Access Differential

Access differential is the gap between the access that nondisabled people experience and the access that people with disabilities experience when using the same technologies, services, or environments. Unlike a binary view of accessibility (accessible or not), access differential frames inaccessibility as a comparative measure — people with disabilities continuously gauge this gap by observing what their nondisabled peers can do and how much additional time, effort, and workarounds they themselves need to achieve similar outcomes. The concept highlights that even with accommodations in place, a significant productivity and access gap often persists.