Accessible vs. Reachable — What's the Difference?

Accessible implies something is easy to approach, use, or understand, often designed to accommodate everyone, including those with disabilities. For instance, an accessible building has ramps and wide doorways for wheelchair users. On the other hand, Reachable suggests something can be arrived at or communicated with, focusing more on the possibility of making contact or physically getting to a place or person.

While accessible design focuses on inclusivity and usability for people with a wide range of abilities, making services or environments usable by as many people as possible, reachable often pertains to the physical or communicative distance that can be easily bridged. For example, a reachable destination might simply be within a reasonable driving distance, without necessarily considering the accessibility of the location for individuals with disabilities.

Accessibility often involves considerations beyond mere physical distance, including sensory and cognitive accessibility, to ensure that resources are available and comprehensible to people with various disabilities. Conversely, something being reachable implies a more general idea of being able to be contacted or arrived at, without the nuanced considerations of how different individuals’ needs affect their ability to access or understand something.

In the context of digital information, accessible can refer to content designed with features like screen reader compatibility, alternative text for images, and captions for videos, ensuring that users with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with websites and tools. Reachable in a digital context might more broadly refer to content that can be easily found and accessed by users, without specifically focusing on the needs of users with disabilities.

The terms also diverge in their application to communication; accessible implies open lines of communication that consider various needs and preferences, including language barriers and sensory impairments, to ensure messages can be received and understood by all intended audiences. Reachable, however, focuses on the ability to get in touch with someone, whether through direct contact methods like phone or email, without necessarily considering the inclusivity of these communication methods.