7 Tables of factors to consider to ensure standards provide for accessible design
7.1 Introduction
Tables 1 to 7 provide a tool intended to help standards developers to identify factors that will affect the use of a product, service or environment by people with different levels of ability. It should be noted that individual users may have impairment in more than one ability and all abilities should always be considered.
7.2 Purpose of Tables
Each Table identifies typical clauses or sections of International Standards as follows:
Table 1 Information, labelling, instructions
and warnings
Table 2 Packaging: opening, closing, use and disposal
Table 3 Materials
Table 4 Installation
Table 5 User interface, handling, controls and
feedback
Table 6 Maintenance, storage and disposal
Table 7 Built environments (buildings)
7.3 Using the Tables
7.3.1 To use the Tables, it is suggested that standards developers first consider which Tables are relevant to their draft International Standard, that is, what sorts of clauses they expect to include in the standard. For example, a standard related to an electrical product might have clauses covering information, packaging, materials, installation, user interface and maintenance and thus Tables 1 to 6 would be relevant. A standard on food packaging might have clauses covering information, packaging, materials, user interface and maintenance, and so Tables 1 to 3, 5 and 6 should be consulted. A standard on building access might include clauses on information, materials, installation, user interface and the built environment in general, suggesting Tables 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7 should be looked at.
7.3.2 Within each Table, the first column identifies, through keywords, the factors which should be considered. The keywords are numbered as they are described in clause 8 of this Guide.
EXAMPLE
For an electrical product, when drafting clauses on information and warnings, consideration should
be given to alternative formats, the location and layout of information, the light conditions under
which it should be viewed, etc. The key words "Alternative format" are explained in more
detail in 8.2, "Location and layout" are
covered in 8.3, and so on.
7.3.3 The remaining columns of each Table show, by shading, where factors are significant for those with impairment in the various human abilities. Even though the factors which tend to be especially significant are shaded here, all the factors could be important and should be considered for each different case. So, again in Table 1, the use of alternative formats for information and warnings can be seen to be important for people with sensory impairment (in seeing, hearing, touch, taste or smell), and those who have impairment in dexterity or in language and literacy. The relevant alternative format may be different for different abilities but clearly the more alternative formats used, the greater the number of people who will be suited. Each of the human abilities is numbered as it appears in clause 9 so more information about, for example, an ability to see and the potential risks arising from impairment can be found in 9.2.1.
7.3.4 In conclusion, standards developers should use the Tables selectively - in terms of the Tables and factors that are relevant to their International Standard. However, once the relevant Tables and factors have been identified, all the consequent row of Human abilities should be considered. This is because all factors relevant to a product, service or environment may be significant to people of any ability.
|
|
Last updated: 20.11.2009 © Copyright reserved Website design: Digital Accessibility Team