Accessibility
Also known as: a11y, inclusive design
The design of products, devices, and environments so that people with disabilities can use them effectively. About 15% of the world's population has some form of disability.
💡 Intuition
Accessibility means designing technology so everyone can use it — not just people with perfect vision, hearing, and motor control.
Core Idea
Good accessibility design benefits everyone, not just people with disabilities. Captions help in noisy environments; voice control helps when your hands are full.
🔬 Example
🎯 Why It Matters
About 15% of the world's population has some form of disability. Inaccessible technology excludes over a billion people.
⚠️ Common Confusion
Accessibility isn't an afterthought or a bonus feature — it should be designed in from the start.
Related Concepts
Next Steps
How Accessibility Connects to Other Ideas
Once you have a solid grasp of accessibility, you can move on to ethics of computing and user interface.
Go Deeper
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Accessibility in CS Thinking?
The design of products, devices, and environments so that people with disabilities can use them effectively.
Why is Accessibility important?
About 15% of the world's population has some form of disability. Inaccessible technology excludes over a billion people.
What do students usually get wrong about Accessibility?
Accessibility isn't an afterthought or a bonus feature — it should be designed in from the start.