How to Design Mobile Apps with Accessibility in a Mind From Start?

Designing mobile apps with accessibility in mind can help you reach out to a wider audience from the initial stage. Mobile app accessibility helps you to make the app much more easy to use and people with disabilities can easily navigate through the same. 

There are some simple tips that you can follow that can help you to build accessibility for the app. Developers can always create an app that is inclusive and you can depend on professionals who can help you through the experience. Today we are going to discuss some basic tips that can help you to improve accessibility from the start. 

Building Mobile App Accessibility from the Start

Some of the most simple things that you can do to design mobile app accessibility from the start are:

1. Know about Accessibility Guidelines 

The first step that you can take towards accessibility is following the guidelines. This includes even the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and the updated versions that follow. 

Reading through the guidelines will help you have a particular framework about how you want to develop your app and make it accessible. 

1. Layout

While a lot of people think that making the layout of your application complex is going to drive people, in reality, a simple and consistent layout can help you with accessibility. Usually, a simple layout appeals to those who have any kind of cognitive disability. Having a consistent layout will help the users predict what will happen next and how they can make use of the app. When you incorporate a consistent layout, it helps you to build reliability among the users. 

1. Readability 

Improving the accessibility of your mobile app also ensures that you work on the readability of the same. Always make use of the right font and the text color. This will greatly help you to improve accessibility for those who battle with visual disability. You should be able to put in a design that can accommodate the changes without compromising on the layout or making it difficult to read by the screen reader. 

1. Provide Alt Text to Images 

One of the common reasons why our usage of the application becomes so engaging is because of the images and graphics it contains. However, improving the accessibility of your mobile application also requires you to provide alternative text. For users who completely rely on screen readers this can be an effective tool. The primary aim of the alternative text is to convey information about the image without altering the real meaning. Incorporating alternative text into images is important and can change the accessibility levels. 

1. Accessibility Testing

And finally, when you want to make your application accessible right from the beginning, accessibility testing is crucial. Develop a protocol about how you want to incorporate accessibility testing and how often you want it. You will also have to decide whether you want any kind of manual testing with real users who have disabilities. This is usually a preferred method because it will help you to understand the changes in your accessibility output. 

Conclusion

If you want to design a mobile app that caters to a wider audience and helps you fulfill your moral and legal obligation, then working on accessibility is crucial. Mobile app accessibility has become extremely popular over the years and it helps you to improve the experience for every user. You will be able to reach out to a broader audience and make an impact that lasts long. 

Key Takeaways:

• Adhere to accessibility guidelines like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines to develop a framework for your app's accessibility features.

• Ensure readability by using appropriate fonts and text colors and allowing for adjustable text sizes without compromising the layout or screen reader compatibility.

• Include alternative text for images to convey information for users relying on screen readers.

• Implement accessibility testing from the start, using both automated and manual methods to assess and enhance the app's accessibility features.