How Accessibility Affects User Experience

👨🏾💻 How People Use Screen Readers. With behavior patterns, practical insights and things to keep in mind for accessibility. ✅ 253 million people worldwide have a visual impairment. ✅ Screen readers help them translate text to speech or Braille. ✅ They work for websites, PDFs, emails, OS and other documents. ✅ They use the same voice regardless of font size, weight, color. ✅ E.g. Jaws/NVDA (Win, 80% share), VoiceOver (iOS), Talkback (Android). 🤔 Users often listen to screen readers at the 1.5–2.0x speed. ✅ Repetitive labels and hints aren't helpful (image caption, alt). ✅ Content order during tabbing conveys the structure of the page. ✅ Follow a logical linear layout, don't spread content all over a page. 🚫 Auto-playing audio is often an alarming, frustrating experience. 🤔 Users heavily rely on descriptive headings and labels. 🚫 Screen readers can’t extract meaning from images or videos. ✅ Avoid "Click here", "Read more", "View now" for links. ✅ A text box without a label is meaningless to screen readers. ✅ Never rely on visuals alone, they might not even be there. 🤔 Frequent issues with poorly structured forms, navigation, PDFs. ✅ Add UI controls for mouse-precise actions (drag'n'drop, resizing). ✅ Include nav landmarks, so users can jump within the page quickly. ✅ Ensure PDF/UA compliance to generate accessible PDFs. ✅ Always add labels to forms and avoid CAPTCHAs if you can. Where “abled people” use their natural feelings such as sight and hearing, people with disabilities must rely on technologies. Screen reading UX shouldn’t mean a “simplified” experience. It’s just a different experience, one of many. Unfamiliar tools might sound scary. Just start. Get familiar with screen readers. Run accessibility testing with a few screen reader users. Eventually make screen reader testing a part of QA. Many accessibility issues are severe, but solutions can be simple — and impactful for people who need them most. Useful resources: How A Screen Reader User Surfs The Web (video), by Léonie Watson https://lnkd.in/emv9AT-u Designing For Users Of Screen Readers, by Lewis Wake https://lnkd.in/ePTVpBxy Testing With Blind Users: A Cheat Sheet, by Slava Shestopalov https://lnkd.in/e8vBEqHn How And When To Use Alt Text, by Emma Cionca, Tanner Kohler https://lnkd.in/e3ivcPVg How to Conduct Usability Studies for Accessibility, by NN/g https://lnkd.in/egAxJxtW Mobile Accessibility Research With Screen-Reader Users, by Tanner Kohler https://lnkd.in/eb5Y36qZ How To Document Screen Reader UX, by BBC https://lnkd.in/e8KWr-Z6 #ux #accessibility

A personal insight into dyscalculia and accessibility After years of wondering why I had such difficulties with numbers, I discovered a few years ago that I have dyscalculia. Suddenly, everything clicked - why I often mix up digits, struggle to grasp the size of numbers (games like Monopoly Millionaire with my children were a nightmare!), find it so hard to process large numbers, or to remember any passwords with numbers etc. This is why the 'Helena' persona published recently by GOV.UK in their excellent Accessibility Personas resource, really struck a chord with me. https://lnkd.in/eBjtU3WP It perfectly demonstrates my experience of dyscalculia. But not only is it a helpful example of how cognitive differences can impact daily life, it's also a great reminder of how accessible design can improve the experience for everyone! In the before-and-after exercise below, the 'before' example felt like the usual 'sea of confusion,' triggering the stress and anxiety I often experience when dealing with anything financial online (made even more acute by the fact that I had a timer ticking away at the top of the form). The 'after' example, however, completely changed the experience - it allowed me to process and answer the question calmly, without my normal sense of panic. Have you come across any resources or examples that helped you understand accessibility from a new perspective? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. #Accessibility #Dyscalculia #InclusiveDesign #Learning (The image shows two versions of a "Driving Mileage – Hired Car" web form from GOV.UK. The first version (on the left) has several design flaws that make it less user-friendly. A countdown timer at the top introduces unnecessary urgency, which could stress users. The content is densely packed into a single block of text, making it harder to scan and understand. Tables lack clear headings and descriptive captions, making the fee information less accessible. Additionally, numerical values are written without commas, which could lead to misinterpretation. The mileage fees include an unclear separation of the administration fee, requiring users to calculate it separately. Lastly, the reference number input field lacks guidance, leaving users guessing about the required format. In contrast, the second version (on the right) is much more user-friendly. The countdown timer is removed, allowing users to complete the form at their own pace. Text is organized into clear paragraphs, making it easier to follow. The tables are well-structured, with bold headings and descriptive captions that clarify the information they present. Large numerical values are formatted with commas, enhancing readability. The administration fee is already included in the mileage costs, streamlining calculations. Additionally, hint text is added below the reference number field, specifying the required format as "2 letters followed by 6 numbers," reducing user error.)

