Inclusive Design Principles

Did you know there’s a font designed just for accessibility? Meet Atkinson Hyperlegible, it was created by the Braille Institute of America to help people with low vision read more easily. It’s not a braille font (doesn’t include raised dots), but a print typeface. It even won the Fast Company Innovation Design Award in 2019! Molly Burke recently worked with her publisher to use the font for her memoir, Unseen. What makes it different? ⤵️ Hyperlegible exaggerates letter shapes so you can tell the difference between the letter “o” and the number zero (0), capital “i” vs. lowercase “l”, and the capital letter “b” vs. the number “8”. Other design features include: - Big open shapes - Clear spaces inside letters (known as open counters) - Distinct forms for commonly confused characters But who benefits? People who are blind or low vision, and people with dyslexia or visual processing differences. Clearer text equals easier reading! And the best part? It’s totally free 🎉 You can download it via Google Fonts or from the Braille Institute website. It also happens to be the same font this graphic post is written in. Accessibility isn’t always about doing more. It’s about doing things so that everyone benefits! This font is a small design choice with a big impact. Next time you design something: Try Atkinson Hyperlegible. Because readability is inclusion. Did you know about this font?  Share your thoughts or tag a designer friend in the comments! 👇 Image Description: Document with 9 slides. Each slide has a lime green border. The Blindish Latina logo with bold graphic black outline of an eye is at bottom of all slides. There is a white background behind all of the text on all slides. The text is in black and some emphasized phrases are purple. On the bottom of slides 1 and 7 is an image of Catarina, a light-skinned, Latiné woman with medium length wavy brown hair. She’s wearing a black jumpsuit with a V neck and her hands are on her hips. Slide 1 is the title slide that reads: “Did you know there’s a font designed just for accessibility?” On slide 1 there is clip art of a book with a red cover and a brain inside a light bulb. Slide 2 has clip art of an award ribbon. Slide 3 has a screenshot of advocate & content creator Molly Burke speaking at an event from one of her TikTok videos inside the outline of an iPhone. Slide 5 has a dark purple check mark inside a circle. Slide 6 has clip art of a computer outline in black with a wrench and gear in the center. All text on the slides is in the caption and alt text. #Disability #Accessibility #UniversalDesign

🌎 Designing Cross-Cultural And Multi-Lingual UX. Guidelines on how to stress test our designs, how to define a localization strategy and how to deal with currencies, dates, word order, pluralization, colors and gender pronouns. ⦿ Translation: “We adapt our message to resonate in other markets”. ⦿ Localization: “We adapt user experience to local expectations”. ⦿ Internationalization: “We adapt our codebase to work in other markets”. ✅ English-language users make up about 26% of users. ✅ Top written languages: Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese. ✅ Most users prefer content in their native language(s). ✅ French texts are on average 20% longer than English ones. ✅ Japanese texts are on average 30–60% shorter. 🚫 Flags aren’t languages: avoid them for language selection. 🚫 Language direction ≠ design direction (“F” vs. Zig-Zag pattern). 🚫 Not everybody has first/middle names: “Full name” is better. ✅ Always reserve at least 30% room for longer translations. ✅ Stress test your UI for translation with pseudolocalization. ✅ Plan for line wrap, truncation, very short and very long labels. ✅ Adjust numbers, dates, times, formats, units, addresses. ✅ Adjust currency, spelling, input masks, placeholders. ✅ Always conduct UX research with local users. When localizing an interface, we need to work beyond translation. We need to be respectful of cultural differences. E.g. in Arabic we would often need to increase the spacing between lines. For Chinese market, we need to increase the density of information. German sites require a vast amount of detail to communicate that a topic is well-thought-out. Stress test your design. Avoid assumptions. Work with local content designers. Spend time in the country to better understand the market. Have local help on the ground. And test repeatedly with local users as an ongoing part of the design process. You’ll be surprised by some findings, but you’ll also learn to adapt and scale to be effective — whatever market is going to come up next. Useful resources: UX Design Across Different Cultures, by Jenny Shen https://lnkd.in/eNiyVqiH UX Localization Handbook, by Phrase https://lnkd.in/eKN7usSA A Complete Guide To UX Localization, by Michal Kessel Shitrit 🎗️ https://lnkd.in/eaQJt-bU Designing Multi-Lingual UX, by yours truly https://lnkd.in/eR3GnwXQ Flags Are Not Languages, by James Offer https://lnkd.in/eaySNFGa IBM Globalization Checklists https://lnkd.in/ewNzysqv Books: ⦿ Cross-Cultural Design (https://lnkd.in/e8KswErf) by Senongo Akpem ⦿ The Culture Map (https://lnkd.in/edfyMqhN) by Erin Meyer ⦿ UX Writing & Microcopy (https://lnkd.in/e_ZFu374) by Kinneret Yifrah

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.

