Product accessibility is the ability of a product to be used independently, safely, and effectively by as many people as possible, including people with disabilities and older adults. An accessible product must reduce or eliminate barriers that may hinder its understanding, handling, use, or access to information.

Accessibility must be taken into account from the earliest stages of product design and development. It is not limited to simply modifying a finished product; rather, it involves incorporating accessibility criteria into its design, manufacturing, operation, user instructions, and, where applicable, its packaging.

An accessible product allows different people to use its features on an equal footing, regardless of their physical, sensory, or cognitive abilities.

To make a product accessible, it is necessary to analyze the potential barriers that may arise throughout its entire life cycle. This analysis must begin during the design phase and continue throughout the product’s development, manufacturing, and evaluation.

Some measures that can help improve accessibility include:

• Design simple and intuitive interfaces and controls.
• Use visual elements with sufficient contrast and an appropriate size.
• Incorporate visual, auditory, or tactile cues when necessary.
• Provide clear and understandable instructions.
• Provide product information in accessible formats.
• Avoid making the identification of a function depend solely on a color.
• To make the product easier to use for people with different physical abilities.
• Incorporate assistive technologies when the product requires them.
• Conduct usability tests with different user profiles.
• Identify and correct accessibility barriers before the product is released to the market.

For digital products, this may include features such as screen reader support, keyboard navigation, captions, or voice recognition. For physical products, it may involve changes to the design, controls, labeling, packaging, or the way instructions are provided.

Accessibility can apply to products with very different characteristics. Some examples include:

• Accessible self-service kiosks.
• Payment terminals.
• ATMs and electronic devices.
• Accessible signage systems.
• Accessible street furniture.
• Appliances with accessible controls.
• Assistive technology devices.
• Home automation products.
• Adapted everyday tools.
• Electronic devices with assistive features.

For certain electronic products, accessibility may include alternatives for accessing information through different senses, controls that are easy to identify and use, or compatibility with assistive technologies.

The European Accessibility Directive establishes specific requirements for certain products, including telephones, computers, payment terminals, and certain self-service terminals. It also addresses the accessibility of information related to packaging, installation, and other product features.

An assessment of a product’s accessibility must determine whether people can access its features, understand the information provided, and use it properly.

To do this, various aspects of the product can be examined, such as:

• Design and functionality.
• Controls and Interfaces.
• Information and instructions.
• Packaging and labeling.
• Ease of use.
• Barriers that may affect people with different abilities.
• Compatibility with assistive products or assistive technologies.
• Real-world user experience.

Accessibility testing can be supplemented with technical evaluations and user testing. This makes it possible to identify barriers that are not always apparent during the design process.

An evaluation of this kind makes it possible to identify which aspects of the product need improvement and to establish specific actions to increase its level of accessibility.