Before I discuss accessibility for mobile apps, I want to differentiate between mobile apps and mobile websites.
A mobile website is like any website you visit on your computer, but it is designed to be responsive and function well on mobile browsers. It is built using web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and accessed through a web browser.
Think of a mobile app like a program you install on your computer—specifically built using software development kits (SDKs) and programming languages native to or cross-platform compatible with operating systems like iOS and Android.
I wanted to make this distinction because the differences affect how accessibility features are implemented and tested. What works for a website may not directly translate to an app, and vice versa. For example, ensuring that custom gestures in an app are discoverable and usable by screen reader users presents a unique challenge compared to making standard HTML elements accessible on a mobile website.
Key Areas of Mobile App Accessibility
Text Size and Scalability
SC 1.4.4: Resize Text (Level AA)
Allow users to adjust text size without losing functionality. Scalable text allows users to customize the presentation for better readability. This is especially true for people with low vision, people who are blind, and people with cognitive difficulties—providing options to increase text size significantly improves their ability to understand and use the app.
Sufficient Touch Target Size and Spacing
SC 2.5.5 Target Size (Level AAA)
SC 2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum) (Level AA)
For people with motor impairments or low vision, larger touch targets provide a bigger area to interact with, reducing frustration and errors while increasing efficiency. Larger targets also benefit people using a stylus or other assistive pointing device for data input.
Focus Indicators
SC 2.4.7 Focus Visible (Level AA)
For those who navigate using external keyboards connected via Bluetooth or a Switch Control that scans through interactive elements, a visible focus indicator is essential for the user to identify, confirm, and select the desired element when highlighted. Focus indicators also allow VoiceOver and TalkBack users to confirm what the screen reader is announcing visually.
Visual Accessibility
SC 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) (Level AA)
SC 1.4.1 Use of Color (Level A)
- Color Contrast —Without adequate contrast (4.5:1), these users might struggle to read text, identify actionable items, or understand the app's layout.
- Color as the Sole Indicator —Ensure color is not the only way of distinguishing information.
Visual Alternatives for Audio Alerts
SC 1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) (Level A)
Audio alerts are completely inaccessible or significantly less accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Without visual alternatives, they would miss essential notifications, warnings, and feedback from the app, rendering it unusable or significantly less effective.
Avoidance of Complex Gestures
SC 2.5.1 Pointer Gestures (Level A)
Many users have conditions like arthritis, Parkinson's disease, tremors, muscular dystrophy, or limited movement in their hands, wrists, or arms that significantly impact their ability to perform precise and multi-finger gestures like pinch-to-zoom, complex swipes, or intricate patterns. These gestures can be physically painful, unreliable, or even impossible for them to execute consistently. Offer alternative ways to perform actions that don't rely on intricate gestures.
Easy Data Entry
Understanding Guideline 2.5: Input Modalities
"All functionality should be accessible via pointer input devices, for example, via a mouse pointer, a finger interacting with a touch screen, an electronic pencil/stylus, or a laser pointer." Other input devices include speech and 3D touch, enabled by pressure sensors. Some users find typing slow, complicated, and painful. Consider providing select menus, radio buttons, checkboxes, or auto-filling known information (e.g., date, time, location).
Customization Options
Allowing users to tailor the app to their individual needs fosters a sense of autonomy and control. Customization often leads to a better user experience for all users. People have different preferences for how they interact with technology, regardless of disability. Offering choices empowers them and makes the app more enjoyable and efficient. For example, someone might prefer a dark theme for aesthetic reasons or to reduce eye strain in low-light environments. Another user may want to increase text size even if they don't have low vision, for better readability on a smaller screen.
Describe Your Content
SC 1.3.1 Info and Relationships (Level A)
"Information, structure, and relationships conveyed through presentation can be programmatically determined or are available in text." Ensure you provide proper descriptions of images, buttons, or form fields. Screen readers, which are essential assistive technologies for blind and low-vision users, cannot interpret visual content such as images, videos, or complex graphical elements directly. They depend on alternative text descriptions (alt text) to communicate the meaning and purpose of these elements. Users with cognitive disabilities like dyslexia, ADHD, or learning disabilities may benefit from descriptions that employ simpler language, emphasize key information, or break down complex visuals into more digestible text. Additionally, text descriptions enhance the searchability of visual content within the app and by external search engines, improving discoverability for all users.
Utilize Accessibility Testing Tools
Several automated and manual tools are available to identify accessibility issues in your mobile app. Accessibility Inspector for iOS and Accessibility Scanner for Android are just a few examples.
DubBot gives you the ability to configure the viewport used for testing and previewing your website for a more customized evaluation of your content within DubBot.
Building accessibility best practices into your mobile app development is not just about making things easier; it's about ensuring that a significant portion of the user base can use and benefit from your app. The benefits extend beyond individuals with disabilities, enhancing usability for everyone, regardless of their circumstances.
Resources
- Menus on mobile
- WCAG for Mobile Apps
- Mobile Accessibility at W3C
- Mobile App Accessibility: Best Practices for Inclusive Design
A human author creates the DubBlog posts. The AI tool Gemini is sometimes used to brainstorm subject ideas, generate blog post outlines, and rephrase certain portions of the content. Our marketing team carefully reviews all final drafts for accuracy and authenticity. The opinions and perspectives expressed remain the sole responsibility of the human author.
