tilgjengelege

Tilgjengelege is a Norwegian nynorsk adjective meaning accessible or available. It describes whether something can be entered, reached, or used without undue effort or exclusion. The root is til (toward, for) and gjenge (going, access), with the suffix -lege indicating a property. The term is used across domains: physical accessibility, such as tilgjengelege bygg og transport, and digital accessibility, such as tilgjengelege nettsider og apper.

In practice, tilgjengelegheit covers both whether resources exist and whether people can use them. It includes physical provisions like planlegde ramper and tydleg skilting, as well as information and formats that are easy to read and understand. For digital contexts, tilgjengelege websites and apps support assistive technologies through features such as alternative text for images, captions for video, and keyboard navigability. Language options and clear, plain-language content are also part of tilgjengelege design.

The term is central in public policy, urban planning, and information services, where authorities strive to provide tilgjengelege tjenester to ensure equal access to facilities and information. It often goes hand in hand with universal design (universell utforming), which aims to make products and environments usable by as many people as possible, regardless of age or ability. Standards and guidelines, including WCAG for digital content, help guide the implementation of tilgjengelege solutions and ongoing improvements.