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.)

It will be official on Monday that the Title II deadline for digital accessibility is being extended by a year. Now 2027 for cities over 50,000 and 2028 for cities under 50,000. I am of two minds on this. The first reaction is blunt. Once again, the government signals that people with disabilities don't matter. Extensions rarely land as neutral. There are delays, and delays have a personal cost. I expect the same pattern we saw when Title III timelines slipped. Confusion, uneven adoption, and a spike in litigation when expectations and reality collide. Let me make it perfectly clear: The requirement to be accessible is NOW. The only thing that is delayed is the implementation of a standard by which that accessibility is being measured. The second reaction is more practical. Most organizations were not ready. Not close. This gives them time to get organized. After sitting with it, here is where I land. Deadlines do not create accessibility. Decisions do. An extra year can help, if it is used to improve the situation. Use it to put governance in place. Define who owns accessibility and how progress gets measured. Train designers, developers, QA, and product owners so they can make the right calls upstream. Fix procurement language so you stop buying inaccessible products and increasing your tech debt. Build an inventory of websites, applications, and documents so you know what actually exists. Most municipalities do not have a complete list. If that work happens, the extension has real value. If the year turns into waiting for legal guidance or hoping some magic solution like AI or an overlay will solve it, nothing changes except the date on the calendar. The organizations that invested early are not the ones asking for more time. They built programs. They funded the work. They integrated accessibility into design systems and development workflows. They will use this year to refine and scale. Everyone else now has a clear signal. You have time, and you have no cover. For cities with over 50,000 residents, that means showing measurable progress within a year. Not a plan. Not a statement. Evidence. Accessible templates in production. Staff who know how to build and test. Procurement language with enforcement behind it. A testing program that runs continuously. For cities under 50,000, the timeline is longer, and resources are tighter. That makes prioritization non-negotiable. Start with the services people rely on every day, especially if you rely on third parties. Payments. Permits. Public safety information. Then expand. The litigation risk does not go away with an extension. It compresses. When the new deadline hits, expectations will be sharper, not softer. Take the year and treat it like the last one you will get. Because eventually, it will be. https://lnkd.in/gvSvuT5r #Accessibility #TitleII #WCAG #Disability

If You're Struggling With Workplace Inclusion, Try This...   → Neurodiversity Integration Framework   Last week, I audited a Fortune 500 company's workspace. What I discovered was shocking. Their "inclusive" office was actually excluding 15% of their talent pool.   The bright fluorescent lights. The open office chaos. The rigid 9-5 schedule.   All of these were silent barriers keeping neurodivergent employees from performing at their best.   Here's what we implemented:   1.   Sensory Zones - Created dedicated quiet spaces - Installed adjustable lighting - Provided noise-canceling equipment   2.   Communication Flexibility - Introduced written and verbal instruction options - Implemented structured feedback systems - Added visual aids for complex processes     3.   Adaptive Scheduling - Flexible work hours - Remote work options - Designated decompression areas   Living with cerebral palsy taught me this:   When you design for accessibility, you create excellence for everyone. The most successful companies aren't just accepting differences - they're leveraging them.   The India Autism Center has been pioneering this transformation, offering guidance to companies ready to embrace change.   The question isn't whether to create autism-friendly workplaces.   It's why haven't we done it sooner?   #asksumit   #iac

Want better participation? Tell people what to expect in advance. This is a simple and powerful accessibility practice. (and Free!) Some people need more time and information to prepare for meetings, events, or new situations. For example: Autistic people may have a hard time with uncertainty, and knowing what to expect ahead of time is important. Others with ADHD may need more time to organize their thoughts or plan their schedule. Knowing what to expect can help us prepare and reduce anxiety. This is not just for neurodivergent people. Clear information in advance helps most people focus and participate at their best.... including those who may be new to the company, the culture, or who simply prefer details ahead of time. Example: The Museum of Flight in Seattle practices this by sharing a "Social Narrative" on their website. It is a PDF guide that uses photos and short descriptions to show visitors what they will see, hear, and experience before they arrive. (available in English, Spanish and Chinese) Social Narratives are an accessibility tool developed to support Autistic visitors, but also benefit many others. Examples of how you can apply this at work: - Send a meeting agenda before the meeting - Tell people in advance if you want them to present - Share photos of a venue or check-in location before an event - Give new employees a written overview of their first day, including where to park, where to enter the building, who will meet them, and who to call if they get stuck. 💬 What examples would you add? When people know what to expect, they can show up more prepared to participate at their best. This is your Minds of All Kinds tip of the week. For more cognitive accessibility tips, read my chapter in "Digital Accessibility Ethics: Disability Inclusion in All Things Tech" edited by Lainey Feingold, Reginé Gilbert, MBA and Chancey Fleet. #Accessibility #CognitiveAccessibility #NeuroInclusion [Image description: A square black and white graphic. Headline: "Tell people what to expect in advance." Below the headline is an illustration of a map with a location pin and a dotted route. Three bullet points: "Send an agenda," "Share photos of the venue," and "Tell people if they will be asked to speak." Below the bullets in bold italic text: "What examples would you add?" The Minds of All Kinds TIPS logo]

