Accessible design patterns can benefit a broad spectrum of users, including those with disabilities. For instance, image sharing apps that enable users to filter based on nontraditional options like hair pattern are more inclusive than ones which only permit filters like age.
Websites must provide accessibility for those using assistive technologies like screen readers and keyboard navigation to navigate websites, including those using screen readers or keyboard navigation systems. Some examples include:
1. Design with Accessibility in Mind
Doing well by users doesn’t require being an expert in accessibility; just follow some basic steps that can make your work accessible for all users.
As an alternative to including complex 3D pie chart graphics, data tables may provide more accessible, less CPU-intensive solutions and easier maintenance by developers.
Some individuals have cognitive impairments that make it hard to interact with websites, while physical disabilities make using a mouse difficult. Cognitive accessibility guidelines include providing clear, concise content; breaking processes down into logical steps and offering form feedback clearly and succinctly.
Many users rely on screen readers and other assistive technology (AT) such as screen readers to access web content. When evaluating new products, make sure they include accessibility features. Create policies requiring IT to purchase accessible items. There are free screen reader software programs such as JAWS (Windows), NVDA (Windows/Linux) and ChromeVox (Chrome), that can help identify AT-specific issues in designs.
2. Test Early and Often
Consider accessibility from project planning through launch; doing so will make addressing issues much simpler and less expensive (as each bug becomes increasingly more costly to correct as time passes).
Automated tools provide a quick way to assess accessibility and offer guidance, particularly for smaller teams without enough resources or experience to manually audit all aspects of their site. Tools like Siteimprove break down complex WCAG criteria into manageable tasks that track progress over time.
Be reasonable; 100% accessibility may never be achieved, but try to achieve as close to it as possible. Issue an accessibility statement and engage with anyone with concerns related to accessibility. For instance, if your site includes 3D pie charts using WebGL technology that require longer load times or are CPU intensive; consider switching out for data tables which provide equally informative yet more accessible results while being faster to load and less CPU intensive. You can test mobile accessibility using Android TalkBack and iPhone VoiceOver screen readers which read aloud page content and relevant semantic information aloud aloud aloud aloud page contents aloud from both platforms!
3. Test with Multiple Devices
No software can ever be tested with 100% accuracy on every device, but cross-device testing can help ensure that your software will function optimally on each. This test involves evaluating your solution across a range of devices – usually mobile phones, tablets and desktop computers with different operating systems – in order to verify that its software performs as intended across each.
Some individuals may have mobility impairments that prevent them from using a mouse or keyboard, or may be physically disabled with limbs that don’t function in an efficient manner, or could suffer from neurological/genetic disorders that cause weakness or loss of control in their hands.
As browsers strive to distinguish themselves, they add features beyond HTML that make each one different from another, leading to instances when identical pieces of HTML can be dealt with differently by various browsers and lead to differences between devices in how websites appear.
4. Ensure Accessibility for All Ages
When we think about accessibility, our minds often go straight to people with disabilities. However, other groups also have needs for accessing materials, such as those who rely on mobile devices or have slow Internet connections.
People living with physical disabilities may find their abilities changing over time, such as an arm breaking making it hard to use a computer mouse. Also, those who are deaf or hard of hearing may lose the ability to hear audio but can still benefit from videos with captions (or transcripts) and context provided through textual descriptions.
People living with disabilities are excellent self-advocates who can vividly articulate their experiences. As consultants for organizations attempting to become accessible, people with disabilities are invaluable allies and often act as self-advocates themselves. Furthermore, many countries have laws on accessibility such as Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act in the US as one example.