Accessibility in the digital world is more than just fulfilling legal requirements, it reflects a deep sense of empathy and a commitment to inclusiveness. This belief is at the heart of EcomBack’s philosophy. We strive to build an environment that is not only user-friendly but also accommodates the needs of individuals with disabilities. Our dedication to ensuring accessibility is steadfast. In this discussion, we will explore the fundamental principles that shape our approach to designing websites for accessibility.
For Users on the Autistic Spectrum:
Do’s for Enhancing Accessibility
Use Simple Colors and Language:
We opt for a color palette that is soothing and easy on the eyes. Bold or overly vibrant colors are avoided to prevent sensory overload. In terms of language, we use straightforward, jargon-free terms. This approach ensures that our content is easily understandable and does not cause confusion or discomfort.
Provide Clear Instructions:
Clarity is key in our communication. We ensure that all instructions, whether for navigation, form completion, or any other interaction, are concise and direct. This eliminates ambiguity and makes it easier for users on the autistic spectrum to follow and understand what is expected.
Design Straightforward Buttons and Icons:
Our interface design features simple and intuitive buttons and icons. These design elements are not only visually clear but also consistent in function, aiding in predictable and easy navigation.
Maintain Consistent Layouts:
Consistency in layout is crucial. We ensure that our website maintains a uniform structure throughout. This helps in creating a predictable environment where users can navigate with ease and confidence, knowing what to expect on each page.
Don’ts to Avoid Potential Issues
Avoid Overwhelming with Bright, Contrasting Colors: We stay away from using high-contrast or fluorescent colors that can be overwhelming and potentially distressing for users on the autistic spectrum. A calmer color scheme is adopted to provide a more comfortable visual experience.
Steer Clear of Idioms or Figures of Speech:
Our language is kept literal and straightforward. We avoid metaphors, idioms, or colloquialisms that could be misunderstood or taken literally, which can cause confusion or misinterpretation.
Refrain from Creating Complex or Cluttered Layouts:
To prevent cognitive overload, our website avoids cluttered and overly complex designs. We focus on a minimalist approach that emphasizes essential elements without unnecessary distractions. This helps in making the user experience more manageable and less stressful.
For Users of Screen Readers:
Do’s for Screen Reader Accessibility
Offer Descriptive Image Alt Texts:
Every image on our site comes with alt text that accurately describes the image’s content and function. This practice is crucial for users who rely on screen readers to understand the context and purpose of images, ensuring they have a complete understanding of the page content.
Ensure Logical Content Flow:
We meticulously organize our content to flow logically and coherently. This approach aids screen reader users in following the narrative or argument without confusion, ensuring a seamless experience as they navigate through the site.
Utilize HTML5 Structural Elements:
By leveraging HTML5 elements, we structure our website with clear semantics. This includes using tags like <header>, <footer>, <nav>, and <article> to delineate different parts of a page. These elements help screen readers interpret the page layout and navigate it with ease.
Make Your Site Keyboard-Friendly:
We ensure that all our site’s functionalities are operable via a keyboard. This feature is essential for users who may not be able to use a mouse and rely on keyboard shortcuts to navigate the web.
Use Descriptive Links and Headings:
Our links and headings are clear and descriptive, avoiding vague phrases like “click here.” This clarity helps users using screen readers to understand the context of links and the structure of the content without needing to read surrounding text.
Don’ts for Screen Reader Accessibility
Don’t Rely Solely on Images for Instructions:
We understand that conveying information only through images can exclude screen reader users. Therefore, we always provide text alternatives or descriptions for any instructional imagery.
Don’t Use Vague Link Text:
We avoid ambiguous link text like “read more” or “click here,” which doesn’t provide information about the link’s destination. Instead, our links are always descriptive, indicating clearly where they lead.
Don’t Overcomplicate Page Structures:
Complex page layouts can be confusing for screen reader users. We strive for simplicity and clarity in our design, avoiding overly intricate layouts that can disorient users.
For Users with Low Vision:
Do’s: For Users with Low Vision
Optimize Color Contrast:
We ensure that the colors used on our website have a high contrast ratio, making text and important elements stand out distinctly against their backgrounds. This not only aids readability but also enhances the overall visual experience.
