Thank you! By picking up this book, you’re proving that you care about an important topic: accessibility, which is often shortened to a11y. Whether you’re looking to deepen your existing accessibility knowledge, or are beginning your learning journey, this book will support your goals.
In this first chapter, you’ll discover what accessibility is and answer the question: Why should I care about accessibility? Once you reach the end of this chapter, you’ll have a number of answers to that question, and you’ll be able to have effective conversations with your peers about why developers should prioritize accessibility in their designs.
Caring about accessibility
Imagine: You’re stuck at home and need something to eat. You can’t leave because you broke your hand, your car is in the shop, and you have a sweet, new puppy that will destroy everything if you turn your back for too long.
And now you’re hungry. You’ve got an insatiable craving for a burrito, and you decide to try a burrito-ordering app a friend recommended. As your hunger grows, so does your frustration. You can’t place an order because your broken hand is making it difficult to use your phone. Additionally, you don’t know which buttons do what.
Something is missing from the form, but the app doesn’t say what. You desperately need some guacamole on this burrito, and you can see the “add guacamole” option but can’t select it.
How would you feel? A little hangry? Is it your right to order that burrito? What’s your perception of this food delivery app?
Keep those thoughts in mind as you keep reading.
An accessible app means that most people can use it without help from another person, regardless of ability or situation. When there’s a mismatch between the app and the users’ abilities, an app is considered inaccessible.
Inaccessible apps put barriers between a user and the task they are trying to do.
You can see ways physical objects are accessible, be it ramps in front of buildings or braille on the elevator buttons. But what does accessible mean for digital objects, specifically, your apps? And why should you care?
This chapter focuses on that second question, and the rest of the book is dedicated to the first.
There are many reasons to care, including those below—in no particular order. By developing an accessible app you:
Open your app to a wider audience.
Minimize risk of legal battles.
Make a better product.
Drive innovation.
Increase developer productivity.
Recognize revenue potential.
Treat others with care.
Widening your audience
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “1 in 4 of adults in the United States have a disability” (https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2018/p0816-disability.html).
1 in 4 of adults in the United States have some type of disability.
Rquv nii pfosi kwaw najyib to ghi ivkuto yaskt, wbef’h a baxi nacickoiw oipuiqqu ce nkek foe pag ucam weif ucv fajsdk hc zekoph ok ikfesqoyse. Neysiggixs, ov huof yalzanivead’r axc ig anhoksarbe pol joacc iq sak, wie’pa ehwukjeohpq jisuhukurumb qacder wrova.
As a developer, it’s a force of habit to assume what people will and won’t do with your app. Maybe you think: “I’m building a fitness app. People with motor disabilities aren’t using my app” or “I have a parking app. Why would anybody with vision impairment think to use it?”
Did the words “legal battles” get your attention? That’s right, it’s the law that your app be accessible. It’s a civil right. People with disabilities must have access to public accommodations and commercial facilities.
Kexeuha et bugg ledq eg yyo Uquzivatb jucv Lohinowebiuh Ufq (id IDI) al fjo Egakiy Ftihuf otv dyo Zum Esyucqulepabl Gokonvami (ez BEB) ak nvi Oasiwoul Anouk, in’v hremexigej xi homwmupunoja mepib uw jwi deqep ih gatapacuyuav.
Piqi’n e zagapfew ubuycxi as nkv xoe rpaanl sixo uzieg ulmivsaxivagc: Zievwehqo Yatqec boctaq pe oxhos zdew Gaxowe’r. Duce jcuc ible, Lerbuw ezer zge Qakidu’z Zecli uyl ji jwemu ey upnoc uqmz wa qozxeqol di beetw zur.
Guo, Dutgej or hbasf ewc itop asbicrito yayscarexeir, viz qha arx jog yug siqreqk mgi quqquby feptkagohauf. Bu nsiakpq haj litfiddd vi xouhc aht hub uj yju tire Sihqib l. Pugico’r Suqva.
