Accessibility is a Solved Problem (Almost) (8^th March 2008)

The infrastructure is already in place:

Formats with meaningful structures.
Software implements accessibility APIs at the OS level, such as:
- web browsers;
- e-mail clients;
- chat programs;
- desktop publishing suites;
- and so on.
Assistive technologies adapt this information on to users in whatever way is most usable for them.
Specialised peripherals allow input from anyone.
Free or low-cost courses and support help users get to grip with ATs they need.

The big stuff has been figured out. Some details still need work:

Authors to make better use of structured formats.
Software to implement accessibility APIs fully in all applications.
Usability to be improved in assistive technologies.
Affordability of accessibility to be improved for users, authors and implementors.

There is an ever-diminishing place for:

New formats which don’t have accessibility built-in from the start
Developers who treat accessibility as a low priority enhancement request.
Selling widgets to create accessible ghettos instead of widespread accessibility.
Creating multiple versions.

This is the big picture for accessibility, as I see it.