Designing For Accessibility In Mobile Application Development: 6 Tips And Tricks

In this digital age, we are accustomed to using mobile applications, and it has become a part and parcel of our daily lives. With the increasing number of mobile devices being used, it's crucial to ensure that mobile apps are designed for everyone, including those with disabilities.

Designing for accessibility in mobile application development means making sure that people with disabilities can easily access and use your app. This not only creates a more inclusive app, but it also increases your user base and promotes a better user experience.”

In this post, we'll cover six tips and tricks that will help you design for accessibility in mobile app development.

So, whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting out, these tips and tricks will help you create an accessible mobile app that everyone can use. Let's get started!

• Know Your Audience

Designing for accessibility starts with understanding the different types of disabilities and their needs. Here are some tips on how to know your audience:

1. Identify the types of disabilities: The first step in knowing your audience is to identify the types of disabilities that exist. There are many types of disabilities, including visual, auditory, physical, and cognitive disabilities. By understanding the different types of disabilities, you can tailor your app to meet the needs of all users.
2. Conduct user research: User research is essential to understanding the needs of people with disabilities. Conduct surveys, interviews, and focus groups with people who have disabilities to understand their needs, limitations, and preferences. This will help you create an app that is designed specifically for them.
3. Involve people with disabilities in the design process. Nothing beats getting first-hand feedback from people with disabilities. By involving them in the design process, you can identify and address issues that you might not have considered on your own.

Remember, designing for accessibility is not just about adding features for people with disabilities. It's about creating a seamless user experience that is inclusive of all users.

For example, let's say you're developing a ride-sharing app. Conducting user research with people who have visual impairments can help you understand how to make the app more accessible. Maybe adding voice-activated commands or a feature that reads out loud the pick-up and drop-off locations.

According to Kevin Zhou, CEO & Founder of a Cell Phone Repair Parts Manufacturing Company REPART, “Knowing your audience is the foundation for creating an accessible mobile app. So, take the time to understand their needs and preferences, and you'll be on your way to creating an app that is inclusive of all users.”

• Prioritise Accessibility In The Design Process

Once you've identified the needs of your audience, the next step is to prioritize accessibility in the design process.

“Accessibility should not be an afterthought or something that's added on later. It should be a fundamental part of the design process.”, says Sumeer Kaur, Founder of Lashkaraa.

Here are some tips on how to prioritize accessibility in the design process:

1. Include accessibility in the project scope: From the beginning of the project, make sure that accessibility is included in the project scope. This ensures that everyone on the team is aware of the importance of designing for accessibility.
2. Design for keyboard navigation: Not all users can use a mouse or touch screen. Make sure that your app is designed so that it can be navigated using a keyboard. This includes making sure that all interactive elements are keyboard accessible. For those looking for the best keyboard for iPhone to enhance accessibility and ease of use, ensure the option you choose integrates seamlessly with your app.
3. Use high-contrast colors: People with visual impairments often have difficulty distinguishing between colors. Using high-contrast colors can make it easier for them to use your app.
4. Use descriptive text for images: For users who use screen readers, it's important to include descriptive text for images. This helps them understand what the image represents.
5. Provide alternative content for multimedia: Not all users can access multimedia content such as videos or audio files. Providing alternative content such as transcripts or captions can make your app more accessible to everyone.
6. Test your app with assistive technologies: Ensure you test your app with assistive technologies such as screen readers or keyboard-only navigation. This will help you in identifying accessibility issues and make necessary adjustments according to your requirements.

For example, let's say you're designing a food delivery app. By making sure that all interactive elements can be accessed using a keyboard and including descriptive text for images, you're making the app more accessible to users with disabilities.

Remember, designing for accessibility is a continuous process. It's important to regularly review and update your app to ensure that it remains accessible to everyone.

• Optimize Usability For Screen Readers

Optimizing usability for screen readers is a critical part of designing for accessibility. Screen readers are assistive technologies that read out loud the content on a screen for users who have visual impairments.

Here are some tips on how to optimize usability for screen readers:

1. Use descriptive labels: Use descriptive labels for all interactive elements such as buttons and links. This helps screen reader users understand what the element does.
2. Provide skip links: Skip links allow screen reader users to skip over sections of content that are not relevant to them. This can help them navigate the app more efficiently.
3. Use proper heading structure: Use proper heading structure to organize content. This helps screen reader users navigate the app more easily.
4. Avoid using tables for layout: Tables can be difficult for screen reader users to navigate. Instead, use CSS to lay out your content.
5. Provide alternative text for non-text content: For images or other non-text content, provide alternative text describing the content.
6. Use ARIA attributes: ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes are HTML attributes that help make web content more accessible. Use ARIA attributes to help describe the purpose of certain elements.

Optimizing usability for screen readers not only makes your app more accessible but also promotes a better user experience for everyone.

For example, let's say you're designing a shopping app. By providing descriptive labels for all buttons and links, screen reader users can easily navigate the app and make purchases without any difficulty.

By optimizing usability for screen readers, you're creating an app that is accessible to users with visual impairments, but also promoting a better user experience for everyone.

