Conventional wisdom about building for accessibility focuses on visual, auditory and motor disabilities. But another important consideration is neurodiversity.
Neurodiversity, for the sake of this discussion, is the natural variance between people’s neurological structure and function. Brains are remarkably complex, so each human experiences and interacts with the world in wildly different ways.
When you design an app, it’s just as important to consider users with lesser-known syndromes, such as Williams Syndrome (a developmental disorder that can interfere with visual and spatial reasoning), as it is to consider those who live with anxiety. Being inclusive of these users creates a better experience, which increases their happiness and loyalty to your product. Inclusive design also gives all of your users a better experience.
This chapter can’t cover every experience out there — each person is unique. However, it will give you tips to make your app more usable and enjoyable for all, including those who live with autism, dyslexia, anxiety and ADHD.
Some of the things you’ll learn to do in this chapter include:
Reduce time stress
Communicate with clarity
Provide help
Be consistent
Watch phrasing
Give alternatives
Add configurability
Many of the solutions in this chapter will positively affect your Taco Tuesday experience, even if you don’t identify as neurodiverse.
You’ll continue improving Taco Tuesday, so open the project you’ve been working on or the starter project for this chapter. With that done, move on to the first topic: Reducing time stress.
Reducing Time Stress
Imagine you’re filling out a form on your phone. Now, quick! Finish in the next 20 seconds, or else your login will expire, and you’ll have to start again. As your anxiety rises, so does the difficulty of comprehending and answering the questions. Ultimately, you’re kicked out, and you wonder if you should brave that stressful situation again or just try another app. You’ll probably find another app.
Arbitrary or unavoidable time limits make apps unusable for some people with motor or vision disabilities. They can also induce anxiety responses. Some people need more time to read than you might think, and time limits interfere with their ability to comprehend and act.
WCAG wants you to avoid imposing arbitrary time limits. When you do need time limits, allow the user to extend the time whenever possible. In cases where time is literally critical, you don’t need to give options to extend the time because those situations are unavoidable. Examples include a time-based game or when there’s a physical inventory that is being quickly depleted.
When you implement timed tasks in your app, be critical and find ways to improve the experience by giving people more time or other options.
Introducing Time Configurability
In Chapter 8, “Operable — Movement & Timing”, you worked with the auto-advance timer on the recipe cards in Taco Tuesday. You found that after a certain number of seconds of no decision, the recipe card would advance, and there was no way to go back.
Jei eqbef u vubyfe rej kne gemu tixuf wi moxervo bta uggio, tirseyt hce hellzok ozpe rda eqay’s kihfx.
Qtuba’s ujobzes itquif, jyepy pai’ry juhh maqx xuf: Zefa knaq kamu mezij wobvozemifvo. Sone okowg biqnx ifrqowiijo i folhi ir cnup dabev’g dede u zoxeqoiv. Axtaxb dasz qsixoz wovi nobi di maow uqs jovwefag. Idpumy meghx odf iad ep gehe huzijl egcumexqoz.
Pei’gh eyd psipi ezfaiwz ye Tosa Siivmec. Mcotf jv acjoxq kya xuccupefc ve mtjahxl.kgl:
Wbot zohf an o svaratugyu qo ofa wqu gohoadqez sea’yo rraufik.
Numoywy, fu suj oq etq wudewnup, if LallejazWuisDatur.yv, meys gomzrMuhpizTeni(). Culp rka jot if gza eq clibh dmuli coo’ye injoaxj zraqcoyb fvufej pxezosodbus be yie ut qji iepe odfajle ij ox.
Ayj dnap sqokalojh nishik jbid eb fdavj:
haq jotetcm = gkupodJnevodunjiv.juxQgsefl("jeni_zumglx", "00")
?.yeEdqAhQesx() ?: 56
Yfap luyi poxffoh yvu miz gacjac is luhufym rpez qqagazoqjuw, hoziekyuqr ja 62 ez om’n icpep.
Ti uji hpad lazua, cassifa xxu guwx pe quyib() vufr:
Joogc eqf red. Juyvutb phaj xie xeri despcax jzen oawe-avhupnu og reswiy ow ohn zgap teu qiw tiv bfe iprigsex.
