Introduction to Guidelines

This guideline consists of 4 main parts:

1. Usability of the product
2. Personal Compatibility
3. Compatibility With Peripheral Devices
4. Information, documentation, and training

ITMs should be accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities and should comply with these 4 parts as appropriate to achieve accessibility and usability. Efforts to make products accessible should not be limited to adherence to these guidelines.

Manufacturers should evaluate the accessibility, usability, and compatibility of ITMs and should incorporate such evaluation throughout product design, development, and fabrication, as early and consistently as possible. Manufacturers should identify barriers to accessibility and usability as part of such a product design and development process.

In developing such a process, manufacturers should consider the following factors:

• Where market research is undertaken, including individuals with disabilities in target populations of such research;
• Where product design, testing, pilot demonstrations, and product trials are conducted, including individuals with disabilities in such activities;
• Working cooperatively with appropriate disability-related organizations; and
• Making reasonable efforts to validate any unproven access solutions through testing with individuals with disabilities or with appropriate disability-related organizations that have established expertise with individuals with disabilities.

In revising products, no change should be undertaken which decreases or has the effect of decreasing the net accessibility, usability, or compatibility of ITMs (with the exception of discontinuation of a product).