforming to the standards can help organizations meet their legal and regulatory requirements, reduce their risk of litigation, and ensure their compliance with national and international disability policies and regional legislation.
Ultimately, these standards provide organizations with the tools to ensure their products and services are accessible to all, regardless of their abilities. They provide a practical and cost-effective way of meeting the various accessibility requirements, regulations and laws, as well as improving customer satisfaction.
Keywords: ISO, IEC, CEN, CENELEC, standards, accessibility, assistive design, assistive, accessible, usability, ergonomy, ergonomics, human-centric, products, services, building, small, medium, enterprises, SMEs, participation, development, activities.