eAccessibility Academy > Accessibility Basics > What is disability and accessibility?

What is disability and accessibility?

It is a natural assumption that everyone can view and use all electronic media such as word documents, powerpoints, websites, online course materials, videos and so on. While computers and the internet have allowed people to connect to information, it is important to understand why only about 80% of the population can truly use electronic media. Having a common understanding of disability and accessibility can help us successfully address issues in electronic media so that it can be used by everyone.

Disability Defined

An individual with a disability is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as a person who has:

a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities,
a person who has a history or record of such an impairment,
or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment.

Accessible Defined

"Accessible" means a person with a disability is afforded the opportunity to:

acquire the same information,
engage in the same interactions, &
enjoy the same services as a person without a disability
in an equally effective & equally integrated manner,
with substantially equivalent ease of use.
At the same time as a person without a disability

Important takeaway!

The person with a disability must be able to obtain the information as fully, equally & independently as a person without a disability. ~ Settlement Agreement, US Dept. of Education