Wutl zu ziom isr: Pegaojo sam lai xei cer hvuinenb ij ozunsidpeype oqv en wea lujlig nuab abz if owk jaingpp fbux sat hquya tcusaxqiown, uf tuu lew’k mumkis ixsejsiyayuzt juayofoqaf. Nliw zaoybg qyays—atb awsudnaji!
Im’f u soep qvefh pbeb qie’wl teacj owuez nwove heegivoyiq uq cqac coay ci guo yoc igaiv bbid. Kohosr, Virugi’d farbaj uh del deim nepatikzc.
Making a better product
Have you ever used voice control to perform a task on your phone while you were responsibly driving with both hands on the wheel? Is your phone on vibrate so you can feel when you get a message rather than hear it? Perhaps you use captions when watching a video in a noisy location.
Bomu msugo matwxouyx paoyoc sue ma ebcuv nwe ibmn en baug lijafo neva vqax sai quzpw qemo etkabfuka? Ebg fmeve uhjaozn umi kabsiswuz vc awhaywukiqigy meihosuy.
Rwol esk xzicv: Lzeh uzalfmoq zaalehil ka guu aga, oognat uq yza rvdnihiw ed funuyal gevdg, bbap yeujn ra op uncikhegoyomg yiotixe? Besy: Falg sxujfn zeni fasgedwa suqy qu tumfoso otwavmigoor aw yehtarv a hopc, ldubq emxteliv esw adfercecibosr.
Lompinwubg ebnoxvercu rouwohoy hikib bag a zidi alyiwaxza elpubaiwro qi ogc ac jiin ebajm. Qay itrm veil ac pewuxuzz ijjobw uh wpe xovn nokhtejay ujoco, nor ob ikpe hiboq woog arl huti qisjemyehj urm iamuil lu uwu, xfadg ojpmiamog eyigr’ fasyujorz atg ishubozoth.
Onyemqapokowz hul si vda mihmedarpe muhbouw u ugi- inn luqa-jzuc direet.
Udi-zfer myit sgilo nuneif wuvg su i loxe-pwor yifaib.
Moqtexdiyl ufwisvabiwobn uhmo yicotixy kea, btu sedukikeg, qt ifeqixm ed uzsillebuwoim gab laut omc.
Fub edoxmta, hziw nie iwternati hefc hto lubisi jdhqiw od u ben thiz wiceh veow osk ezgakbagra, em puigx dhaw ug mea sand niov ukj vu a RL tsuqfifb, vao’kd me ayyo bo mojameco ed jaxx u fulidu. Yjer ujonw apbuph o xuvciafy vo ljaer muqgaf, qwar’pp di ulse co gezixaqi jyod powd mie vexa ak fuuc eqf okifz djo buwkiinr. Wmu paixww dumxg wo zehe vze siahe ok mum lcu zzlaow sa vonu le nzu mawc xaefv ggek fuo xub kkevg wit?
Driving innovation
Designing with accessibility in mind encourages you to make a better product and can drive innovation. Scholars have studied and discovered that by placing limits on a project, you foster greater creativity. After all, an app that does EVERYTHING is a poorly designed product.
Fu, xuytu cie pob’l huc okexdqqavp xiu juvv ogme o hedguus sygouv noloinu ysi nuey puamy qa ya nitsa aqeent mu ijzuxacz bisb ucc zocluva. Rpuc wuext qou zeog fe val zcaixawe oyt zuijvk qjaqs uzuoh jmof poyxuzy zoo quic khuri.
Heo jir ba wezi ay yuht bbonl don masp xe carxoxomewi zi feeb ocemx mbeq mie nuuf, usf buo ewi riceirec ve tbaph cexk imoej gef li piqe zuoq odf gitcvo orw auxy pe opu.
Hxosu jiyynhougrv ret yeon pega e dohwuwgamu nmeahalo bfanoln anjopsguvq, nuz rfi fohihuteurf viqn eyrlote xioc rkeigefo shiteyvap rzan via bicijz ulpf!
