Apps All Around: A Guide to App Accessibility

What Are Accessibility Apps

When it comes to mobile apps, accessibility refers to the design and development methodologies that guarantee that the features and content of the app are usable by all users, including those with impairments. In other words, a person with a visual impairment, hearing impairment, restricted motor abilities, or any other type of disability can use the app just as well as someone without a disability.

The concept of accessibility extends beyond design and includes the coding, fonts, colors, and information presentation of an application. With the help of an accessible software, people with disabilities may enjoy a full and equal user experience.

Here are a few instances of apps that are accessible:

• You can locate wheelchair-accessible entrances and transit choices that are suitable for people with disabilities by using Google Maps.
• When a doorbell rings or a smoke alarm whistles, for example, sound notifications let you know what’s going on in your house.
• Voice recognition software: Enables hands-free email and texting for users
• Users can select the text size of the content that appears on the screen with Dynamic Type.
• Applications that recognize colors: Assist those who are color blind in selecting clothing
• Speech and sound are recorded using live transcription, which shows them as text on your screen.

Key Accessibility Features to Look For in Apps

These accessibility aspects can be taken into account when creating or utilizing apps:

Educative Alternative Text

Additionally, screen readers will read your photos’ alt text to assist in converting a visual experience into a text-based one. A brief descriptor (up to 125 characters) in the code that explains an image for viewers who cannot see it is called alt text. Additionally, appropriately categorizing and summarizing photos in your alt language will improve your search engine optimization!

Different Descriptions or Wording

Provide alternate text that succinctly explains the content of any photos or videos that lack information. Provide a succinct explanation of the data, chart, or diagram if the image includes information that the user needs to know.

Control by Keyboard

Remember that some consumers might only be using keyboard instructions to engage with your website or application. You want to give users a variety of methods to engage with the controls. Those who are visually challenged can use your program if you provide keyboard shortcuts and allow tab and arrow keys for navigation. Consider posting guidelines or a video online that demonstrates how users can best navigate the website using keyboard commands alone after you’ve fully tested the accessibility of the website or app.

Color Contrast That is High

Be sure to adhere to a high contrast color scheme while using colors. Any writing should have a strong contrast with the backdrop color, and the foreground and background should be clearly separated. Remember to try using your phone in grayscale to see how everything seems!

Readers For Screens

You can optimize content to improve the experience of users who will be using a text-only version of your app or who use screen readers. Both visible and concealed text will be read aloud to the user using screen readers. It is crucial to remember that screen readers depend on HTML’s top-down structure.

Visual Sign

Don’t use colors as the only indicator for any part of your application. You want your material to be readable in a number of ways. For instance, hyperlinks should be highlighted and colored differently. If a form field has been accepted, it should be indicated with a checkmark or a “X.”

Top Apps For Users With Disabilities

People with disabilities can benefit from the following apps:

Viewer of Subtitles

This program, which is one of the most fun for disabled people, uses the OpenSubtitles database to enable you to access subtitles on your iOS device while watching TV or at the cinema. More than 20 languages are supported, and the app syncs with whatever is on your screen. To begin, just search for the show or movie you’re viewing and hit play.

Subtitles are embedded into most TVs, DVDs, Blu-Rays, and streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, so this software would work best in a movie theater—as long as you can use it without bothering other patrons.

Be My Eyes

Through live video conversations, this software pairs sighted volunteers with blind and low-vision individuals. Guided problem-solving is facilitated by the sighted volunteers. It can be used, for instance, to describe images, read labels, shop at businesses, find misplaced or dropped objects, and navigate unfamiliar areas.

CoughDrop

Numerous illnesses, including Down syndrome, Angelman syndrome, cerebral palsy, and others, might make it challenging to understand what someone is saying. CoughDrop, which operates under the motto “Every voice should be heard,” claims on its website that “powerful software called Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) can fill the gaps and make every voice heard.”

The fact that CoughDrop is an open-source application makes it special. CoughDrop guarantees that users always have control over and access to their data, unlike many AAC apps that use proprietary technology, which leaves users unaware of how safe they are. The program was created with a “open mindset” to assist individuals with disabilities, according to the business.

Rufus Robot

Dr. Holly Gastgeb, a professional psychologist who treats kids with autism spectrum disorder, created Rufus the Robot. Children of all skill levels and difficulties can practice learning colors and numbers with this kid-friendly program, which also helps them with interpersonal difficulties like emotion processing.

Voiced AAC

People with aphasia and other speech and language problems can communicate more easily because to Spoken’s predictive technology. The program anticipates the words you’re likely to use next, allowing you to quickly construct entire sentences rather than restricting users to short phrases and icons.

Additionally, Spoken picks up on your patterns and gets better with time, enabling users to speak in their own tones. Both iOS and Android smartphones can use it.

ModMath

With ModMath, children with autism and dyslexia may learn math on an iPad for free! Parents of kids with learning challenges, including dyslexia, created the app. ModMath is perfect for those who have trouble reading their own handwriting because it is pencil-free and offers virtual graph paper.

Be Your Own Voice

For individuals with disabilities, speech pathologists created Speak for Yourself (SfY). Similar to CoughDrop, the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) app Speak for Yourself enables those who are unable to communicate orally to utilize their iPad or tablet as a communication tool.

Core Skills for Autism

Children with autism spectrum disorder are the target audience for this app. The creators claim that Autism Core Skills “supports your child by creating lessons that align social, communication, and academic skills.” The software provides many academic learning levels, ranging from learning basic spelling words to sorting shapes and objects.

