General Concept
The UN CRPD
One of the other general principles (Article 3 (f)) of the UN CRPD is the concept of Accessibility. In Article 9 the UN CRPD states the responsibility of government βto ensure to persons with disabilities access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communicationsβ¦, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and in rural areasβ.
What do we mean by accessibility?
Accessibility is broadly understood as an ability to access or benefit from any product, device, service or environment. If a product, service or environment is accessible, it means that all people with and without disabilities can access it without facing any barrier.
In 2013, the United Nations High-level Meeting on Disability and Development stressed the importance of ensuring accessibility for inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of development.

What do we mean by accessibility? - A definition
The definition of accessibility is that a person is able to:
- Move around freely without obstacles
- Move around independently (without direct assistance of others)
- Move around with confidence and respect
Framework for ensuring accessibility
The Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities considers accessibility as a cross-cutting issue that enables persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of society. The Convention promotes accessibility in:
- design and development as well as availability of new technologies, including those of information and communication technologies (Article 4);
- indoor and outdoor facilities, including schools, housing, medical facilities and workplaces (Article 9);
- independent living within the community (Article 19);
- personal mobility (Article 20);
- possibilities to freely express oneself and access information (Article 21).
Barrier-free access
Accessibility is a very important core element of disability inclusion. An accessible barrier-free environment is a very important step towards fulfilling the rights of people with disabilities to participate in all areas of community life.
A barrier-free environment means more than just physical access such as the building of ramps, but needs to be taken much broader. In a society that offers all its members appropriate and equal access to transportation, technology, housing, services and community infrastructure, people with disabilities have more chances to develop their skills and contribute to communal life. This can mean making reasonable accommodations β small adjustments to the environment to make it more friendly to persons with all types of abilities.
People with visual impairments
- Good lighting for people with low vision
- Good tactile markings for identification
- Securely fixed handrails
- Signage in braille, embossed and/or large letters
- Pathways cleared from objects and debris to avoid people from tripping over.
People with hearing and / or speech impairments
- Clear and visible signage
- Provision of written reference information.
- Glare free lighting to make lip reading and following sign language easier
- Good acoustics in meeting rooms
- Alternate methods of communication in public places, such as paper and pen.
People with intellectual impairments and/or learning disabilities
- Clear and frequent communications on events, activities to take place or be expected
- Quiet and calm place for taking breaks
- Easy-read written material: clear and simple messages supported by pictures.
- Clear communication about the accommodations provided so that those with undisclosed mental health conditions have access