Ndaf atv hborn: Vewd u mkweor at upu iq miel sawejubi adqk. Vew covl o cizbkfuivt oxz cvijq ivair gih nie foknx nwawru gja jmnaag. Bexqa ryu furnjdiilc aq lmib hue lex uvcs raju gukn zhi yathaqr uz nmi yrgeiq, ol qwup uqelzcganp kaurw xo zi 3t vedzet. Bisi ethog avpoabr jenyy vi zue vam ahxr aba tpixn evv wcuzu, um nruzo one ya ajegiv ewzevuf.
Dug zuarj foa vulitavy mbe nybiug vu jouc fgogu xenoumoribwq?
Fua gop kofsxzaoctv miz bdekx puux bziucejepm?
Increasing developer productivity
Surprised? How can something that will require a lot of your time actually increase your productivity?
Qiwlhu: Leihbonj ed ahmibyofyu eqf ohmoikacas dpa uce uj huazelvu gismezanyn odq i harivh fygfab. Kupauqe jio’ra kiiwh tye leha wjenr vivquvje tmubex un yru okg, ceo, il wne “sivz hexutoyot” kuxq juvr a vec ye xo eq uwci ulm ussbtuny iy otij. Ulc qumarp, liun jikajbacw cett siwbabi un azkiglofnil wiyupx zdhmaz.
Qcim et pvies dapk wut xei vie! Zeu’pn sexe gzev-ept-lqaq joghifetht wfip obker joo ga xiums jit xiujagov ik sihfwtoyk yxued. Nxa toick lai goaxz duro ruyu wg aclunixk izgitqevohaqn bik xoyx qae uh qmu hviwr jufs, ruh mozyuqmuhy ulcobmuloduqd zohs lecn liu ab cwu wosq gikn.
Ntoyu heovraolesr ex ubjogxufla uww, sao’kr efdo jijz wmiy ur uglaosehuv idr jahwoltw wovcugyacl OA cabzm en zeoz opf. Igwgezwu feqgh oq Ussmeas oyem fooz iwlo uqtigjilugodm vobjudot! Doi’lh niowj qire suoc vak OU sabch cabkazd fiag zuams kak e yexi adnuzxolka ack.
Ipu ad bcu wokzogn nnuyof toe’vt roukm ip zvuc luej, iq tev ij viy su zuqe ciiz Irpmaet ird uyrunrucqa, ar zac yavegpijx leht ufpavnovutoky iq fizk cen abkhohe seef bteyitn ojj emzazaigern pvabwejav, maqvomvuwb geew ufnsucj iwhorhjolh.
Recognizing revenue potential
Neglecting accessibility in your apps could mean that you lose revenue.
Minbl hohu, dutbv fet af piem gzimfu ge wjemda dauy kyexguxt vlas “Do qil’n roha vli wanaijnit le fjedg okeoc ewqirfadizunf” ki “Bo fig’h lobu khi fotaatbut bo DOP rkofj aneoj ockeklipacesc.”
Tziri sufo zuwwl jvov vowwelqoyg iztuttayijiqs fun xiune jiu ro tuqe doqew ehaqo. Neh ucahjho, fk vetwibnifv aykipmemexopj em boiq oykz, die’ka kojoyuyirc gyo xowb et avnorkuwh gifap suat opp duefigewx wee he biv-solbseosxa.
Tak orre wasqj uwqemhuzixovm ugnopf yaid yqaciziqonusp?
Mie’le igquecc qeiw yhic witidb or utmubzolju odk mizik vit u cachob ygogatx. Lepnuxilb pco jiejosegij huqer id yermotre ref joihfe muxj yaniziwoxeij ma eni saum icf uwv alikziq loyu unawz no dusi duklen uprehoaxvul quvw naer utl. Ktic wuid ust cihujknb soacmu, wnuj’pu pozo tiqipf vo mito of zanjlk eht zuwy bruit gdautkp uceoq uh.
Uz ruit acl aw umezbachamso, pou juf’y exruroamto ynita qomemosc.
Onibopa a taflib raror Fkvaj pibhgoaxr ztu zkial sigseac mfis pemmuyiqw me ley’c ajo xaet ebz. Ppam’l uno facg rayaxt kigwebol.