• Enhance The Visual Experience For Low Vision Users

Enhancing the visual experience for low-vision users is another critical aspect of designing for accessibility. Low-vision users often have difficulty seeing small text or low-contrast elements on the screen.

Here are some tips on how to enhance the visual experience for low-vision users:

1. Use legible fonts: Use fonts that are legible and clear. Sans-serif fonts such as Arial and Helvetica are typically easier to read than serif fonts.
2. Provide adjustable text size: Allow users to adjust the size of the text to meet their needs. This can be done through settings or a dedicated button on the screen.
3. Use high contrast: Use high contrast between text and background colors. This can help low-vision users see the content more easily.
4. Avoid using color alone to convey information: Avoid using color alone to convey important information. For example, if you use red to indicate an error message, also provide a text description of the error.
5. Provide alternative text for color-coded information: For information that is color-coded, provide alternative text that describes what the information means.
6. Use scalable vector graphics: Use scalable vector graphics (SVGs) for icons and other graphics. SVGs can be resized without losing their quality, making them easier to see for low-vision users.

Enhancing the visual experience for low-vision users not only makes your app more accessible but also promotes a better user experience for everyone.

For example, let's say you're designing a news app. By using precise and legible fonts, high contrast, and scalable vector graphics for icons, low-vision users can easily read news articles and navigate the app.

By enhancing the visual experience for low-vision users, you're creating an app that is accessible to users with visual impairments, but also promoting a better user experience for everyone.

• Accommodate Motor Impairments

Motor impairments can affect a user's ability to use touchscreens and perform specific gestures, such as swiping and tapping.”, shares Lara Acosta, Chief Marketing Officer at AED Training.

Here are some tips on how to accommodate motor impairments:

1. Provide alternative navigation methods: Provide alternative navigation methods such as voice control or keyboard shortcuts. This can help users who have difficulty using touchscreens.
2. Increase touch target sizes: Increase the size of touch targets such as buttons and links. This can make it easier for users with motor impairments to tap on them accurately.
3. Allow for multiple input methods: Allow users to use different input methods, such as a stylus or a mouse, to interact with the app.
4. Use swipe gestures with caution: Use swipe gestures with caution, as they can be difficult for users with motor impairments. Provide an alternative method of navigation, such as buttons or voice control.
5. Provide visual and audio feedback: Provide visual and audio feedback when a user acts. This can help users with motor impairments understand what action they have performed and whether it was successful.
6. Avoid using time-based interactions: Avoid using time-based interactions such as double-tapping or long-pressing, as these can be difficult for users with motor impairments.

By accommodating motor impairments, you're making your app accessible to a wider range of users. 

For example, let's say you're designing an app for fitness. By providing alternative navigation methods and increasing touch target sizes, users with motor impairments can easily navigate the app and perform the necessary actions to track their workouts.

As we’ve talked about earlier, designing for accessibility is about making your app inclusive of all users. “By accommodating motor impairments, you're creating an app that is accessible to users with motor impairments while also promoting a better user experience for everyone else," says Jonathon Reilly, co-founder of Akkio. 

• Test And Iterate

Testing and iterating are essential parts of designing for accessibility. It's important to test your app with a variety of users, including those with disabilities, to ensure that it's accessible to everyone. Here are some tips on how to test and iterate your app for accessibility:

1. Conduct usability testing: Conduct usability testing with a diverse group of users, including those with disabilities. This can help you identify any accessibility issues and gather customer feedback through customer feedback software on improving the user experience.
2. Use assistive technology: Use assistive technology, such as screen readers and magnifiers, to test your app's accessibility. This can help you identify any issues that may be affecting users with disabilities.
3. Conduct automated accessibility testing: Use automated accessibility testing tools to help identify any accessibility issues that may exist in your app.
4. Make accessibility a part of your development process. Incorporate accessibility testing into your development process. This can help you catch any accessibility issues early on and make necessary changes before releasing the app.
5. Get feedback from users with disabilities: Get feedback from users with disabilities throughout the development process. This can help you ensure that your app is accessible and meets their needs.
6. Iterate and improve: Use the feedback you receive from users and accessibility testing to make necessary changes and improvements to your app's accessibility. Keep iterating until you've achieved a high level of accessibility.

Just like SEO, testing and iterating are ongoing processes, so it's important to continue to test and improve your app's accessibility over time. By doing so, you'll ensure that your app is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.”

For example, if you're designing a travel app, you can conduct usability testing with users who have visual impairments to ensure that the app's design and features are accessible to them.

Alex Locklear, the founding member and owner of NC Cash Home Buyers, says, “Remember, designing for accessibility isn't just about ticking boxes. By testing and iterating your app's accessibility, you'll be able to create an app that's accessible to all users, regardless of their abilities.”

The Takeaway

Designing for accessibility is not just about creating an inclusive environment for people with disabilities but also about ensuring a positive user experience for everyone. By following the tips and tricks discussed in this article, you can create mobile applications that are accessible, usable, and enjoyable for all users. Noida's App Development Company, BigOhTech can help you with the issues in app designing and development phase.