We design for the average. The average doesn’t exist. April is Autism Acceptance Month. Designing for autism is about building products that work for everyone. Cognitive overload affects everyone. Your brain has limits, and more noise can affect how you perceive things. For some autistic users, this is constant and amplified. Many rely on digital products to navigate daily life. Yet most interfaces ignore them. So what happens? We design experiences that overwhelm the people who need them most. And if your product overwhelms autistic users, it’s exhausting everyone else. Here are 5 principles to get you started: 1. Consistent Structure Keep navigation, layout, and UI patterns identical across your entire product. Why: Sudden changes cause anxiety and disorientation. Example: Shopping cart stays in the top-right corner across every page. 2. Literal Communication Use plain, direct language. Skip idioms and metaphors. Why: Vague language requires guessing and creates confusion Example: "Your payment was declined. Check your card number and try again." 3. Sensory Calm Use muted, natural colours. Avoid pure black/white and bright contrasts. Why: Extreme contrast and bright colours cause sensory overload Example: Dashboard with soft beige background, dark grey text, and 3-4 clearly separated sections 4. User Control Default to sound off. Allow people to pause, stop, or disable animations. Why: Sensory needs vary greatly, and customization prevents overload. Example: Toggles for reduced motion, dark mode, font size, and autoplay off by default. 5. Predictable Interactions Provide clear feedback and progress indicators so users always know where they are. Why: Unexpected interruptions trigger anxiety and break focus. Example: Multi-step form shows "Step 2 of 4" with a progress bar, confirms "Your information was saved" after each step. Better design starts with understanding. 👇🏽What would you add to this list? 🔖 Save this for reference ♻️ Share it with your team ---- ✉️ Subscribe for more accessibility and design insights: https://lnkd.in/gZpAzWSu ---- Accessibility note: This infographic, titled Designing for Autism has the same content as the post. It also includes alt text.

My design passed accessibility checks with 7:1 contrast, while a user measured 3.37:1 on Linkedin. Both of us were right at the end, do you know how? I recently had a very interesting discussion under one of my posts and it turned into a great reminder of how complex accessibility can be in the real world. For the post, I created a graphic and checked that the color contrast of every text element is safely above the 4.5:1 minimum recommended by WCAG. Then a follower commented that some of the text was hard to read on the phone and he shared a screenshot from a contrast checker showing 3.37:1 for one of the colors. That raised an interesting question: how can a design that passes accessibility checks suddenly fail a user? There are several things happening between the moment we design something and the moment someone sees it: 1️⃣ Platform compression When we upload images to social platforms, they are usually compressed automatically to reduce file size. Compression can slightly change colors and blur the edges between text and background. If the contrast was already close to the limit, this can lower the effective contrast. 2️⃣ Image resizing The graphic I designed was quite large, but platforms often resize images for different screens, especially on mobile. When the image becomes smaller: • text strokes become thinner • edges get softened by scaling • readability decreases 3️⃣ Thin fonts + antialiasing Even with sufficient contrast ratios, thin fonts can reduce perceived contrast. When text is scaled or compressed, the browser blends text pixels with the background (antialiasing). That means the visible color becomes a mixture of text and background. Contrast tools inside design software measure pure colors, while the final rendered image contains blended pixels. 4️⃣ Screens and real-world conditions People view content on: • phones in bright daylight • different screen technologies • different brightness levels • sometimes without glasses All of this affects how readable something feels. 5️⃣ Measuring the uploaded image Another important detail: the contrast was checked on a screenshot of the uploaded image, not on the original design. That means the tool measured pixels that were already affected by: • compression • scaling • antialiasing So the measured 3.37:1 might actually be correct for the rendered version of the image. Accessibility does not only happen during design, it also depends on how the design is exported, processed by platforms, and displayed on real devices. That’s why it's helpful to: ✔ aim for contrast higher than the minimum ✔ avoid very thin fonts in images ✔ check the exported file, not only the design tool ✔ test how it looks after uploading to the platform Have you ever experienced something similar where a design technically passed accessibility checks but still caused issues for users? #WebAccessibility #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #UXDesign #UXAccessibility #WCAG #DesignForAll

