accessibility
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accessibility
The design of buildings, means of transportation, workplaces, and digital services so that they are accessible and usable by all people, especially those with physical or cognitive limitations, without outside help.
Beim Neubau des Bahnhofs wurde besonders auf die Barrierefreiheit geachtet.
When the new train station was built, special attention was paid to accessibility.
The word is built very logically: it consists of 'Barriere' (barrier/obstacle), '-frei' (free of/without), and the ending '-heit', which forms an abstract noun. So it literally means 'the quality of being without obstacles'.
Die neue Website wurde auf Barrierefreiheit getestet.
The new website was tested for accessibility.
Common verbs in this context are 'Barrierefreiheit schaffen' (to create accessibility), 'Barrierefreiheit gewährleisten' (to ensure accessibility), or 'auf Barrierefreiheit achten' (to pay attention to accessibility). People also often speak of 'mangelnder Barrierefreiheit' (lack of accessibility).
Die Stadt plant, die Barrierefreiheit im öffentlichen Nahverkehr zu verbessern.
The city plans to improve accessibility in local public transportation.
The term does not refer only to physical obstacles for wheelchair users. It also includes digital barriers (e.g., for blind people on the internet) or language barriers (e.g., through 'Leichte Sprache' (easy-to-read language)).
Barrierefreiheit im Internet bedeutet, dass alle Nutzer die Inhalte wahrnehmen und bedienen können.
Accessibility on the internet means that all users can perceive and operate the content.
availability / accessibility
Both words can describe access to a building. „Erreichbarkeit“ mainly means that a place is easy to reach. „Barrierefreiheit“ goes further and emphasizes that people with disabilities can use the place independently and without obstructive barriers.
Die Barrierefreiheit des Bahnhofs ermöglicht Rollstuhlfahrern den selbstständigen Weg zu den Gleisen.
The station's accessibility allows wheelchair users to reach the platforms independently.
Die Erreichbarkeit des Bahnhofs ist gut, weil mehrere Busse direkt dorthin fahren.
The station is easy to reach because several buses go there directly.