Happy Global Accessibility Awareness Day everyone! It's a great day to remind people, that, accessibility is the responsibility of the whole team, including designers! A couple of things designers can do: - Use sufficient color contrast (text + UI elements) and don’t rely on color alone to convey meaning. - Ensure readable typography: support text resizing, avoid hard-to-read styles, maintain hierarchy. - Make links and buttons clear and distinguishable (label, size, states). - Design accessible forms: clear labels, error help, no duplicate input, document states. - Support keyboard navigation: tab order, skip links, focus indicators, keyboard interaction. - Structure content with headings and landmarks: use proper H1–Hn, semantic order, regions. - Provide text alternatives for images, icons, audio, and video. - Avoid motion triggers: respect reduced motion settings, allow pause on auto-play. - Design with flexibility: support orientation change, allow text selection, avoid fixed-height elements. - Document accessibly and communicate: annotate designs, collaborate with devs, QA, and content teams. Need to learn more? I got a couple of resources on my blog: - A Designer’s Guide to Documenting Accessibility & User Interactions: https://lnkd.in/eUh8Jvvn - How to check and document design accessibility in your mockups: a conference on how to use Figma plugins and annotation kits to shift accessibility left https://lnkd.in/eu8YuWyF - Accessibility for designer: where do I start? Articles, resources, checklists, tools, plugins, and books to design accessible products https://lnkd.in/ejeC_QpH - Neurodiversity and UX: Essential Resources for Cognitive Accessibility, Guidelines to understand and design for Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Autism and ADHD https://lnkd.in/efXaRwgF - Color accessibility: tools and resources to help you design inclusive products https://lnkd.in/dRrwFJ5 #Accessibility #ShiftLeft #GAAD

Neurodiversity 101: Why universal design works for everyone - I think it makes sense and stops us being too DOG-MATIC! Imagine designing a workplace that works for every kind of dog.. yes I said dog.... and not just one breed such as only labradors... it would be no good for dachsunds or terriers... That’s the essence of Universal Design: creating environments, tools, and processes that flex for everyone, rather than forcing everyone to fit one rigid mould. A “one size fits all” approach rarely fits anyone well. It tends to favour those already most comfortable in existing systems and leaves others scrambling for “adjustments” after the fact. By contrast, Universal Design is: 1.Cost-effective: Many inclusive practices cost little or nothing such as clear language, Close captioning, flexible and varying forms of communication, or making sure structured task tools are used to aid understanding and completion of tasks. 2. Efficient: It reduces duplication. Managers don’t need to master every diagnosis to support talent- this will never work and lots of us don't fit into neat diagnoses.... do you know what ...“Compulsive Over-Responsibility Syndrome (CORS)” -- probably you don't as I made it up!.. so no managers can be expected to be medics too.. unless they are already! 3. Resilient: Anticipating diverse needs avoids last-minute fixes that strain budgets and people. 4. Attractive and fair: Inclusion builds belonging and aids retention. People thrive when systems don’t get in their way. Universal Design is not about lowering standards; it’s about widening access so everyone can perform at their best. It’s not just fair.... it’s smart for all businesses.

Accessibility isn't always visible. We've gotten better at recognizing physical barriers like ramps, elevators, and automatic doors. But, many of the barriers people navigate every day?! You can't see them. Cognitive overload Sensory sensitivities Anxiety in high-pressure environments Information that is technically available, but impossible to process. These are accessibility barriers too. If we only design for what we can see, we unintentionally exclude people whose needs are less visible, but just as real. Designing for people with invisible disabilities means asking different questions. -Is this information easy to understand? Or is it just available? -Does this space assume everyone processes stimuli the same way? -Are we creating environments that overwhelm, rush, or silence people? Because accessibility isn't just about compliance. It's about experience. When we design for the margins and account for cognitive, sensory, and mental health realities, we don't just support a few people, we make things better for everyone. That's what inclusive design actually looks like. #Accessibility #PwDs #AODA #InclusiveDesign #PeopleWithDisabilities #Neurodiversity #MentalHealthAtWork #UniversalDesign #WorkplaceInclusion #HumAnCenteredDesign #Belonging #DiversityAndInclusion #AllThingsEquitable