A founder once told me “accessibility isn’t about me.” I asked him to walk through a day with me: At 8:10 a.m., he’s outside, sun hitting his screen at the wrong angle. He shades the phone with his hand, squints, gives up. . At 12:25 p.m., he’s on a noisy train watching a demo video. No captions. He bookmarks it for “later” (which never comes). . At 3:40 p.m., he tries to tap a tiny link while juggling a bag and a latte. Misses three times. Closes the tab. . At 9:15 p.m., he lands on a site with clever navigation and no clarity. Gets lost. Bounces. He looked at me and said, “Okay… I’ve lived all of that.” Those moments have a name: situational or temporary disabilities. They last minutes or hours. For millions, the barriers don’t “go away.” Accessibility is for all of us. And when we design for the edges, the center gets better too. It’s not just ethical, it’s effective: Research shows inclusive design see up to 28% higher revenue and up to 60% higher customer loyalty. Design like everyone matters, because they do. #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #UX #TemporaryDisability #DigitalInclusion #WebAccessibility #BusinessCaseForAccessibility

1 in 6 people globally live with a disability. Add family members and caregivers, and the influence grows dramatically. This is one of the largest underserved consumer markets. Ask yourself: → Can someone use your website without a mouse? → Are your videos captioned? → Are your PDFs readable by screen readers? → Is your checkout usable without precise clicking? These details affect who can engage with your brand. The UK Click-Away Pound research found that 71% of consumers with disabilities leave websites that are hard to use. Inclusive campaigns deliver results too (study by Unstereotype Alliance, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, Unilever): → 62% likelihood of being a consumer’s first choice → 3.5% higher short-term sales and 16% higher long-term sales → 15% higher consumer loyalty Simple changes like adding keyboard navigation, captioning videos, making PDFs readable, and structuring your copy make things easier for everyone. Customers spend more time, make purchases more easily, and return more often. Run a basic accessibility check on your website. Review your video library for captions. Test your checkout with only a keyboard. Look at your PDFs through a screen reader. If you find gaps, fix them. If you’re not sure where to start, bring in expertise. Accessible marketing is good business. Companies that get this earn loyalty and stand out in the market. How easy is it for someone with a disability to buy from you? #AccessibleMarketing #DigitalAccessibility #CustomerExperience #DisabilityInclusion #DisabilityAwareness

Design can only be termed good if it reaches all. Creating beautiful and innovative designs is a key goal for graphic designers. However, even the most visually appealing designs can be inaccessible to some users if they don’t consider various accessibility needs. Low contrast between text and gaudy backgrounds can make it difficult for people with visual impairments or colour blindness to read the content. Decorative fonts can be hard to read for everyone, especially for people with dyslexia or other reading disabilities. So, what do we do to make designs more disability inclusive? 🔍 Understand Diverse Needs: Begin with empathy. Get to know the unique needs and challenges faced by people with disabilities. This understanding will guide your design process to be more inclusive. 🖼️ Accessible Visuals: Use high-contrast colors and clear fonts to make text and images easily readable. 🗣️ Alt Text Matters: Provide descriptive alt text for all images to ensure that screen readers can convey the content to visually impaired users, making your designs more inclusive. 🎨 Responsive Design: Design with flexibility by creating layouts that adapt seamlessly across different devices and screen sizes, including those used by people with disabilities. ♿ Universal Symbols: Use universally recognized symbols and icons to communicate important information. 💬 Inclusive Language: Choose words that respect and acknowledge people with disabilities. Avoid ableist language and ensure your message is positive and empowering. 👩💻 User Testing with Disabled Communities:  Involve people with disabilities in your testing process. Their feedback is invaluable in creating designs that truly meet their needs. Embracing disability inclusion in our designs is the next step to making the world a better place. Let me know of more design inclusive strategies in the comments below! #inclusive #design #accessibility #uxdesign #a11y #disabilityinclusion #universaldesign #webaccessibility #empathyindesign #userexperience #designthinking

