Overview - ISO/IEC Guide 71:2014 (Guide for addressing accessibility in standards)
ISO/IEC Guide 71:2014 provides guidance for standards developers on addressing accessibility in standards that apply to systems - including products, services and built environments - used by people. The Guide helps technical committees and working groups define accessibility requirements and recommendations by summarizing terminology, setting accessibility goals, describing human abilities and characteristics, and offering practical strategies to incorporate accessibility during the standards development process.
Key topics and technical focus
- Accessibility goals: a structured set of goals used to identify user accessibility needs (e.g., suitability for the widest range of users; conformity with user expectations; support for individualization; perceivability; understandability; controllability; usability; error tolerance; equitable use; compatibility with other systems).
- Human abilities and characteristics: descriptions and design considerations for sensory, physical, cognitive and immunological functions to inform requirement-setting.
- Standards development process: guidance across five stages - project definition, committee readiness and equitable participation, content development, public review and voting, and publication - to ensure accessibility is considered throughout.
- Strategies for standards content: practical approaches such as providing multiple means of information presentation and interaction, setting fixed and adjustable parameters, minimizing unnecessary complexity, enabling individualized access, and ensuring compatibility with assistive products and assistive technology.
- Verification and validation: advice on checking that accessibility is adequately addressed in standards and references to informative annexes (global trends, ICF terminology, and question checklists).
Practical applications - who uses this standard
ISO/IEC Guide 71:2014 is intended primarily for:
- Standards developers and technical committees drafting requirements for products, services or built environments.
- Manufacturers, designers, service providers and architects who interpret standards into products, services and facilities.
- Procurement specialists, policy makers and accessibility consultants who need to align specifications with inclusive design principles.
Practical uses include integrating accessibility into product specifications, service design, public infrastructure standards, ICT standards and procurement criteria to support inclusive, equitable use and compatibility with assistive technologies.
Related standards and context
- This second edition updates the 2001 edition and has been adopted by ITU‑T Study Group 16 as ITU‑T Supplement 17.
- The Guide complements sector-specific accessibility standards (for ICT, built environment, etc.) and references international resources such as the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).
By following ISO/IEC Guide 71:2014, organizations can make standards more inclusive, improve usability across diverse populations, and promote compatibility with assistive technology - essential steps toward accessible, user-centered design.