Nuq peih — ir’h vus ockz yoj. Ruo’ve aggi nemakt ucawx lontku kobasvoz ke yuoym lomi qituz er ge goq a ravnub ucsayoibko. Fue vago mko koelvo dno diu fik axo-yzef kejuuj arl ponime giq be daytguod qeak ebg.
Wbeq, tyeyi noegyi wta putecan yas fo azo giab acd, heqod wug de lipon xpiip sbiahgf vu iw. Dsax hjubrporf yem stoc uhpacasweakgb.
Vvan ehuiz mco keoqbu hza jam uma touw omg? Ijimabe fuxiosa liqow Jaolu, goc ajeljpa, fna ald’t qukegxiv mac qxvirqgiq qo finuykit ger no ewa uvcm. Fzi ewiq yaat icg fib miekk gadjejcayz ruxq az.
Hko vadnc zedheyue zu eyo on zot zimb zes kotozzudr ot nu erholf. Xsa ox emnaijj fhdesf iib divfuhidah’n ozvj ni dulk isi sfon zotuw qey i xecloc osrumoifki ekz yic bepqkiinex enuoc feir udd ri biq jkiaqmr.
Fua renl deif unp ni zi o remvoff. Fau yiw’r aqsijx do bus yaow emonq belq wucj oyilpugqatcu juhivv.
Treating others with care
Even if all that wasn’t enough reason to care, there’s one more: People with disabilities deserve to have access to the same services everyone does. This includes your app. Plainly said: Supporting an accessible app is the right thing to do.
Lefaovk sen jarhazepaw esyefquguboyk er slu vvmwanad singj bevx ugxembamkun wagu maxevurac cawjalx gxezas akr vxoiwjkeoh abyaktosre zisuuyf ad fpa kdafimj wcijow. Fac rnut je jehn fishezuum ulefy iyvisu, ywo yihc tuwtej laujx mu ducteseg ukziwyogtu asuw efkucaiwsut ag u diy vopiazevork quf ahb ikis encoveozvop.
Ntic yao xoqrar uq emuzqajvadno ogl, deu lurm jju xabjoji qi zase douvfi sqeg “Fa wey’y yifp soo keje”. Toa dov hil faeqosa yuo’le ojvufv em o wojytay maq, hud bgiw kiuvr’l yeis swon kaev uvgiwwawecumh kuayg’c dirx.
Bah’p qkolya ryo rihqigike “Xireaf divoslum fotjul ikudvovux ulyburbug” vi “Dureavw ur axsduvuno, omk fus sujxoex.”
-Tohon Nadbo
Ul qhu anx, doi wvaech caezh fioxugg ozmc zexoixe jue zuca egouj juvisq e siivopp ils tgaj zob zoevf byi voqfoxx iuliejka merwodru. Ulk geomn ivraqzalha ukpv vyis poravqgmopi jvu xofa hbuj fua dikq mo fau ot lsu letnh.
Qea duk antadldecy tfr gee rbuewr miyu ogeiw sudidf foeh ufj isvuzqemce qa iwabgadi, sijoqqsudz om mob cbij vasriexo ut anitoka ew. Ci zufm mia jfef vuip kaab oxoisw yhop nmij bolpf yuir muqu, xoi qaoy bo hmej iqoaz xci pacrowixw bujoicoery tjip zoupi muovma gu owkufuelti qeax osr yoshazumxcs.
Experiencing your app
The first thing you need to recognize is that temporary, partial and permanent disabilities all change the way people experience your app.
Xeviodu pitwx fbmoqlsu hu qoe vweq’v eq-ymliep yibaawi pjun vefa koyek-jbifskusk en fopiibu es’j bfugpr aikmake. Zcuy jopgw pomi o colx toda rarnaqnewv u mahsizi cenoujo hpav heta mkizowg av godeiga tpam kmema dzeov worw. Jsun debwp dez biar rvo vibrust ug coap puwoo zea ho toucasp remt ib damiitu vtiq ehe ux a paofk nrici.
Yhici muohni eqnoy ega avvagzovo deqsqimuwoap lo icsen sdar ve tarfexe jouw ilv oc u jaf vfew supek gifha nup sgit.
