ISO/IEC Guide 71:2014Guide for addressing accessibility in standards

Andrew ArchDigital Government Strategy Department of Finance

Purpose

Help designers, manufacturers and educators gain a better understanding of the accessibility requirements of an increasing part of the population;

Increase the number of standards containing accessibility considerations, with perhaps a greater number focusing specifically on accessibility;

Integrate accessibility features into standards – and product or service design – from the outset.

Abstract

Provides guidance to standards developers on addressing accessibility requirements and recommendations in standards that focus, whether directly or indirectly, on systems (i.e. products, services and built environments) used by people.

To assist standards developers to define accessibility requirements and recommendations, it presents:

a summary of current terminology relating to accessibility

issues to consider in support of accessibility in the standards development process

a set of accessibility goals (used to identify user accessibility needs)

descriptions of (and design considerations for) human abilities and characteristics

strategies for addressing user accessibility needs and design considerations in standards

http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=57385

Accessibility in the standards development process

1. Define the standards project and the applicability of Guide 71

2. Ensure the standards development committee is well equipped to implement an accessible process with equitable participation

3. Develop the content of the standard

4. Issue the draft standard for public review and vote and revise the standard as needed

5. Publish the standard

Applying Guide 71

Identifies two complementary approaches to addressing accessibility

An ‘accessibility goals approach’ – identifying user accessibility needs

A ‘human abilities and characteristics approach’ - identifying design considerations

Accessibility Goals

1. Suitability for the widest range of users

2. Conformity with user expectations

3. Support for individualization

4. Approachability

5. Perceivability

6. Understandability

7. Controllability

8. Usability

9. Error tolerance

10. Equitable use

11. Compatibility with other systems

Human Abilities and Characteristics

Discusses a range of impairments and their limitations and related design considerations:

Sensory abilities and characteristics (seeing, hearing, touch, taste, smell)

Immunological system functions

Physical abilities and characteristics (body size, movement, strength and endurance, voice and speech functions)

Cognitive abilities

Strategies for addressing user accessibility needsand design considerations in standards

Developing standard-specific requirements and recommendations

Provide multiple means of information presentation and user interaction

Set parameter to accommodate the widest range of users

Minimise unnecessary complexity

Provide individualised access to a system

Eliminate unnecessary limits or constraints on user interactions

Provide compatibility with ATs

Provide alternative versions

Pros

Uses the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) from the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a resource for terminology

Released identically as:

CEN/CENELEC Guide 6 (PDF)

ITU H-series Supplement 17

Includes lots of design consideration guidance

Includes a checklist for the questions related to the accessibility goals

Provides extensive additional references

Links to a survey to obtain feedback and information about experiences using the Guide

Has good accessibility in PDF

Cons

No guidance as to which approach might suit what type of standard

40 questions to consider for the accessibility goals

Could have been a higher level set of checks (11 areas)

Very complex concepts for people with no disability/accessibility background

Overlooks some key WCAG 2.0 accessibility issues such as specifying flicker rates for seizures and minimum colour ratios

Includes Key Actions such as “Ensure that all commenting and voting tools are accessible” without any guidance

Potential conflict with EC Mandate 473 (inclusion of ‘design for all’ in relevant CEN/CENELEC/ETSI European standardisation initiatives)

Guide 71 is only available in PDF