How To Use Accessibility Apps on iOS and Android

The following are some methods for using iOS and Android accessibility apps:

• Description of the Audio: You can play audio explanations for videos on Android 13 and later by using the “Audio description” checkbox in the Accessibility settings.
• My Way with My Computer: This AbilityNet page offers accessibility feature recommendations tailored to individual devices.
• Shortcuts for accessibility: The Settings app on Android allows you to configure shortcuts for accessibility apps. A shortcut to tap, hold, swipe, or triple tap can be selected. Triple-clicking the side or home button on iOS allows you to activate or deactivate accessibility features.
• Framework for Accessibility Testing: The XCUI Test framework from Apple or the Accessibility Test Framework for Android can be used to create automated accessibility user interface tests.
• Put Order First: The top left corner of the screen is where users anticipate the emphasis to begin and migrate horizontally.
• Dynamic Kind: Users can alter the font size with Dynamic Type, and the application will adapt appropriately.
• Suite for Accessibility: Apps like Select to Speak, Switch Access, and TalkBack are part of the Android Accessibility Suite, which is available for download on Android.

Integrating Accessibility Features into Daily Life

Accessibility elements can be incorporated into daily life in the following ways:

• The Use of Assistive Technology: Consists of equipment, systems, and tools that assist in removing obstacles for those with disabilities.
• Sensitivity to Contrast: Particularly in low light, persons with good contrast sensitivity may see details more clearly.
• Captioning that is Closed: Increases the content’s worth and makes it available to viewers everywhere.
• Alternative Wording: Allows Users Who are Blind or Visually Impaired to “See” a Picture When a Screen Reader Reads it Aloud.
• Access for the Disabled: Makes apps and experiences easier for people with cognitive impairments by utilizing design improvements.
• Design that is Inclusive: Ensures that decisions don’t create new obstacles and actively removes existing ones.
• How Developers Are Improving accessibility Apps: The following standard practices can help developers make apps more accessible:
• Make Use of Big, Straightforward Controls: Ensure that the touch target size of interactive user interface components is at least 48 dp by 48 dp.
• Include Labels that are Accessible: Give each text entry and actionable item a suitable label.
• Permit Text Resizing: Verify that the material can be appropriately scaled.
• Give Pictures Alternate Text: To ensure that visitors with visual impairments can comprehend the content of photographs, include alternate text descriptions.
• Encourage the Use of Assistive Technology: Verify that the application works with different input devices, such as screen readers.
• Make Use of Automated Testing: Assess your app’s accessibility using testing tools such as Espresso.
• Use TalkBack to Test: Use Google’s screen reader, TalkBack, to see where your program needs to be improved.
• Think About the Events that your Service Can Manage: Only sign up for events that your accessibility service can manage when you set it up.
• Combine Components: To ensure that accessibility services only choose the merged element, merge elements using the mergeDescendants option in the semantics modifier.

Reviews of Popular Accessibility Apps

Many Android accessibility apps are available, such as those that facilitate voice, reading, and device control in addition to those that facilitate navigation:

• Google Goggles: Identifies some text and objects
• Ideal Group Reader: Equipped with accessibility tools and capable of reading ePub formats
• Google Live Transcribe: Converts sounds and speech to written form
• Rogervoice: Calls with subtitles available in more than 80 languages
• Otter AI: Real-time meeting, lecture, interview, and conversation transcription is possible with Otter AI.
• Suite for Android Accessibility: Contains TalkBack, Select to Speak, and the Accessibility Menu.
• The Ability to Access Spark: Contains screen reading optimization, voice command, keyboard navigation, text size, and color inversion.
• Google Maps: Assists in locating accessible entrances for wheelchair users and accessible transportation alternatives

Conclusion

In summary, creating an accessible software involves more than just knowing how to code; it also entails encouraging inclusivity and giving people with different needs a sense of empowerment. We can produce apps that significantly improve people’s lives by putting the user experience first, adhering to universal design principles, and keeping up with changing accessibility guidelines. By fostering empathetic innovation, accessibility apps make sure that technology serves as a bridge that connects all people to the digital world, regardless of their skills.

I hope you now have a better understanding of mobile app accessibility and its tendencies for the future. Creating mobile applications with accessibility features will propel company expansion. Mobile apps that do not discriminate between users with disabilities and those without will be adopted and relied upon by users, increasing your user base.

Frequent Asks Question

Is Accessibility limited to those with Disabilities?

It’s not just for people with disabilities, though. For instance, it is not simply people with disabilities that benefit from iOS accessibility features. In circumstances where using a device in the conventional manner is inconvenient, such as when driving or with busy hands, features like voice-to-text and screen magnification might be helpful. Technology is more inclusive when it is accessible, which makes it easier for everyone to use.

What are the Four Accessibility Guidelines?

In order to ensure that web content is Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust, or POUR, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are based on four fundamental principles.

WCAG, the world’s most widely used internet accessibility standard, establishes a guideline for accessible web content.

Can Reading Small Text be Aided by Accessibility Features?

Yes, accessibility tools for viewing small text are available on both iOS and Android. The Display & Text Size options on iOS devices allow you to change the boldness and size of the text or use the Magnifier.

Users of Android devices can zoom in on little text on the screen using the Magnification tool in the Android Accessibility Suite, which provides comparable capabilities.