Accessibility vs. Accommodation
Approximate reading time: 1:30
Accessibility and accommodation are related concepts but the two are not the same.
Accessibility is the result of a proactive process. Accessible systems are designed and developed intentionally to support the widest spectrum of people and situations, including persons with disabilities and users of assistive technologies.
Accommodation is typically a reactive response to one or more accessibility barrier discovered after a system is already in use. Accommodations tend to correct an issue that impacts a specific individual or population but may not make a system fully accessible.
| Accessibility | Accommodation |
|---|---|
|
Proactive; implemented in all phases of a system lifecycle |
Reactive: typically implemented to address a specific barrier |
| Available to everyone at the same time, in the same system | Often results in delays while an issue is addressed; may also result in a separate system. |
| Intended to avoid barriers and optimize access from the beginning | An attempt to fix discrete barriers in an inaccessible system |
| Benefits all users regardless of disability status or means of interaction | May require a person to disclose a disabling condition or disability status |
| Intended to provide a consistent, equitable, and essentially equivalent experience for all | Often results in a fundamentally different experience for some users |
| Typically requires minimal additional effort; fits naturally into tech workflows | Often requires significant time, effort, and expense |