Accessibility beyond
code

Hello

Facts
* People not defined by having a learning disability
* Range of other disabilities, preferences etc
* Different ways of going online: keyboard only,
assistive technology, mobile phones
* = Not one label, not one fix

Facts
* People with learning disabilities do use websites
* On their own, with support
* People increasingly having more control over
their lives and need access
* People can take time or be anonymous
! Many people locked out of sites and still excluded

Design...
is often the key as to whether or not
a site or app is accessible for people
with learning disabilities.

“ People with learning disabilities won’t
use my website? ”

Martin
Martin using eBay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBp6vvTq-u4

wonʼt use my website
* Good at computers, knew the site
* Nature of site means big, meaningful pictures
* Search consistent
* Layout
* Enlarge icon and text reinforce each other
! Problems with buy it now

Martin on a new site
Martin using Amazon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TioegjQh5q8

wonʼt use my website
! Not enough good or meaningful icons
! Signposting and colour not relative to pictures
! Bad typography, poor contrast
! Buttons not defined = no access
! Some people not as able as Martin...

Screenshot of a web page from a site for people with
learning disabilities about managing money

“ Making everything literal will add noise
and annoy other users ”

Poster on the London
Underground showing a
man running down the
escalators with two people
standing higher up. Text
underneath reads: Use the
escalators safely. Walk do
not run. Stand on the right.
Hold the handrail.

being literal
* Hierarchy of visual language
* Group things: sometimes less is more
* Icons plus words: less room for error
* Hover and focus states help with interaction
* Colour coding can be elegant and help with
association or memory

Screenshot of culture page on
Guardian website colour coded
pink

“ Making things bigger will make my
website ugly ”

making things bigger
* Alternative ways to access content like text size
or colour scheme can make or break a site
* And may mean you don’t have to compromise
design as much
* Space around elements can give impressions
that things are bigger

Screenshot of BBC homepage

Not my responsibility
! Equal responsibility between designers,
developers, content producers and managers
! Cohesion, consistency
! Often design that renders a site inaccessible
for someone with a learning disability

! Content is useless if people can’t access it
! Many people likely to think they are wrong if
can’t access things
! If people don’t have access, they are not
enabled or included
! Don’t lock people out

A wall in the London
Underground, showing
an old
fashioned no exit sign
with a new sign
saying way out next to it.
Copyright quadriman - http://www.flickr.com/photos/gstremer

Contact
www.youtube.com/hiantonia
http://hiantonia.wordpress.com