Accessibility is an important function of any web design or app strategy. New government regulations for accessibility in the UK means that all public sector websites created on or after 23 September 2018 must be accessible. Mobile apps must be accessible by June 2021.
Design is a crucial part of any website or app, but all too often we see organizations being carried away with aesthetics and accessibility as a small focus, while in fact there are many features that need to be considered!
In this article web designing training in Chandigarh institute, trainers will explore accessibility requirements; why they are important; the benefits of accessibility; and features to consider becoming more accessible online.
Accessibility is the design of products, devices or services that can be used by as many people as possible. This includes people with disabilities, such as impaired vision, motor problems, learning difficulties or deafness.
This means much more than simplifying the design. Creating a platform that is accessible takes into account all aspects and ensures that your brand can be adapted to those who need it. Making all functions flexible, including your content, design, navigation and layout, is essential for creating an accessible platform.
Public sector organizations (government-operated services) are affected by regulations, since these essential services must be available to everyone, including those with disabilities. In the case of some services, the people who need them most may find it difficult to access online or through an app.
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The most important advantage of successfully designing an accessible platform is that your app or website is available to everyone, but there are many more advantages.
Avoid discrimination: if your website or app is designed to help everyone, you have created a platform that does not discriminate. Most companies do not discriminate intentionally against individuals, but some organizations simply focus on visual material rather than fundamentals. This is crucial for public sector organizations. By focusing on design, they can exclude specific functions or communication methods that are vital to ensure access for some groups of people. Creating a platform that not only complies with the regulations, but can also be adapted to meet everyone's needs, will avoid discrimination.
Brand Reputation: An accessible website or app can improve the reputation of your brand because it will appeal to a wider audience, which will ultimately generate more traffic. Similarly, accessibility can make you stand out from competitors because it demonstrates that you can accommodate all users. This can be a useful marketing tool for your organization.
General usability: by having an accessible platform, you increase the usability for ALL users. While developing an accessible design strategy, you will discover usability issues that you may not have known about initially. It will also benefit those who have access to your content via mobile, as well as an older and technologically inexperienced audience who can struggle with online public services. It is these users who want to adjust functions on your platform to make it easier to use.
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Let's talk about what you need to do to meet the guidelines and how you can create an accessible design strategy.
Layout: Make sure you have a clear, simple layout. A cluttered design can cause confusion. Users must be able to respond to the size of features, make them larger if needed, so it is important to have a responsive layout.
Color: A well thought out color palette is needed to help those who may be color blind. Don't just rely on color to identify key elements of your interface. If this is the case, include text to help these areas so that all users can interpret the displayed information and navigate smoothly.
Navigation: clear indicators and short task flows allow for smooth navigation. The buttons must be consistent, especially those called to action, and clearly labeled. Menu bars and search boxes should also be placed in a similar format to logically guide users through their platform without problems and without confusion.
Keyboard accessibility: consider those who cannot use the mouse. This means designing the site so that users (if necessary) can navigate using only the keyboard. For example, using several buttons, including arrows, spacebar and enter. This is especially important for those with mobility difficulties.
Messaging: messaging must be carefully thought out. Some users may have reading difficulties, so you should think about the text format. Speak in simple English, do not use long sentences or paragraphs and stay away from italics and uneven spacing. Also, think about the color and font, is it readable?
Audio and video: interactivity should be included, where appropriate, in any design strategy. It is important to remember that including audio or video requires the use of accessible functions, especially for platforms in the public sector. Users must be able to pause / stop, adjust the volume and control the subtitles. Subtitles are also a good idea to accommodate deaf users, as well as to include text versions of audio files. Remember that the new public sector regulations will not affect live / prerecorded audio and video published before September 23, 2020.
Once you have outlined clear objectives and designed your accessible platform, the next step is to try. There are several approaches to do so, including automated accessibility tools that will help you detect errors, although there are also simple steps you can do yourself before investing in these tools. For example, unplugging the mouse and browsing the site using only the keyboard will help test the accessibility of the keyboard and increase the size of your text up to 300%, it will show you if your platform is accessible to people with vision problems.
The trial and human error is another test method. Test the platform with your target audience, with and without disabilities, and see how they react to the content. They can test if an accessible function does not work. Then you can go back to the functions that didn't work and think of alternative solutions.
To Summarize
Inaccessible public sector platforms affect millions of users throughout the disabled community and prevent them from using public sector services online. Everyone has the right to use the Internet independently and it is the designers' job to help make this happen.
As learned, there is much to think about when it comes to accessibility, however, don't see the new regulations as a constraint. Take it as an opportunity to reach a wider audience and create a positive brand that can partner with everyone.
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