Web accessibility beyond Blindness

When we talk about making websites and mobile apps accessible, it is usually with an eye towards those who are visually impaired or blind. We are ourselves blind, so making the web accessible to blind people is near and dear to our hearts. Of equal concern however are other groups who also benefit from web accessibility but whose concerns aren’t as widely known. Here is a brief look at the challenges faced by members of some of those populations and what you can do to make your web site more accessible to them.

Individuals with epilepsy and other seizure disorders.
Nearly 3,000,000 Americans.

Epilepsy is a chronic condition associated with unprovoked Seizure. It can strike during any phase of life. Stress and visual stimuli can be problematic, which is why seizures are mentioned in the section.

What can I do?

Avoid rapidly flashing lights. Also, make sure all animations can be stopped by the user, and that videos do not play automatically.

individuals with migraine disorders.
10% of the population.

Many people with migraines experienced sensitivity to light and sound along with the classic head pain. Auras, or visual floaters, are also common. This means that viewing a screen with a lot of flashing lights another visual stimuli can be painful and distracting.

What can I do?

The same advice for seizure disorders applies here. Avoid rapidly flashing lights, and make sure animations can be stopped and videos do not play automatically. Also, make sure fonts are easy to read and that colors are not overly garish.

Individuals with impaired motor functioning or upper limb differences.
Exact statistics unknown

There isn’t a firm estimate regarding how many people fall into this population, but it’s safe to say that the number is significant. Spinal cord injury, MS, and repetitive motion injuries are but a few examples of the conditions encompassed by this list. The bottom line is that millions of people do not use a computer mouse for a variety of reasons.

What can I do?

Make sure all elements on your web page are keyboard focusable and keyboard accessible. Anything which requires a mouse is inaccessible to many people with motor challenges. Also, make sure icons aren’t too small. Many people with motor challenges use larger mouses or alternative clicking devices. These users find small clickable elements challenging if not impossible to use.

Individuals who are dyslexic.
20% of the population.

Dyslexia is a group of conditions unrelated to intelligence the cause an individual to have difficulty reading due to problems with phonological processing. In English, that means that a person with normal or high intelligence and average eyesight can still struggle to read.

What can I do?

Keep text short and simple. People with dyslexia have a far easier time reading short sections of text written in plain language. Avoid acronyms and industry-specific jargon. If an 8th-grader can’t read it, its too complex.
Choose a basic font that’s easy to read. Sans Serif fonts tend to work best. Also, make sure your web site has propper color contrast.

Individuals who have ADHD.
11 Million American adults.

ADHD is a neurobehavioral condition that impacts one’s ability to concentrate, memory, and a slew of other characteristics.
None of the above conditions are associated with diminished intelligence or inability to meaningfully contribute to society. In fact, a number of highly successful people live with at least one of these characteristics. They could be a valuable customer, your rockstar employee, or a collaborative business partner. These characteristics do not inherently reduce one’s capacity, but inaccessibility May impede their full participation.

What can I do?

KISS it, by which I mean, keep it simple and specific. Avoid flashy adds that draw focus away from the main point of your pages. Also, opt for a clutter-free design.

Further Reading

ADHD Facts
What is Migraine
Epilepsy
Dislexia FAQ
Migraines and Digital Accessibility