Accessibility or inclusivity is the right of every person. People with some kind of disability need websites optimized for accessibility. The aim is to remove any hindrances, which can make it easier for all users to use an app or a website. You should not design a separate version of the website or app for disabled persons as it would make them feel segregated. However, the updated design and interface should in no way disrupt the experience of non-disabled people. Here are some ways through which you can make the necessary changes to upgrade your app or website design to make it accessible.
Larger fonts
You can keep the font size large so nobody can face an issue reading the text. This way, users who are visually-impaired and even those who aren’t will benefit from being able to read the text with ease. Even the text on the footer should not be too small.
Simplify language
The written word is a great way to communicate your message or objectives to the user or attract them to take action. However, if users are unable to read it, it is an opportunity missed. The language should be simplified as nobody wants to google the meaning of words while reading text on a website. Also, consider the typography is decent and too complex. There’s also the consistency which can affect those with a cognitive disability.
Some ways to improve the typography and eventually readability:
Keep your text left or right-aligned with line spacing of 1.5 and paragraph spacing of 1.5. A paragraph should have no more than 80 characters. Underline links for added visual contrast.
To reduce cognitive load, you can:
Use simple language, define abbreviations upon first use, make sure that link text is explained properly, structure your content using appropriate heading.
Choose simple symbols
Choose simple gestures rather than complex ones to make UI accessible to disabled users. Consult with experts or activists to help you interpret any complicated gesture which would confuse disable people. For instance, swiping interactions on touchscreens apps are common but most users would not know how to swipe on a website, whether it is mobile or desktop. Therefore, we need to consider whether anything besides simple tapping and clicking gesture going to be problematic.
In the process of making websites accessible, remember that you can’t put pressure on the user, for example when they are filling a form. You can get the response auto-corrected, such as adding the https in a link or a country code in a phone number. This just does not apply for cognitively disabled, but other users can also benefit through the change.