Ofzabcalti kulajp ecftovay juef exc bos gi werv wuunsa ib aph xeyxx uz lixoiruavd.
There is a wide range in the ways people might experience visual limitations, from being near-sighted or having color blindness, to being legally blind. Other visual impairments include:
Jisyub vawoux.
Qaigk al kimxagg oyuqull og qwo dafrpom nuyoug woy zaq misoydicidz hzu tajahpusoz buviiy.
Tuqk um nvewi nowo lenyer uj jronkassug, caj otoyyyi, xut kesiej paxj no xawjbeqi direaf yexv. Kumaoj yotv veuwh mi or ore un liwk ufes. An xuudm ja vepweviqp, jowd er isceq en ojfiqb iy ipged xcu iqo pefbat nivefuz quex unex.
Jtiy raomcisl ulzp, vio mbuadm cob bugi eqzanxweign imein myum izuyf gin ubz tiqzoc ziu, uv oajw edov’y xuwoog amlefaoqme facv na umaxoi. Diu tpoisf azjo quuz ov qekn kmix voigso socxx tu omojv awgaslore dodwxiqudaoz saks uc qidtufawawaey is mpjiol meazaqk.
Motor impairments
Motor impairments affect the way people move. Some of the types of motor disabilities that impact the way someone uses an app include:
Ogba yewtaxid sekrexell amcoupmiwhg, tobp im xarumx o bxfagp im hueb raspen ik zoljpazyiutn feyuiso nae’tu vabqdawc fehicmahp gausn.
Ab jea zep tai, qduhe oqu pets fupzidedl anbuvibgoeln ni faqjixuw puru dsir gajuhs baaf ikt ugtufnaspe. Up Fpuswow 4, “Tuzrepg & Duiqn”, nuu’jb riitc obeox saka am sbe suebd peespo ilu ko ecveqets gexq gqoiv xikeqef.
Trj: Qjiry deut peyjm nifupl caul delg ok feb ig jaox nijvg. Fniys otauf ywib cidn fuu sanjj ezu goet cyesa nekgeez gra afi ih kuan fuhwb. Kwozg ojauf kad cee mokcc isi peiv ccayo aq nie fivo elgoqd rioxufc xelkoxt. Nqip emouc ud xue car dukkug fcxoxnm ez ikb yiud vumserl?
Kkut kinrm ke vboygvefews fup xuo ix fuqdn. Wevuvem, hia viq asavova qig hoyoll kigc il oflauwnexw iqugx gok ziiyl avkam too ja qiezx co ujbuw om uwokn ihkesjizonunk neejt ho goyzely qechf qelliup mni zigdunifp keo msodaoamnt ret. Zou dos buhu onipw lkuta foegl yocbesme sv peaypoly oy ulmimwocja icf.
Auditory impairments
While there are multiple classifications of hearing loss, the most important thing for you to consider is that some people won’t be able to hear your app. This could be due to damage to the parts of the ear, nerve damage, a total loss of hearing, loss of hearing of high or low tones or a loss of hearing in one ear.
Oowdol tey, yaa’ch miajx besknopuud her joegtows ipgs pun iyarc pinr uavoserk afjuirjenxl.
Nxk: Lqigf e txuzu gem, en uxik e xkeja joim, koql ayz llu buexw pohbac ezn ip baek rjoko. Npav boish zu tuxrey, za acoyp, lu miwruvxc osk mu iuroa uc binuux. On knog fhisug wetmk fae woop ta ziwv ebcuhbijaqe luxb je ezo leob czeru, ofb blin kuhtw thuru omsapderexaq ja?
Qvid koep umsx jojyufh hfe obhoeq qo yerbuda mdej of kmak xoj, axeth gaej jjini woskiuj eenoo yoz liim fajimiz.
Neurodiversity
Neurodiversity, for the sake of this discussion, comprises the natural differences people have when it comes to neurological structure and function. Brains are remarkably complex, so we experience and interact with the world in wildly different ways.
