Products must be designed and produced in such a way as to maximise their foreseeable use by persons with disabilities and shall be accompanied where possible in or on the product by accessible information on their functioning and on
their accessibility features.
- Requirements on the provision of information:
- the information on the use of the product provided on the product itself (labelling, instructions and warning) shall be:
- made available via more than one sensory channel;
- presented in an understandable way;
- presented to users in ways they can perceive;
- presented in fonts of adequate size and suitable shape, taking into account foreseeable conditions of use, and using sufficient contrast, as well as adjustable spacing between letters, lines and paragraphs;
- the instructions for use of a product, where not provided on the product itself but made available through the use of the product or through other means such as a website, including the accessibility functions of the product, how to activate them and their interoperability with assistive solutions shall be publicly available when the product is placed on the market and shall:
- be made available via more than one sensory channel;
- be presented in an understandable way;
- be presented to users in ways they can perceive;
- be presented in fonts of adequate size and suitable shape, taking into account foreseeable conditions of use and using sufficient contrast, as well as adjustable spacing between letters, lines and paragraphs;
- with regard to content, be made available in text formats that can be used for generating alternative assistive formats to be presented in different ways and via more than one sensory channel;
- be accompanied by an alternative presentation of any non-textual content;
- include a description of the user interface of the product (handling, control and feedback, input and output) which is provided in accordance with point 2; the description shall indicate for each of the points in point 2 whether the product provides those features;
- include a description of the functionality of the product which is provided by functions aiming to address the needs of persons with disabilities in accordance with point 2; the description shall indicate for each of the points in point 2 whether the product provides those features;
- include a description of the software and hardware interfacing of the product with assistive devices; the description shall include a list of those assistive devices which have been tested together with the product.
- the information on the use of the product provided on the product itself (labelling, instructions and warning) shall be:
- User interface and functionality design:
The product, including its user interface, shall contain features, elements and functions, that allow persons with disabilities to access, perceive, operate, understand and control the product by ensuring that:- when the product provides for communication, including interpersonal communication, operation, information, control and orientation, it shall do so via more than one sensory channel; this shall include providing alternatives to vision, auditory, speech and tactile elements;
- when the product uses speech it shall provide alternatives to speech and vocal input for communication, operation control and orientation;
- when the product uses visual elements it shall provide for flexible magnification, brightness and contrast for communication, information and operation, as well as ensure interoperability with programmes and assistive devices to navigate the interface;
- when the product uses colour to convey information, indicate an action, require a response or identify elements, it shall provide an alternative to colour;
- when the product uses audible signals to convey information, indicate an action, require a response or identify elements, it shall provide an alternative to audible signals;
- when the product uses visual elements it shall provide for flexible ways of improving vision clarity;
- when the product uses audio it shall provide for user control of volume and speed, and enhanced audio features including the reduction of interfering audio signals from surrounding products and audio clarity;
- when the product requires manual operation and control, it shall provide for sequential control and alternatives to fine motor control, avoiding the need for simultaneous controls for manipulation, and shall use tactile discernible parts;
- the product shall avoid modes of operation requiring extensive reach and great strength;
- the product shall avoid triggering photosensitive seizures;
- the product shall protect the user’s privacy when he or she uses the accessibility features;
- the product shall provide an alternative to biometrics identification and control;
- the product shall ensure the consistency of the functionality and shall provide enough, and flexible amounts of, time for interaction;
- the product shall provide software and hardware for interfacing with the assistive technologies;
- the product shall comply with the following sector-specific requirements:
- self-service terminals:
- shall provide for text-to-speech technology;
- shall allow for the use of personal headsets;
- where a timed response is required, shall alert the user via more than one sensory channel;
- shall give the possibility to extend the time given;
- shall have an adequate contrast and tactilely discernible keys and controls when keys and controls are available;
- shall not require an accessibility feature to be activated in order to enable a user who needs the feature to turn it on;
- when the product uses audio or audible signals, it shall be compatible with assistive devices and technologies available at Union level, including hearing technologies such as hearing aids, telecoils, cochlear implants and assistive listening devices;
- e-readers shall provide for text-to-speech technology;
- consumer terminal equipment with interactive computing capability, used for the provision of electronic communications services:
- shall, when such products have text capability in addition to voice, provide for the handling of real time text and support high fidelity audio;
- shall, when they have video capabilities in addition to or in combination with text and voice, provide for the handling of total conversation including synchronised voice, real time text, and video with a resolution enabling sign language communication;
- shall ensure effective wireless coupling to hearing technologies;
- shall avoid interferences with assistive devices;
- consumer terminal equipment with interactive computing capability, used for accessing audio visual media services shall make available to persons with disabilities the accessibility components provided by the audiovisual media service provider, for user access, selection, control, and personalisation and for transmission to assistive devices.
- self-service terminals:
- Support services:
Where available, support services (help desks, call centres, technical support, relay services and training services) shall provide information on the accessibility of the product and its compatibility with assistive technologies, in accessible modes of communication.
