App Accessibility is The New Must in Mobile Development

Enhancing Mobile App Accessibility for Broader Reach and Success

For your mobile app to be successful, you need to make sure that it can reach the widest possible audience. When more people have access to your app, it will boost your download rates and ultimately increase your total profits. But in order for your app to reach everyone, it has to be accessible. So what exactly is mobile accessibility? According to the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), it means that you’re making your mobile app more accessible to users with disabilities. This concept refers to more than just smartphones and tablets. Other devices need to be accessible, such as:

• smart TVs
• smart watches and other wearables
• car dashboards
• airplane seat back monitors
• household appliances

An accessible app makes a huge difference. Take a look at how something as simple as adding captions can boost engagement. Captioning increased video engagement by over 500% over the last 6 years. Technology is amazing. One of the best things about the advances in mobile applications and smartphone technology is that enables people with disabilities to access the mobile world. Plus, as more Americans grow older, there will be an increasing market for apps that take advantage of these types of assistive technology. Even basic smartphones come with these features. The developers who are smart will get ahead of the game now and make their apps as accessible as possible for most people before they are forced to by the law.

Who needs an accessible mobile app?

As I previously stated, accessible mobile applications are for people who have disabilities. Here are some more common categories of disabilities that can impact someone’s mobile app experience:

• Lack of ability to move dexterously or tap with a purpose
• Inability to process external stimuli such as sound and sights
• Cognitive impairments that prevent following too many different screens or themes

You may be asking yourself how many people this really effects. Well, in the United States alone there are roughly 57 million people who have a disability. Let’s break this number down even further. Nearly 20 million people have trouble lifting or gripping, which could hinder their ability to hold a cell phone. Over 8 million people have vision problems and over 7.5 million people have a hearing disability. All of these impairments can impact their ability to use your mobile app. So, yes, enough people are affected by this where you need your app to be accessible. Currently, there are not any laws in place stating that a website or mobile app has to be accessible. But the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) says that people with disabilities cannot be discriminated against in places of public accommodation. While a mobile app may not be considered a place of public accommodation, it’s still in your best interest to treat it as such. It will show people that your company cares and wants to help people.

What you need to meet the WCAG standards

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) sets the standards for making web content more accessible based on the needs of different people. They have a detailed explanation of what should be done to accommodate those needs. I’ve condensed their content and summarized it into a checklist. You can use this to ensure that your app meets the WCAG best practices and standards for online interactions. Here are some of the most relevant ones for your mobile app.

WCAG Standard	Description
No time-based video or audio	Ensure captions are synced with audio and video content to allow users to follow along.
Text to speech compatibility	Accommodate visually impaired users by supporting voice technology.
Information continuity	Ensure seamless content viewing between portrait and landscape modes.
Colorblind accessibility	Provide clear separation between foreground and background for readability.
No seizure-inducing flashes	Avoid flashing lights and provide settings to disable them.

Making information presentable for people with colorblindness There are roughly 300 million people who are colorblind. The majority of these people are men. In fact, about 8% of all men are colorblind while less than 1% of women are suffering from the same disability. Your app needs to be able to accommodate these people. To do so, you’ll need to make sure that there is a clear separation between the foreground and background on each screen. Don’t use conflicting colors that can’t be processed by people who are colorblind. The idea is to make each screen as readable as possible no matter who is looking at it. No seizure inducing light flashes People can get seizures from flashing lights. Your app shouldn’t have anything that would cause this to happen. So avoid flashing lights and color backgrounds that are constantly alternating. If your app has these elements, you should have an option in the settings that allows the users to turn this off. Adjustable time for people with learning disabilities or visual processing handicaps You need to provide sufficient time for users to read and process your material. There should also be a dictation option to have content read to the user. Don’t set up your app so that pages time out on a user who needs extra time to read. They should never lose their spot in line because of this either. Navigation aides to find content and information It should be obvious which buttons or links will bring users to another page or complete a certain action. You’ve got to make sure that these buttons are clearly differentiated from one another. You can use different colors to make this happen, but you can also use characteristics that are not related to color. For example, you can use bold words, underline, or place buttons within boxes. Adjustable size text, color, and brightness built into the app While most devices have options for people to adjust the text size, brightness, and color on a screen, your mobile app should offer the same thing within your settings. This is a great example of how easy this can be for you to implement. Simply include a slider bar or something similar where the user can adjust the settings to their liking. Not everyone will be able to read your content on the default text size. You’ve also got to make sure that your content gets formatted properly once the new sizes are applied. Future proof assistive technology compatibility You should always look to the future when you’re creating a mobile app. Think about technologies that are new or currently in progress. Focus on assistive technologies. Is your app compatible with these? You need to make sure that your app can accommodate existing assistive technology as well as future assistive technology.

Conclusion

I realize that incorporating all of these accessibility features into your app can be a challenge. But with that said, it’s really worth it in the long run. First of all, trying your best to accommodate people with disabilities is just the right thing to do. However, by doing so, you’re also broadening your scope and opening up your app to a whole new audience.

Before Accessibility Features	After Accessibility Features
Certain people may have initially been discouraged from downloading or using your mobile app.	Once you implement these accessibility features you’ll end up making more money from new users.

The checklist above is a great resource to help you get started on the right track to making your app as accessible as possible. Incorporate these best practices and you can be sure that your app will be a success today as well as tomorrow. What features have you added to make your mobile app more accessible?

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I make my mobile app accessible to users with disabilities?

To make your mobile app accessible, follow the WCAG standards, which include features like text-to-speech compatibility and adjustable text sizes.

What are some common accessibility features for mobile apps?

Common accessibility features include voice control, screen readers, and adjustable text sizes.

Why is mobile app accessibility important for businesses?

Mobile app accessibility is crucial as it expands your audience reach and can significantly boost engagement and profitability.

Are there legal requirements for mobile app accessibility?

Currently, there are no specific laws mandating mobile app accessibility, but following guidelines like WCAG is recommended to avoid potential legal issues and to show inclusivity.

How does accessibility impact app engagement?

Accessibility features like captions can increase user engagement significantly, as they make content more accessible to a wider audience, including those with disabilities.