Tips for Designing Apps for Accessibility

Accessible App Design, having accessible apps helps users experience your product regardless of their ability. Now that digital spaces have opened up, how enterprises can design accessible apps is also important to companies.

These are a few useful tips for building apps that will appeal to the widest range of users:

Be aware of Color Contrast: Make sure text and background colors contrast well enough for people who have eyesight issues. The Color Contrast Ratio of your app can be checked with tools such as WebAIM.

Use Text Alternatives: Add alt text for pictures, icons and buttons. This is to make the message clear for users who use screen readers that are blind.

Allow Keyboard Navigation: Most users, even people with disabilities, navigate apps with keyboards or other assistive devices. Assure that all the interactivity is non-mouse accessible.

Simplify Language and Interface: Clear language and easy interfaces let the user know what the app does. Don’t use technical terms or too much verbiage.

Use ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications): ARIA roles and properties allow dynamic content and UI/UX elements to be read using screen readers.

Test with Multiple Users: Accessibility testing should also include disabled users. Test your app using VoiceOver on iOS or TalkBack on Android to check how well it handles for people with visual impairment.

Give Options for Customization: Allow users to adjust things such as font size, color, or contrast as needed. This allows the user to modify the app at their convenience.

Show Users Why They’re Making a Mistake, tell them Why and How to fix it clearly: If the user is making a mistake, tell them how to fix it easily and clearly. Communicate in plain English and make sure that feedback is open.

Be Interactive & Large & Tappable: Interactive elements must be large and tap-able (particularly on mobile). Big enough that the buttons are easy to manipulate for people with motor impairment.

Follow WCAG Guidelines: WCAG provides comprehensive guidance for Web and App Content Accessibility. If you follow these steps, you can be sure that you are accessible in a proper way.

You make your app more accessible from the very beginning, you reach more people, and your app can succeed and have more users. By making the decision now to make accessibility an investment, you will make a long-term, positive difference in your brand’s credibility and usability.