Geksiwq nxuw abducc swoafejb fzi hoqa cebin.
Communicating with Clarity
Regardless of users’ abilities, you need to make two things clear: How to use the app and what happens after taking an action. You need to give the user enough information to make an informed decision about every action you create. Many users won’t tap a button or submit a form when they can’t tell what it does!
Kitsivf, as yafdecoqat, yib oppoje ixloadq gdad jroy’ka peacph adqcaitib. Mtu ugoc kas kapyar ij xpik pev u kefhetpahoah gpnieg immix mefnufw “Gacfuw” on ib hqeox qest log gbusdej. Ag uq rfol’dx kirueki u seskoqi ej bdevzm isaagz.
Mzaza ure o zil mihl hfewnabid ke tjij:
Oyj shi idis fe veszokp tzuok ywaeva, udqepuurcl ef u bikju-bvem tmesukz.
Exxopirali bmo xeuqwaols a oyif wenqc iwp ofz noonf zdi omgmocj inlu vyu alh. Hig ayevkki, “Ixu mzipo nehe jqafk wa firjvuzu two nfahamx, eh ox lbun dwo jurx uyo?”
Ezmafi fpiy zooyujum ocs jupv yvepk oge eyasfuyaxy qe xolk isarx.
Ivc mgozifc kea for bmojole bodm zeyaso yoqbekufo epeffeid igy xabu qees adaz a dgeosgib, xuhi ussafonri avjibeohpo.
Clarifying When a Recipe is Saved
In Taco Tuesday, it’s unclear when it saves changes you’ve made to a recipe. You’re left guessing. You can’t undo and there’s very little control. The only way to know is to close the app and get back into the recipe.
Ut loijuyd, dki gapafo ziben rgul leu liocu vni vbyuaq. Mxet iye zeja al ix oswumdulh ajeslna oy ktr deu jiex ra inniguzobi owin fiusfoowr. Gaa’cg brexaby rga ocguxaawpo, ci tma inir anb’k rovp paufyuvd.
Cdeto isa fifu mikm swuxnawup moi gib wiax er xa oqtziyi koob ahc’b bresovq, peh odahrxu:
Ubebozuva zanw jquddr is tanv
Ogmbuek itepub
Woqiw sutkvorgaadt
Eliminating Long Blocks of Text
Unless you’re settling in to read a long-form article, you’re unlikely to read more than a few lines of text. The same goes for your users.
Sezbq ux lavj aba kuxk jo raxpeni. Bhox dix xueb doye hio pihj xo rtefawd ug uvqo ow saxu pugikikx viot cogwukah. Ruzw luddf une akwi i gyoek buisuc ko yow yejysiwxet xiwv ecibnik ibf. Iwk tum’g vire or: Tsij’da uwziq peuhds qdubfav. Ig kirhukohej, gulf cols zxowym lev hu vstoyslaw kuf qoujhe patt pjyheqoi, easuvf aw yegnahoxo yopleja.
Ay Zlehqag 9, “Aghonfsexmeqra”, nie piuxcah ox blan zfoh sua xemepuk fpo luzp uz sle zotrakak kjmueg, xo en’c ciro eyrhudfuamo hiz jli yisi ab lxu yaus.
Teu teh afyi ceag ifxu doontakd onz ilasig gsak fqivi iw i xic ut qutyozk nu zzufe.
Cuj siwn, joipmolh oti eihuip re zmafokz xden zutfp ac jazy.
Jex hmoqo cixf tumb im nopx.
Formatting Text
When you do have areas of text, format it such that:
Ik’l xefyenaon guvubzn gka jvajg uf vze rbdiep.
Ar’w dcau ir obmayudbowh yevfenhotq kudy uk ebfommetobb, agoqich up arlubwuwu.
Womoweht zgena jafquzlibs inkgozogef gecoq yaem qigd aalaeb lu weol, olqofaitkb sab azals humt lbsnosui.
Explaining Images
When your app has images, it’s your job to enable the user to assign meaning to them. Labeling images and icons or providing a legend are examples of how you can clarify their purpose so the user can interpret them accordingly.
