Mobile apps have become an integral part of our daily lives, providing access to essential services, commerce, and social connections. However, for many organizations, designing accessible mobile applications remains a compliance checkbox rather than a core design principle. At Emerge Creatives, we believe that truly accessible mobile applications emerge from a human-centered innovation approach that considers the diverse needs of all users.

When approached with empathy and understanding, accessibility becomes an opportunity for innovation rather than a constraint. By considering the unique challenges faced by users with disabilities, you can discover insights that lead to better experiences for everyone. In fact, features originally designed for accessibility often become mainstream conveniences, such as voice commands or text-to-speech.

Understanding Mobile Accessibility: Beyond Compliance

Mobile accessibility refers to making applications usable by people with diverse abilities and disabilities, including visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments. While compliance with standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 and legal requirements like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are important baselines, truly accessible design goes beyond checking boxes.

When designing for accessibility, it's essential to understand the foundational principles that guide accessible design. These principles provide a framework for thinking about accessibility holistically:

  • Perceivable: Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive, regardless of sensory capabilities.
  • Operable: User interface components and navigation must be operable by users with diverse abilities.
  • Understandable: Information and operation of the user interface must be understandable to all users.
  • Robust: Content must be robust enough to be reliably interpreted by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.

These principles form the foundation of the WCAG guidelines and serve as an excellent framework for problem framing in the accessibility context.

Designing for Inclusivity: Key Accessibility Principles

To ensure that your mobile app is accessible to all users, consider the following key design principles:

  • Text and Typography:

+ Implement dynamic text sizing that respects system font size settings

+ Maintain a minimum text size of 16px for body text

+ Ensure sufficient contrast ratios (minimum 4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text)

+ Avoid using text within images; if necessary, provide alt text

  • Color and Contrast:

+ Never rely on color alone to convey information or indicate action

+ Use color combinations that work for the most common forms of color blindness

+ Maintain sufficient contrast between text and background (use tools like the WebAIM Contrast Checker)

+ Include visible focus indicators for interactive elements

  • Images and Media:

+ Include descriptive alt text for all functional images

+ Use null alt attributes (alt="") for decorative images

+ Provide transcripts or descriptions for complex visualizations

+ Ensure that icons have text labels or are recognized by screen readers

Auditory and Speech Accessibility

Users with hearing impairments need alternatives to audio content and may rely on visual or tactile feedback instead of auditory cues. To ensure accessibility, consider the following:

  • Audio Alternatives:

+ Provide closed captions for all video content

+ Include transcripts for audio content

+ Offer sign language interpretation for essential instructional videos

  • Voice Input and Output:

+ Support alternative input methods beyond voice for voice-activated features

+ Ensure voice recognition systems can adapt to different speech patterns and accents

+ Provide visual feedback for voice input recognition

Technical Implementation Checklist

To ensure that your mobile app is accessible, consider the following technical implementation checklist:

  • Use semantic HTML structures to provide context for screen readers
  • Implement ARIA attributes to provide information about dynamic content changes
  • Use high-contrast colors and sufficient font sizes
  • Provide alternatives to audio and visual content
  • Ensure that all interactive elements are operable with assistive technologies

Testing Your App for Accessibility

To ensure that your mobile app is accessible, test it using various assistive technologies and user scenarios. This includes:

  • Conducting usability testing with users who have disabilities
  • Using screen readers and other assistive technologies to test the app's accessibility
  • Providing alternative input methods beyond voice for voice-activated features

Maintaining Accessibility Through Updates

To maintain accessibility throughout your mobile app's lifecycle, consider the following best practices:

  • Continuously test and iterate on accessibility features
  • Provide updates and maintenance to ensure that accessibility features remain effective
  • Conduct regular audits to identify and address potential accessibility issues

By prioritizing accessibility in your mobile app development process, you can create an inclusive experience for all users.