The Design for All approach
The ‘Design for All’ (DfA) approach means design for human diversity, inclusion and equality. Its aim is to enable maximum use of products, goods and services.
The European context and Mandate M/473
With the European Commission (EC) standardization request M/473, CEN endeavours to include accessibility following a ‘Design for All’ approach in relevant standardization activities for products and services. The Mandate seeks to achieve long-standing policy objectives surrounding inclusion and equality. This work is financed by an EC/EFTA Grant Agreement, which is also providing funding for a Task Group Coordinator and a pool of experts representing national and/or European organization of persons with disabilities and older people.
In the context of this mandate, ‘accessibility’ is referred to as “the extent to which products, systems, services, environments or facilities can be used by people from a population with the widest range of characteristics and capabilities to achieve a specified goal in a specified context of use”. People with disabilities and ageing population, among others, benefit directly from a product, good or service when it is easy to access, understand and use.
The methodology and the standardization work
CEN/BT/WG 213 Strategic Advisory Group on Accessibility (SAGA) responsible for the overall execution of M/473, is also working on an overall strategy on how address the concept of ‘Accessibility’ broadly in the European Standardization system. For further information, see the Sector Forum section.
A methodology, called ‘Protocol’ that helps Technical Bodies or standardizers to decide if and how accessibility following a Design for All approach should be addressed when reviewing an existing, or developing a new standardization project. The Protocol may be used at any stage of the standardization process.
The ‘Protocol’ process is explained by a series of documents available to the public to understand when accessibility following a Design for All approach is relevant, with examples of context of use, environmental and human limitations.
Priority areas
- Instructions for use and labelling;
- Packaging;
- Electrical and electronic equipment/household appliances;
- Self-service machines;
- On-line services;
- Communication, information and signalling.
Recommendations and workplan
Ongoing work
The monitoring of the ’Protocol’ application for revised or new standardization deliverables.
Do you need help or want to know more?
To decide if and how accessibility following a ‘Design for All’ approach should be addressed when reviewing an existing, or developing a new standardization project within your CEN/TC or WG, please contact:
To receive general information on standards and accessibility, please contact: