Consequence-Based Accessibility

A framework introduced by Mack and McDonnell that describes how people with chronic illnesses experience access barriers where the consequences of their actions, rather than the nature of the task itself, make something inaccessible. For example, a person may be physically capable of attending an event, but doing so will trigger a pain flare or fatigue episode lasting days. This framework expands traditional understandings of accessibility beyond task completion to include the downstream effects of how tasks are performed, recognizing that accessibility must account for cumulative and delayed impacts on wellbeing.