Recommendation ITU-T F.791 defines words describing accessibility, disability, and technical terms to be used for improving the writing in relation to standardization, and to facilitate accurately the needs and the mainstreaming of accessibility in standards that will include persons with disabilities (PWDs), older persons with age related disabilities and persons with specific needs. See WTDC Res. 58, WTDC AD and ITU–T F.790, listed in the Bibliography.
With the advent of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (see UNCRPD in the Bibliography) its passage in 2006, and its ratification by numerous countries, many new terms and definitions were created. Some of these terms and definitions were created at the behest of PWDs themselves to eradicate terms that were demeaning, insulting, and inaccurate.
Standard writers are able to mainstream accessibility features into standards, as well as to write specific standards for accessibility. To design products and services successfully, there needs to be a common language. This document is intended to give definitions so that it will make it easier for industries to implement these accessibility features and accessibility standards if everyone is using the same language and vocabulary. It is also important that governments, government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs), the UN, and its respective agencies be "normalized" in mainstream everyday language.
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), article 9, made clear the need to include PWDs, older persons with age related disabilities, and persons with specific needs by mainstreaming them into all aspects of modern life. This can only be done by including them in the design of modern technology and information and communication technologies (ICTs) using universal design as defined in the UNCRPD and using a common language and vocabulary.
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