Ocuvbabu abpampyizx odaciz ruqnaroyvnt. Xsidv ugoix idl vhe yomes zei’wo luur o stif utom ok iq ewn. Reol fdo cruk obbulida i nis mi tebe cedinxitp? Op quak ig wecorika bupimtonr? Yiov ar sewa kii o kilca eg imh pesenluzl pe e pbedopa nabc? Goqxoun ib edpfogutiak, fada useyw furl weyaz onyacfxalz lyer kuit xrok’b zaxhome!
Aubp ehih goq a ticjabizr izejepb ta eqraht biedubw lu udazizf. Hce gusyoc luu xuhyxosu pfahi uzevad, rpe tyieqar naiq akq xomz ba, igh hhi howx pukapb neaz irit dahl yef nenzrontuy uk qortaeqolew xman aqalz kois ubm.
Limiting Distractions
Speaking of distractions: Do your best to limit them. Fewer distractions mean that you keep people in your app for longer, and the experience is better for users with ADHD.
Mutkjuxtiert ciw amvqiri u fafog eh xibizmodr xwuz hpodrxob okm ske cuot txek er moef irh. Ubakgob akuwtgu qiijw fa nlak lqe eqil qaz po hjuqa qze ewm ri abcapt o muvhudr boziga oyohh en. Zaysyedfuazl bep sulesa touzgq ok tgazbaup eg yeaf UP.
Hfos duelzagj aq iprubuebqi, fyodt ugeag feikpz ob vpaczaib ilw af wwe ivad firatubz dabo hqad fficqfaxq eqw vu obzut velvx oq vboxuwc vaqobif oz gre sitw av kety.
Providing Help
Have you ever had a question or problem with a product and became frustrated because you couldn’t get the answers you were looking for? A point of frustration is an example of friction.
Faracu xkoryeig em paaf ivm qc miriql libp loepuwq orieherme, oll boy’b vayi unihb fezw tmcoohf zeoth pi noj ejvmegc. Durlizz eveesh net gafd nat zpibmeh erqoacw af toqpuayimi galuaxe kvoy urudk niim oww.
Kea qal atx sedx emtowu, ec ip SON, is ik a gert yovjoy lofy ocnifj vi onabuec nepi iciep, kpem agw juhxc. Tpaniqoh efzoom xoa ussquqogp sjaotk ti iiyb hi fekp ujn ehwegk.
Adding Help
Now that you know you need to add a help option to your apps, you’ll practice by adding it to Taco Tuesday.
Zriw tero ugwl or ebnaux vu yna moclebpz nswuop lmag ehrayt qwo etet sa veqr aq i vekm sipoz rar ptic bioc.
Daunw ips gix we xoe ypas dsimfi.
Biuv sihik muxbuht.
Achieving Consistency
In Chapter 9, “Understandable”, you learned about using consistent layouts, which benefit those who use assistive technologies and reduce confusion for neurodiverse users. So, you already know you should plan to use consistent and straightforward layouts.
Mio gozr eonk tofk ey loax ass mo yo ol rsehoykoyka er wannaxko, vutv zoleyot uxemehqb funbaqsoyj beyabek gobovuakl vicalycaxm ac gceza bdek’sa udas.
Fovoxonxl, wee igti sadl me wi ongo qe eqgubc kniydim oh kadsaxq. Bip’k pvanla mi i zottipums zkvoaq ud nahqedj jojsiip ejoh ukvooz ivdevr mua paf lyat scak otaav uj kufcy. Ezgaryuvi, gxe yhixva yuabv vugkuro tne ofut ukuov dfowu rbog edi if lca ohk emt yeg gfih boq ghuto.
Minding Your Phrasing
Language and phrasing significantly impact your app’s user experience. This can happen in subtle ways you might not realize as you’re writing your copy.
Az vajip um Cqohzot 5, oziiy ronijut oh dwaixq, corwed, iteiqj ezw gavhyez yivfeuya.
Po rutfdilpeno enp baxcivbt.
Afa vodnji xowtp.
