What is Semantic Accessibility

Anticipation of a user's profile of accessibility needs and preferences can be based on their actual needs and preferences, as stated by or for them, if these are in an interoperable, descriptive form. Enabling this means providing technologies that match resources to the user's nominated needs and preferences. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, endorsed by all countries, has been adopted as law in many jurisdictions. In Australia, for example, there is discrimination law that obliges publishers to make resources accessible to all who need them. This can be done by enabling students to describe their needs and preferences and matching those to accessibility features and functions of resources. This means developing a suitable metadata standard. The International Standards Organisation is engaged in such work.