Edge cases aren’t as rare as many think—they’re just less visible. Most teams design for the ideal user in the perfect scenario: ✅ Clean data. ✅ Fast wifi. ✅ Desktop screen. ✅ Full attention. ✅ Two working hands. But auditing dozens of products has shown me that “edge case” are sometimes the majority. → Your user ordering food while holding a crying baby → Someone navigating your app with a broken wrist → People using voice commands because their hands are busy → Someone squinting at your low-contrast text in bright sunlight We call them edge cases because they live outside our comfortable assumptions about how people use our products. The truth? Your “happy path” user—sitting calmly at their desk, fully focused, with perfect conditions—they’re the real edge case. When you design for the invisible majority, something interesting happens. Your product doesn’t just become more accessible. It becomes more usable for everyone. → Keyboard navigation helps screen reader users—and power users who prefer shortcuts → High contrast modes support low vision—and anyone using their phone outdoors → Simple language helps cognitive accessibility—and reduces friction for everyone → Voice controls assist motor impairments—and busy multitaskers → Reduced motion prevents vestibular issues—and saves battery life The businesses that understand this don’t treat accessibility as compliance theater. They recognize it as a competitive advantage. Because when you solve for the hardest use cases, you make your product resilient for all use cases. Most of your users aren’t swimming in perfect conditions. They’re navigating choppy waters with limited visibility, competing priorities, and real-world constraints. Design for the storm, not the calm. What’s the biggest “edge case” you’ve designed for? #uxdesign #accessibility #productdesign ——— 👋 Hi, I’m Dane—your source for UX and career tips. ❤️ Found this helpful? Dropping a like would be 🔥. 🔄 Share to help others (or for easy access later). ➕ Follow for more like this delivered to your feed every day.

I’ll say it simply: if your UX process doesn’t include accessibility, you don’t have UX. You have exclusion design. Too often, I hear teams separate “UX” and “Accessibility” as if they’re parallel tracks. UX is about user experience. All users. Not just the ones who can see the screen clearly, hear the audio perfectly, or process instructions easily. I’ve worked with teams who thought they had “nailed UX,” only to watch users with disabilities hit barrier after barrier. Their polished flows collapsed because accessibility wasn’t built in. Accessibility is not an add-on. It’s not a checklist you sprinkle on top of wireframes. Accessibility is the foundation of inclusive experience. When we test only with ideal users, we design fragile systems. When we include disabled users, we design resilient systems. If your org still treats accessibility as separate from UX, it’s time to challenge that mindset. Accessibility is UX. Anything less is exclusion. ⛔️ 💕 #UX #Accessibility #DesignSystems #Leadership ---- #A11yWithAngela

"Accessibility is the difference between being able to participate and being forced to opt out." Many people with disabilities still face barriers that make simple actions unnecessarily hard. Too often, everyday systems are not designed with accessibility in mind, so people avoid them entirely. Not because they want to, but because the effort required is frustrating and demotivating. That can look like: - Calling customer support when phone is the only option - Disputing a fraudulent charge when a bank requires voice authentication - Trying to make an appointment in a scheduling system that is overly complex or inaccessible As Helen T. so perfectly said: “People start avoiding processes they should be able to use, simply because the cost of navigating them is too high.” 🎯 The good news: this is a solvable problem! Universal design creates better experiences when systems become clearer, more flexible, and more human. Examples of accessible systems include: - Multiple contact options: chat, email, text, video relay, and callback instead of voice-only phone trees - Secure authentication methods beyond voice, such as passcodes, app-based verification, or secure chat - Live captioning and sign language interpretation for video support - Fraud reporting via chat, text, or secure messaging Accessibility means designing for real people, real needs, and real lives. Because better access leads to better outcomes for everyone. ♥️ #Accessibility #WeNeedBankingToo