I want to talk about something very close to my heart: accessibility in digital design. I want to live in a world where accessibility is just the way we design and develop digital products. However, the fact is, we’re nowhere close to my inclusive vision. The reasons why are varied. But perhaps the most common is because, sadly, accessibility is often not in people’s frames of reference.
In my 14 years of experience as a designer, I’ve worked across various projects where accessibility wasn’t just a consideration, but a fundamental aspect of the design process. From redesigning ATMs to improving mobile apps, I’ve seen firsthand how inclusive design can transform lives. But, I’ve also worked on far more engagements where accessibility suggestions weren’t welcome or a priority.
It can be a hard conversation to have, particularly when budgets and timelines are tight. However, accessible design helps more than just those who live with a disability. It improves the user experience for all. That’s why I wanted to share why accessibility matters and delve into practical strategies for designing for different needs, including cognitive, visual, auditory, motor, and speech impairments. Whether you’re a designer, developer, business owner, or just someone interested in creating a more inclusive world, this blog will provide valuable insights and actionable steps to make your digital spaces more accessible. Let’s dive in!
Why accessibility matters
Before we go into the specifics, let’s set the stage with some context. Accessibility is about ensuring that everyone, regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities, can use and benefit from our digital creations. Inclusive design, on the other hand, is the process of designing these experiences to be usable by as many people as possible. It’s not just a box to tick but a vital part of creating digital products that everyone can enjoy.
Accessibility isn’t just about compliance or avoiding legal issues—it’s about people. When a blind woman sued a major retailer because their website update made it impossible for her to select delivery times. She poignantly said, “I don’t want special consideration, just the same consideration as other customers” [source].
These stories underline the importance of our work. People with disabilities have significant disposable income and are loyal customers when treated with respect and consideration. By making our products accessible, we’re not only doing the right thing but also tapping into a broader market.
Recent statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveal that 21.4% of Australians, or more than one in five, have some form of disability. This is a significant increase from 17.7% in 2018. This equates to 5.5 million people who require accessible digital experiences. Additionally, 52.3% of Australians aged 65 and over have a disability, emphasising the importance of accessible design as our population ages. Moreover, 11.9% of Australians are carers for people with disabilities, who would also benefit from knowing how to use assistive technology to help support their loved ones.
People with disabilities in Australia have a combined disposable income of $54 million. They are three times more likely to avoid an organisation and twice as likely to desert others after negative experiences. By ignoring accessibility, businesses risk alienating a substantial customer base.
The standards: WCAG and Accessibility (A11y)
To ensure our digital products are accessible, we follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These guidelines, established by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), provide a framework for making web content more accessible to people with disabilities. Currently, WCAG 2.2 is the latest standard, and it categorises accessibility into four principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR). This means that content should be presented in ways that users can perceive, operate, and understand, and that it should be robust enough to work with current and future assistive technologies. It has strict, binary pass/fail criteria, making it straightforward but rigid. It’s focused on web content and designed to be technology-agnostic, ensuring it applies broadly across different web technologies.
It’s worth noting WCAG 3, still under development, offers a more flexible and user-centred approach. It expands beyond web context to include various technologies and environments, and introduces a more nuanced scoring system that allows for partial conformance and a broader assessment of accessibility. And, whether or not it becomes the standard, the fact it’s being acknowledged shows we’re moving beyond accessibility guidelines and functionality to focus on user experience and interface usability.
Legally, failure to provide full access to digital platforms can be seen as a violation of human rights, as noted by the Australian Human Rights Commission. Ensuring compliance with WCAG helps mitigate these risks and demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity.
In the accessibility community, we often use the term “Ally” (A11Y), which is a numeronym derived from the word “accessibility” (11 letters between the ‘A’ and ‘Y’). It’s a shorthand way to refer to accessibility in discussions and written communications.
