Design for All - Ensuring Accessibility
When creating content for the digital world, many design topics come to mind: image resolution, color space, animations, user experience, and more. While we spend our time focusing on making our digital content look impressive to stand out online, we may forget one important factor, accessibility. The World Health Organization estimates 16% of the global population has some kind of disability, which means there are nearly 1.3 billion people who may need assistive tools and technologies to access online content. From websites to mobile apps and beyond, creating inclusive user experiences is not only legally required but also fosters a more empathetic and user-friendly online environment. In this article, we’ll explore key principles and strategies for designing with accessibility in mind, empowering you to create digital experiences that are accessible to all.
What is ADA Compliance?
ADA Compliance refers to adherence to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, a civil rights law in the United States that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life. In the context of digital and online environments, ADA Compliance specifically refers to ensuring that digital content, services, and platforms are accessible to individuals with disabilities, such as those with visibility, hearing, and mobility impairments. This includes making websites, mobile apps, electronic documents, and other digital technologies usable by everyone by implementing accessibility standards and best practices.
Tips for Designing Acessible Digital Content
Use Easy-to-Read Fonts: Keep font legibility top of mind. While decorative fonts and scripts may pack a visual punch, they may be difficult for those with disabilities to read. Instead, stick with commonly used fonts like Arial, Helvetica, or Verdana.
Ensure Color Contrast: Review your design for acceptable color contrast of background and foreground elements. Specifically, text should have a high contrast ratio with its background (e.g., dark text on a light background or vice versa). Unsure if your meets contrast requirements? Check with the WebAIM Contrast Checker.
Utilize Proper Structure & Tags: Website designers should use HTML heading tags (e.g., <h1>, <h2>, <h3>) to organize content hierarchically. Screen readers use headings to navigate content, so they should reflect the page’s structure. Regarding online PDF documents, Adobe Acrobat’s accessibility tools can be used to make the document accessible. Proper structure tags should be applied to all elements including headings, subheadings, paragraphs, tables, images, etc. Additionally, you’ll want to specify the document reading order and use the read-out-loud function to listen and ensure correctness.
Write Alternative Text: Write and tag all images, graphs, charts, and other non-text content with alternative text (alt-text). Alternative text is a “behind the scenes” description that can be accessed by screen readers to assist people with blindness or low vision. When a screen reader comes across an element tagged with alternative text, it will read the description aloud to the user.
Provide Captions & Transcripts: Videos should have captions available for those with hearing disabilities. Accessibility aside, did you know that 92% of consumers watch video with the sound off – which means video captions are not only legally required, but desired by most people. Additionally, audio recordings should be transcribed.
Limit Automatic/Timed Content: Content that automatically plays, scrolls, refreshes, or redirects should have the ability to pause, stop, or control the timing unless it’s essential for the functionality. Common examples include videos, slideshows, carousels, and other animations. These elements may be difficult to view for those with disabilities and interfere with screen readers.
Design Accessible Forms: Make your form easier to complete by providing clear instructions and error messages. Form fields should be labeled, and placeholder text should be properly utilized. You’ll also want to make sure the fields can be navigated using the keyboard since some disabled individuals cannot operate a mouse.
Designing for accessibility is not just a checkbox on a list of design requirements; it is a commitment to inclusivity and equitable access. By embracing accessibility principles and implementing best practices throughout the design process, you not only comply with legal standards but also enhance usability for all users. The impact of accessible design extends far beyond compliance—it fosters a more compassionate and supportive digital environment where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can fully participate and engage. As designers and creators, we have the power to shape experiences that empower and include everyone, and by prioritizing accessibility, we pave the way for a more inclusive digital future.