Universal Design Strategies by Function

Credits

Design Strategies:

• Input, Controls, and Mechanical Functions

• Output, Displays, and Control Functions

• Compatibility

Introduction:

The accessible design strategies, presented here, were originally written to help developers deliver the functionality described by the Telecommunications Act Accessibility Guidelines (TAAG).  The TAAG are the final guidelines for accessibility, usability, and compatibility of telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment covered by Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

This tool provides strategy and technique suggestions for designing products so that they are accessible to as many people as possible, including people with disabilities. The strategies are a compilation of items from various accessibility guidelines and strategies documents.

It is important to recognize that the browser contains ideas for addressing the telecom guidelines. They are neither required by law nor does their use and implementation guarantee compliance with the law.

Background Information:

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has rules requiring telecommunications manufacturers and service providers to make their products and services accessible to people with disabilities, if readily achievable. These rules implement Section 255 of the Communications Act. Where it is not readily achievable to provide access, Section 255 requires manufacturers and providers to make their devices and services compatible with peripheral devices and specialized customer premises equipment that are commonly used by people with disabilities, if such compatibility is readily achievable.

Products and Services Covered Under Section 255: 

The FCC’s rules cover all hardware and software telephone network equipment and customer premises equipment (CPE). CPE is telecommunications equipment used in the home or office (or other premises) to originate, route, or terminate telecommunications. Examples of CPE are telephones, fax machines, answering machines, and pagers. CPE that provides both telecommunications and non-telecommunications functions is covered only to the extent it provides telecommunications functions.

The FCC’s rules cover basic and special telecommunications services, including regular telephone calls, call waiting, speed dialing, call forwarding, computer-provided directory assistance, call monitoring, caller identification, call tracing, and repeat dialing. In addition, the new rules cover interactive voice response (IVR) systems and voice mail. IVR systems are phone systems that provide callers with menus of choices.

Definitions: 

Accessible
A product or service is accessible if it provides accessible input, control, and mechanical functions, as well as accessible output, display and control functions. For example, a pager that has both audio and visual controls for inputting information, as well as both audio and visual methods for retrieving messages, would be accessible to a person who is blind or deaf.

Usable
The requirement for a product or service to be usable by people with disabilities covers the ability of people with disabilities to learn about and operate an item’s features effectively. This includes providing access to information and documentation for the product or service, including instructions and user guides. In addition, companies must provide functionally equivalent access to support services, such as technical support hotlines and databases, call centers, service centers, access to repair services, and billing services.

Compatible
The FCC’s rules explain that where it is not readily achievable to make a particular product or service accessible, that product or service must be made compatible with peripheral devices or specialized customer premises equipment (SCPE), if compatibility is readily achievable. Peripheral devices are devices that help make telecommunications products and services accessible to individuals with disabilities. Examples are TTYs, visual signaling devices, and amplifiers. SCPE includes equipment, commonly used at the premises of a person with a disability, to achieve access in the origination, routing, or termination of calls and other telecommunications contacts. Direct-connect TTYs (TTYs that connect directly to the telephone network) are considered to be SCPE. Assistive technology devices, such as hearing aids or eyeglasses, that have a broad application outside the telecommunications context are not themselves peripheral equipment or SCPE even if they are used in conjunction with peripheral equipment or SCPE. The rules contain the following requirements to achieve compatibility:

• External electronic access to all information and control mechanisms;

• A connection point for external audio processing devices;

• The ability to connect with TTYs; and

• The ability to use TTY signals.

In many instances the design strategies covered included in this resource are similar to those that can be used to achieve the functionality requirements of the Access Board's Section 508 Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards.  Section 508 requires that when Federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology, they shall ensure that the electronic and information technology allows Federal employees with disabilities to have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access to and use of information and data by Federal employees who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. Section 508 also requires that individuals with disabilities, who are members of the public seeking information or services from a Federal agency, have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that provided to the public who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. The Section 508 standards have been folded into the U.S. Government's Federal Acquisition Regulations.

Copyright © 2004-2005 by IDEAL Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Electronic and information Technology (E&IT) Design Strategies and Ideas

Design Strategies:

• Input, Controls, and Mechanical Functions

• Output, Displays, and Control Functions

• Compatibility

Introduction:

The accessible design strategies, presented here, were originally written to help developers deliver the functionality described by the Telecommunications Act Accessibility Guidelines (TAAG).  The TAAG are the final guidelines for accessibility, usability, and compatibility of telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment covered by Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

This tool provides design strategies and techniques for designing products so that they are accessible to as many people as possible, including people with disabilities.

It is important to recognize that the ideas presented are neither required by law nor does their use and implementation guarantee compliance with the law.

In many instances the design strategies covered included in this resource are similar to those that can be used to achieve the functionality requirements of the Access Board's Section 508 Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards.  Section 508 requires that when Federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology, they shall ensure that the electronic and information technology allows Federal employees with disabilities to have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access to and use of information and data by Federal employees who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. Section 508 also requires that individuals with disabilities, who are members of the public seeking information or services from a Federal agency, have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that provided to the public who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. The Section 508 standards have been folded into the U.S. Government's Federal Acquisition Regulations.

Copyright © 2002-2009 IDEAL Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

 This website was last updated on

Electronic and information Technology (E&IT) Design Strategies and Ideas

Design Strategies:

• Input, Controls, and Mechanical Functions

• Output, Displays, and Control Functions

• Compatibility

Introduction:

The accessible design strategies, presented here, were originally written to help developers deliver the functionality described by the Telecommunications Act Accessibility Guidelines (TAAG).  The TAAG are the final guidelines for accessibility, usability, and compatibility of telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment covered by Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

This tool provides design strategies and techniques for designing products so that they are accessible to as many people as possible, including people with disabilities.

It is important to recognize that the ideas presented are neither required by law nor does their use and implementation guarantee compliance with the law.

In many instances the design strategies covered included in this resource are similar to those that can be used to achieve the functionality requirements of the Access Board's Section 508 Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards.  Section 508 requires that when Federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology, they shall ensure that the electronic and information technology allows Federal employees with disabilities to have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access to and use of information and data by Federal employees who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. Section 508 also requires that individuals with disabilities, who are members of the public seeking information or services from a Federal agency, have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that provided to the public who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. The Section 508 standards have been folded into the U.S. Government's Federal Acquisition Regulations.

Copyright © 2002-2009 IDEAL Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

 This website was last updated on