What we mean when we say ‘accessibility’

The word is thrown around in journalism, but it’s often not really what we intend

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Accessibility.

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

This quote from The Princess Bride just fit perfectly when I was thinking about the misuse of the term accessibility. I hear journalists talk a lot about accessibility — but they don’t really mean accessibility.

Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum it up.

What we mean by accessibility

Accessibility is the concept that a product, space, or service can be used by everyone. It starts with designing to eliminate barriers for those with disabilities.

In accessible design, you’ll often hear us talk about concepts like curb cuts — those slopes  where the sidewalk meets the road at the crosswalk. This is a simple design that was intended to make it easier for wheelchair users to use a crosswalk, but it also benefits those who use other mobility aids such as canes, walkers, or crutches; those who are pushing strollers, prams, or carts; and anyone who may have trouble with curbs for any reason.

In accessibility, whether in the physical world or in the digital world, we try to eliminate barriers, especially for disabled people. If a person with an assistive device in the physical space or assistive technology in the digital space cannot use the product, service, or space, we have failed to be accessible.

Accessibility versus usability

Journalists often talk about accessibility of their news outlet when they mean usability. Usability is about the ease of the design, and how the user interacts with the product, service, or space. Usability thinks about the broad audience.

Does the product look nice? Does it function well? Do users react well to it? This is usability.

In usability, you’ll hear us talk about the Norman door. A Norman door is a door that needs an explanation to operate. Imagine a door that looks like it should be pulled, but to open it you need to push it. Therefore, it requires a sign that says Push. This, my friends, is a Norman door. Doors should operate intuitively. They shouldn’t require instructions, and yet, we encounter them all the time.

Yes, usability and accessibility overlap, and usability should be considered in accessibility, but a product can be inaccessible to disabled people who use assistive technology or devices and still be useable to many others in a community.

Accessibility versus approachability

Is your news outlet welcoming? Do you interact well with your community? Great!

Approachability is making yourself open and welcoming to your community of users. Are your reporters out in the community? Do you hold community town halls? Do you have a way for readers or listeners to give feedback? Do you find ways to make your news outlet a community hub?

Your news outlet is approachable. Does this mean your news outlet has removed barriers for disabled people? Not necessarily, which means that it’s not necessarily accessible.

Accessibility versus diversity and inclusion

I have said so many times that you can’t have accessibility without inclusion and diversity that it has become one of my mantras. But you can have inclusion and diversity without accessibility.

Perhaps your news outlet is great at interviewing all types of folks. You interview people of different backgrounds and you are great at including many voices in your articles. You even offer a version of your news in other languages. And best of all, you employ people with a variety of backgrounds and experiences.

You hold listening tours at libraries, cafes, and schools to listen to people in the community because you want to hear not just from those in City Hall but also those out in your city. You even have translators for people who speak other languages that are commonly spoken in your community.

You are a rock star on diversity and inclusion.

But if your news outlet still has accessibility errors — no alt text, broken links, poor color contrast, missing ARIA, and other problems — and you hold those town halls at places with stairs but no ramps or elevators, you’re still missing the accessibility mark.

Bring it all together

The best way to think about it all is a Venn Diagram. But I know most reporters hate math, and that’s a math concept, so let me try a metaphor instead.

Think of accessibility as a recipe in which you add each of the following ingredients:

• Removing barriers
• Usability
• Approachability
• Diversity
• Inclusion

Stir vigorously. Cook until ready. Share with everyone because the recipe is magic and endless.

Now you have the basic starter recipe for being more accessible.

Have fun storming the castle of inaccessibility.

Trust me: it will work. No miracles necessary.

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Stacy Kess is the chief of editorial for Equal Access Public Media. She previously worked as an editor and reporter at papers across the U.S. Find her on Bluesky at @stacykess.

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