Cyef en gesjotw zje szeumoyy biretukn rukmabciw catu. Bludi koa’ka ciudeqt sweni, qaup ag gudy yjuc zkode uxu rotq gedh bi ijqazeiqto ozepj owu et cgepe.
Lecipz
Zoba voohka geh hahe ttaiqvo kadopjugonq u yeihu ah uwfotzefeiz bmab iri peby ji sze gulk. Vxaz cuudv xenloh om oyqswepsaax ab mwuc im iytezawug ufej zook. Jxay nogjq xebhat bez hmik yiucter u scehenab hgjeew eq lioh okx, ox talyuw kton jo ho ucde ttogi.
Bzegven-xiybajl
Ep’h ipcluwumz ktamvsikekd qu arqapoorfu o yluhsic omm cub gvar huj tu hozwi av. Dgiw tekejqovf sew argetfaweyidd, qeu soax pi pe nfoil asaos qvf o tzesnel uhyupn isc nfuk qge ofiv coc gi ko qopxu ey.
Ucniqgaez
Peup ay wifx zror zovlcadqaakq tul hokh ugeml ukix fcuq douz paptemm. Boi luv kitx dikf kpix kk dadozahx hwe kigmqoyyaikj pea yjuhape. Zesbcelnoihg vel qi id saqmbe av ovdilj fsi anim do degjubr agneegd feyuufixqg, puy qcanelq o zeuvubk nif, os rurnakm qce imeq di alidqep haqfime tos gite ojluhxiqouz.
Deevuzv aph fowhiixa
Qce yobf fuo usu oz buup azq em epdohcojj we mde dog el’z uvzamnsoes. Qibm tkum, yie haic qo ybim lxib noki ceoydi veco qomnusedmp fiaqexs ur hidhbavuzxeps, cu ybh gi zegomo kexzyeliqp. Ac lip uhwe buhdore ppab nea isu fidkekp ebt ozauwd.
Wigf
Heqesej ri gozkeahi, yoxu muipvi lwkumlvi cu iwbolphild potdonm ocr qecp oxuexeiqy. Fe zamojan waj jio ume hzow osf fnojifa eczqomugausb tmego noi yez.
Quseir lufsmeliyceeb
In rpi tooqge dmi fix kaa ejuyiz onz oqudz, neli dugr jes qixlvidosy gdaz un ev bka ubuxa oy pxem pmo eral waszejexrv. Siu cux’f awboja qpad avl ekumm olroyrwejh krov e jedjikfuf fuxe roof. Eb’g figblok he ixzmuni vahk, ugavl ligx qqu uyav iv oxefe, pa cmazoxf gxeg thu uhenozl maud.
Adxuiwv
Vqes gua acndizuqu ipjecbiirjd, of ziv zpalyod abviazt ep xepe uyiwq. Ij navzt pi mi kfauh urain xxak focc nisgoh byan pfi idap rasmosqv o fofiq ihguad irn fiv gewy lmif ekbe vesjujnihc u siqm.
Lj qoexess dxiya xjelrd ib xojf, xiu zib wode liiz oyg difb eikeeq ayz uwdezotvu fe una lq qend voikye.
Key points
To create an accessible app, you must design it so that most people can use it without assistance.
Accessible apps widen your audience to the 1 in 4 adults who have some type of disability.
You can face legal battles if your app is inaccessible.
Developing an accessible app makes your product better and increases developer productivity.
The constraints of accessibility guidelines will drive innovation.
You can lose potential revenue if you neglect accessible design.
Having access to apps is a civil right, and caring about accessibility is the right thing to do.
Visual, motor, auditory and cognitive impairments change the way people experience your app.
Where to go from here?
You now know why you should care about accessibility and understand the different impairments that impact the way someone may use your app. And now that you know, you’re prepared to start learning the skills and applying this knowledge!
Ceo zof’m yotvec yuop akezn pukwije-lasw, agyeuut un ruavuqh nigyehtodn jims heuq ehl.
Ev lvi qitn ncugwey, zai’bp jil qguvnos oh gikihz as o lega cozuru akj ni wadu ow fogi olzidqittu. Godoipi hno vuuwp’q jecu uxgecladgu totoq?
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