About EZ Access ® Technologies & Implementation
An EZ Access ® certified implementation helps self-service kiosk manufacturers and their clients meet or exceed ADA guidelines and Section 508 requirements
EZ Access ® Offers Accessibility For All
Developed by the Trace Research & Development Center at the University of Wisconsin - Madison (recently relocated to the University of Maryland), EZ Access ® is the only cross disability solution set for self-service kiosks. Whereas, solutions may exist that are helpful to the visually impaired, they do not meet the needs of the physically or cognitively disabled. Other solutions may work for disabled people who are technically adept, but not for those who may be uncomfortable with technology or who have become disabled later in life (i.e., the elderly). EZ Access ® helps solve this problem.
Federal and state ADA codes and regulations are intended to provide cross disability access to public computers (self-service kiosk installations). By working with Assistra Technologies LLC to implement EZ Access ®, clients will more easily satisfy government guidelines, evidence their concern for inclusivity and diminish the threat of related litigation. In short, EZ Access ® technologies, along with a proper implementation and certification provided by Assistra, will provide both the guidance to create accessible kiosks, and a "safer harbor" for clients trying to be sure that they comply with the requirements for accessibility in public spaces.
EZ Access ® provides cross-disability access by combining a tactile keypad along with simple interactive techniques in ways that work together robustly and flexibly to accommodate users. This allows more people to use the product according to their own ability, preference or circumstance.
Key to meeting the requirements of 508 and the ADA is the ability to address not just the needs of one type of disability, but the need to meet the needs of all of the disabilities covered by these laws. EZ Access ® represents an integrated package of techniques that work across disabilities, that work with people who are both technically adept and less technically oriented, and that work without training and can be easily understood and incorporated into kiosks. EZ Access ® addresses the needs of people who are blind, have low vision, have cognitive, language, and learning disabilities, have trouble reading for any reason, have limited reach or strength, are hard-of-hearing or deaf, etc. And they do this without the user having to invoke any special modes. The techniques can all be used simultaneously with the touch screen in the same way a keyboard and mouse can be used together on a computer. With EZ Access ® the user can choose whichever approach works best for them, switching between them at any time during kiosk use.
EZ Access ® Features:
EZ Access ® Certification and Licensing
Assistra certifies EZ Access ® implementations to ensure ADA Guidelines are followed and Section 508 Requirements are met.
“To be called EZ Access requires both a tactile keypad and a certified implementation of the EZ Access techniques.”
Our certification program covers:
Certified implementations can display the EZ Access ® trademark to advertise a strong commitment to accessibility.
Tactile Keypads for EZ Access ® Implementations
With over 10 years of research and testing, the Trace Research & Development Center, then located at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, has developed tactile keypads specifically designed for use with proper EZ Access ® implementations.
Striving towards standardization, the new linear keypad designed for use in EZ Access ® implementations can easily be incorporated into new kiosk designs and also retrofitted onto existing kiosks.
New Tactile Keypad Interface Features:
The keypads can be integrated either during manufacturing or as an aftermarket retrofit.
Types of electronics that can benefit from an EZ Access ® implementation.
EZ Access ® technologies have been implemented in self-service kiosks, wayfinding kiosks and fare machines. Examples include all Amtrak ticketing kiosks, Homeland Security border control kiosks and Post Office stamp and shipping self-service kiosks. EZ Access ® can also be applied to a wide range of devices including: ATMs, vending machines, voting machines, public gaming machines, self-service restaurant ordering devices, cellular phones, tablets and other personal portable electronics.
EZ Access ® Software Toolkit
Our highly customizable software allows you to focus on creating a superb, accessible user experience without the hassle and cost of implementing basic functionality from scratch. For HTML-based kiosks, it provides:
Click here for frequently asked questions about EZ Access ®.
EZ Access ® was developed by the Trace Center under funding from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), US Administration for Independent Living & US Dept of Education under Grants H133E080022 (RERC-IT) and H133E130028/90RE5003-01-00 (UIITA-RERC). However, no endorsement of the techniques by the funding agencies should be inferred.