Designing for different needs
When we talk about accessibility, it’s essential to understand the diverse needs of users. By addressing these needs, we can create digital experiences that are inclusive and user-friendly for everyone. Here’s a breakdown of key areas we need to focus on, along with the value these design considerations bring:
Cognitive
This can range from intellectual impairments, memory issues or learning difficulties like dyslexia, to medical side effects, or temporary conditions such as vitamin B12 deficiency. When designing for these users, consider the following:
- Clear and concise content: Use simple language and avoid jargon. Break down information into small, manageable chunks.
- Consistent layouts: Maintain a predictable structure throughout your design to help users understand and navigate your content easily.
- Supportive visuals: Use images, icons, and diagrams to supplement text and convey information more effectively.
- Alternative formats: Provide content in multiple formats, such as audio descriptions or visual aids, to cater to different learning preferences.
- Adjustable text and contrast: Allow users to adjust text size and contrast settings to improve readability.
- Extended time limits: Give users ample time to complete tasks and provide clear instructions for actions.
- Preview and confirmation: Let users review and confirm their inputs before submission to prevent errors
Visual
This includes everything from colour blindness, complete blindness or situational impacts such as the glare outside affecting your visibility, or temporary cataract. Key considerations include:
- High contrast: Ensure there is sufficient contrast between text and background colours to make content readable for users with low vision or colour blindness.
- Readable fonts: Use large, legible fonts and allow users to adjust the text size to their preference.
- Screen reader compatibility: Structure your content to be easily navigable by screen readers. This includes using proper HTML tags, providing alt text for images, and ensuring that all interactive elements are labelled.
- Colour independence: Avoid relying solely on colour to convey information. Use text labels, patterns, or shapes as additional cues.
- Magnification support: Design interfaces that remain functional and accessible when zoomed in. Ensure that critical elements do not become hidden or difficult to interact with at high zoom levels.
Auditory
For those who are deaf, hard of hearing or in a loud environment, or have an ear infection, consider the following:
- Subtitles and transcripts: Provide subtitles for video content and transcripts for audio materials to ensure information is accessible without sound.
- Sign language interpreters: Include options for sign language interpretation, especially for critical information or live events.
- Visual alerts: Use visual cues, such as physical flashing lights or appropriate timely notifications, to alert users to important events or messages.
- Multimodal communication: Offer multiple ways for users to receive and respond to information, such as text chat, and email
Motor
This can include challenges in using a mouse or a touch screen, this could be for a range of reasons, including a temporary broken limb, born with a health condition , or it could be a parent needing to carry their newborn in one hand while performing a digital task. Design considerations include:
- Keyboard navigation: Ensure all functions can be accessed and controlled using a keyboard. Provide visible focus indicators to help users track their position on the screen.
- Voice commands: Support voice input as an alternative to manual controls, allowing users to perform actions using speech.
- Large clickable areas: Design buttons and interactive elements with ample size and spacing to reduce the precision required for clicks.
- Gesture alternatives: Provide alternative ways to perform gestures, such as on-screen buttons for swipe actions, to accommodate users with limited dexterity.
Speech
This can affect clarity and volume, making voice recognition challenging. This can be caused again for a multitude of reasons, including muteness, dysarthria, stuttering, to a heavy accent or illness like Laryngitis. Important considerations include:
- Alternative input methods: Always provide options for manual input, such as typing or touch controls, in addition to voice commands.
- Subtitles and transcripts: Offer text-based alternatives for video and audio content to ensure users can access information without speaking.
- Customisable controls: Allow users to adjust the sensitivity and recognition settings of voice-controlled features to match their speech patterns.
Moving forward: Championing accessibility
I hope this gives you a glimpse into why accessibility matters and how we can design more inclusive digital experiences. Remember, accessibility is everyone’s responsibility. It’s not just about ticking boxes but about genuinely considering how our designs impact people’s lives.
Next time, we’ll dive deeper into practical solutions and how to champion accessibility within your organisation. Until then, let’s keep pushing for a more inclusive world, one design at a time.