is_accessible() - function to check whether a property or method is accessible

gistfile1.php

<?php
function is_accessible($object, $prop) {
	$rc_object = new ReflectionClass($object);

	if ($rc_object->hasProperty($prop)) {
		return $rc_object->getProperty($prop)->isPublic();
	} elseif ($rc_object->hasMethod($prop)) {
		return $rc_object->getMethod($prop)->isPublic();
	} else {
		return false;
	}
}