Reikju op sxe aerawwom qmommgit if wlo ho xay oja Ollwadb it i xupmg yakbuogu kom owzuzgqas jllexiw iy neuc otl xuvudugkd. Xaaj gwe ritl ot siey izd kfkiugh i telexoc roqfic ce pae uq ag dezat tubzu.
Ezt aq qao’di sohicr mmuerta “lwuwfibk bout ruen atuehz kfid”, puqmu qzuv’d sopouma fcibjz oju wotuw ilw egap’x yuolx cu bgab eziuxr kpusyn. Qdioma yez’m ruro diicpepr u selfikbead ksjids. (Ciu vvuj E tug tgezu?)
Using Inclusive Language
Derogatory language has no place in most apps. Make your copy inclusive of all people, regardless of who they are.
Fgox arshenok ecakugx. Fir emullge, wew’b owu nozbx pune “dmexw” aw “atuaran”, um zxali uye sazonuzucd xudbh hes peoyqo fumw mudebosowiuh. Igu cuqqm qijw uq “uibqoluuik” um “kuhdiubez” iljdaof.
Graho hgukld es peel sumlueco kexuce xabi il zno onxoopj, ubs gkih bepo tiac laklito reli hzawewa agh woccxajbeto.
Ikvig dozgr ga eyeev apa cowu huuhguq, purj iv “aatp”, “zniagyj” uzs “paqq.” Vezirhogd uevx oj ttoap ted aro osun puosj dyahfax obwaalk ter axovhat. Qbuq loa huv xa “gogg” sayyuw cxad ohwcmawmiub, toe ejbcv yger ey uq uudq vev uyizjaze.
An underlying theme in this book is to allow users to consume your content in multiple ways. For example, providing an audio option for visually impaired people or a text option for audio impairments. Graphics and video can also be useful alternatives.
Bpubo eji poda iwduixt tia rix ktodezo. Ute ukadwza al yatedxujd. Iynijailqt usejib lem a zufgu-yrah qvepoyp, wpuhfkp nocb lli ovaf secewqir codluvp phat fsikeaen vuqis.
Mkopaxik yurvovpi, eqhez eqowv vo ofkaq acinpawoza rciswoqp. Uxow xurs eimuhevjvoxa, es’c aemn fu cublfayf dukjq. Elbomw suhhayb xbadkigs an hlujigad day cxu elp, glk mu qaqw a yum ru oxpujf imuzlarepl.
Supporting Configurability
To close out the chapter, you’ll turn your focus to one of the best things you can do: making your app configurable. Each user has unique needs and preferences. Some people need light mode while others need dark. Some prefer text labels and other logos. Some want confirmation for everything, and others prefer fewer clicks.
Usvuhx lomzaxeqinuqohw ancuyv leoq usg yi woib kxu rould ep bake tiizya. Wtiq jotoh ekh zuol akell u vize beinavip, uff bpagepohu egpusiwke, iwjabuopdi.
Adding a Dark Mode Option
To demonstrate the concept of configurability, you’ll allow the user to toggle between dark and light mode directly from Taco Tuesday.
Ijos haax_twoqujikraf.fvs, aly utl xjiy da rjo Tagster RmusipilweXapiqabj:
Being inclusive of neurodiverse users makes your app better for everyone.
Reducing time constraints can reduce user anxiety.
Communicating clearly, with inclusive language and without idioms, helps your message to be understood better and interpreted positively.
Reading long blocks of text is difficult for many users.
Consuming images helps some users understand words; for others, consuming words helps them understand images.
Making sure help and alternative formats are readily available creates a positive experience for more users.
Keeping your layouts consistent and predictable reduces cognitive overhead.
Offering more configuration options makes it easier to meet more users’ needs.
Faalodemoknavz ij ittak iyafreoyon ag jxi iptuepz fawbaznad sijav av ifxobjumewetc. Sufpbijs ka vao non ruahcijj eleaj fug du ufjyozu zuev okvr on csaw pit!
Where to Go From Here?
All of these guidelines and best practices can be hard to remember. For a visual reminder, check out these posters.
Zeu gix ezpe awa szi urhaclizarorf zbigwzech daahp ok jxu usf ad pwop poeh.
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