Readable Font Sizes:
Our website uses fonts that are not only stylish but also easy to read. We offer flexible font size options, allowing users to adjust text sizes according to their comfort.
Effective Magnification Tools:
Understanding that low vision users often rely on screen magnifiers, we design our layouts to be magnification friendly. This means that when content is enlarged, it remains clear and legible, without losing its structure or becoming distorted.
Don’t: For Users with Low Vision
Avoiding Low Contrast Text:
We stay away from color combinations that provide low contrast, especially for critical texts like navigation menus, call-to-action buttons, and instructional content. Low contrast can make reading strenuous and sometimes impossible for low vision users.
Accessible Downloads:
When providing downloadable content, such as PDFs or documents, we ensure that these files are also accessible. This means avoiding burying important information in formats that do not support easy magnification or screen reading technologies.
Additional Measures for Enhanced Accessibility
Customizable Interfaces:
Users can personalize their viewing experience according to their needs, adjusting not only text size but also color schemes to reduce eye strain.
Clear Visual Hierarchies:
We design our pages with a clear hierarchy, making it easier for users to navigate and understand content without relying solely on text size.
Testing with Real Users:
To ensure our efforts are effective, we regularly test our website with actual low vision users, collecting feedback to continuously refine our user experience.
For Users with Physical or Motor Disabilities:
Do: For Users with Physical or Motor Disabilities
Large Clickable Areas:
We design our interfaces to feature large, easily clickable areas to reduce the need for precision and make navigation smoother.
Sufficient Form Field Space:
Our forms are designed with ample space, ensuring that users can comfortably enter information without the stress of limited area.
Clear Keyboard Navigation:
We prioritize keyboard-friendly navigation, enabling users to move through our site effectively using keyboard commands.
Shortcuts for Ease:
To simplify and expedite the user experience, we provide helpful shortcuts, reducing the need for extensive navigation.
Don’t: For Users with Physical or Motor Disabilities
Precision Clicking:
We avoid designs that require precise mouse movements or clicks, understanding the difficulty these can present.
Bunched Buttons:
Our layout ensures that buttons and clickable items are spaced out adequately to prevent accidental selections.
Complex Dynamic Content:
We refrain from using dynamic content that demands fine motor skills, ensuring our content remains accessible to all.
For Deaf or Hard of Hearing Users:
Do: For Deaf or Hard of Hearing Users
Plain language communication:
We use straightforward, plain language to make our content easily understandable.
Subtitles and transcripts:
All our videos come with subtitles or transcripts, ensuring that users who cannot hear audio content can still access the information.
Clear, Logical Layout:
We structure our website logically, making it intuitive for users to find the information they need without relying on audio cues.
Don’t: For Deaf or Hard of Hearing Users
Complex Videos as a Sole Information Source:
We avoid using videos as the only method of conveying important information, ensuring there are textual or other visual alternatives.
Complex audio without visual Aids:
To make sure that it is accessible to everyone, all audio content comes with visual aids or descriptions.
For Users with Dyslexia:
Do: For Users with Dyslexia
Left-Aligned Text:
Text on our website is aligned to the left to support easier reading and tracking.
Consistent Layout:
We maintain a consistent layout throughout our site, helping users to familiarize themselves with our navigation and content structure.
Text Alternatives:
We offer alternatives to text, such as audio or video content, providing multiple ways for users to receive information.
Don’t: For Users with Dyslexia
Large Blocks of Text:
Our content is broken into smaller, manageable sections to avoid overwhelming users.
Excessive Underlining or Italics:
We use text emphasis sparingly, as excessive underlining or italics can disrupt readability.
Complex Navigation:
Our site is designed to minimize the need for memorization in navigation, with clear and intuitive pathways.
EcomBack’s Pledge for Inclusivity
We’re dedicated to not just following these guidelines but also continuously learning and improving our platforms to support every user’s needs. We believe that an accessible website isn’t just a benefit for users with disabilities, it’s a better experience for everyone.
Remember, accessibility enhances user experience, widens your market, and is a step towards a more inclusive society. At EcomBack, we’re not just building a business, we’re building a community where everyone is welcome and empowered.
