Isomatic UK Weblog

From where originates the current misuse of the word accessibility ? My dictionary defines accessible as meaning 'within reach' or 'approachable', therefore accessibility means the degree to which something is within reach or approachable. If one wishes to limit the word to mean within reach of those with a disability then clearly it is necessary to make that distinction otherwise one is almost certain to be misunderstood. The Watchfire / Bobby web site on accessibility makes no mention of disability until deep into the detail, yet that seems to be the intention. Others are following this bad example.

I suppose the plan is to 'hijack' the word so it can no longer be used in its true meaning, like gay, bandwidth, wicked, etc. This is so irritating to people of my age group that I for one refuse to buy services or products from those that misuse the English language.