Inclusive Design – Leader in Offshore Accessibility Testing | Section 508 Compliance | WCAG Conformance | BarrierBreak https://www.barrierbreak.com/using-emojis-is-so-fun-but-how-to-make-them-accessible/ Creating a limitless future Thu, 06 Jul 2023 11:34:37 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.barrierbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/favicon.ico.png Inclusive Design – Leader in Offshore Accessibility Testing | Section 508 Compliance | WCAG Conformance | BarrierBreak https://www.barrierbreak.com/using-emojis-is-so-fun-but-how-to-make-them-accessible/ 32 32 Using Emojis is so fun! But how to make them accessible?  https://www.barrierbreak.com/using-emojis-is-so-fun-but-how-to-make-them-accessible/ https://www.barrierbreak.com/using-emojis-is-so-fun-but-how-to-make-them-accessible/#respond Thu, 08 Jun 2023 09:15:23 +0000 https://www.barrierbreak.com/?p=22043 Yes, we are talking about “Smiling, Laughing, Kissing, Heart Eyes, Thinking, Angry” emojis. The ones that have become a part of our daily messages/emails. No matter if the messages are sent to friends, family, colleagues, or business stakeholders. Emojis help to add feelings to the messages. It’s also a great way to keep the tone… Read More »Using Emojis is so fun! But how to make them accessible? 

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Yes, we are talking about “Smiling, Laughing, Kissing, Heart Eyes, Thinking, Angry” emojis. The ones that have become a part of our daily messages/emails. No matter if the messages are sent to friends, family, colleagues, or business stakeholders. Emojis help to add feelings to the messages. It’s also a great way to keep the tone of your message light.


Something like: “Happiest Birthday! Let’s plan a party at 21.00 today!”

Such an eye-pleasing birthday wish [Awww]. But is it the same for screen reader users? Let’s find out!

Screen reader users announce the birthday wish text as “Happiest Birthday! Cake Cake Cake Let’s plan a party at 21.00 today! Grinning face with big eyes”.

Oops! The message is not the same as I want to convey and also not enjoyable to hear all those unwanted expressions multiple times.

As we know screen reader announces the alt text of the image, we should try and use the most meaningful emojis (as per the context) along with the fact that it should be best to use them at the end of the statement or at the part that does not break the meaning of the message.

How are emojis generally used?

Everyone uses emojis differently such as someone would replace the text with emoji, someone will add many emojis along with the text, or someone will add an emoji that represents their emotions. Let’s have a deeper look at the emojis used.

Using emojis to convey messages

Sometimes emojis are too easy to use to convey a message. Like the feature to react to a particular text using emojis such as “thumbs up”, “thumbs down”, “Shocked”, and many more.

Good Example:

  • To compare and .
  • The on the sundae.

Bad Example:

Hey, I you. me BACK once available.

In the above bad example, the message that was to be conveyed was ‘Hey, I called you. Call me back once available’ but unfortunately, this is not coming out of the emojis. Instead, it announces “Hey, I ‘Telephone receiver’ you. ‘Telephone receiver’ me ‘Back arrow’ once available.”

Using emojis without text

Do you think using just emojis without any text is accessible to all users?

Nope, it’s not. Avoiding text and using only emojis impacts users with cognitive impairments users when the emojis are not the commonly used ones they in fact are confusing for all users.

Punctuation, Letters, Numbers! Oh yes, Emoticons!

:),  :-),  :-(,  :(,  :|,  these are a few examples of punctuation emoticons used across. These are announced as “colon right parenthesis”, “colon dash right parenthesis”, “colon dash left parenthesis”, “colon left parenthesis” and “colon vertical bar”. It will be annoying to listen to such announcements and the exact information will not be conveyed to users.

Good Example:

Would recommend reading Turning point: The day when assistive technology came into my life, it will leave you:

Bad Example:

Would recommend reading Turning point: The day when assistive technology came into my life, it will leave you:

:|

In the above bad example, the expression ‘speechless’ could not be communicated using emoticons.

Emoticons or Emojis is also = Unicode

Yes, emojis and emoticons look like images or icons, but they are characters from the UTF–8 character set.

‘128525’ will just mean some random numbers. However, using this random number along with the combination of ‘&#’ & ‘;’ in the HTML code will display smiling face with heart eyes emoji.

The unicode that will be used displays the same emoji/emoticons but with a different visual appearance on different platforms and with a different description of the emoji/emoticons. For example, an emoji can be called “Slightly smiling”, “Smiling face”, “Happy face” and so on.

Screenshot of 'Grinning face' emojis in different platforms.


To know more about emoticons/emoji Unicode check out the Unicode List. Let’s find out how different screen readers render emojis created using Unicode and <img> tag in HTML.

Emojis created using Unicode in HTML:

Using the code <p>&#128525;</p> in HTML, the generated emoji is announced as below by different commonly used screen readers:

Google Chrome/JAWSMozilla Firefox/NVDAMicrosoft Edge/NarratorMAC/VoiceOveriOS Mobile/VoiceOverAndroid/TalkBack
Smiling face with heart shaped eyesSmiling face with heart eyesSmiling face with heart eyesFace with heart shaped eyesFace with heart shaped eyesSmiling face

But what if we want the accessible name to be uniformly identified on all platforms?
We can mark the emojis using <img> element and provide an appropriate and descriptive name. But yes this is only to enhance the user experience.

Emojis created using <img> tag in HTML:

When using a <img> tag along with an appropriate alternate text will render to all screen readers uniformly.

For example, creating an emoji as an image and providing an alternate text as below will announce as ‘Smiling face with heart shaped eyes’ to all screen readers on all platforms.

<img src="smiling-hearteyes.png" alt="Smiling face with heart shaped eyes">

This helps us to conclude creating emojis as images will help users render the same meaning across the platforms.

How to make emojis accessible?

Let’s check different ways to make the emojis accessible for all users.

Alternate text

Alternate text is important for understanding the emojis to assistive technology users. That does not mean providing alternate text when the emojis are used for decorative purposes on a webpage.

When the emojis are informative or/and interactive they should have an alternate text that describes them which will help the user to select the suitable emojis. Emoji of Speaking head

Alternative text should be concise and unique. For example, Happy face, Sad face, Angry face and so on.

Good Example:

<img src="angry.png" alt="Angry face">

Bad Example:

<img src="angry.png" alt="Red circle with two dots and a brace bracket">

In the above bad example, the emoji is described per its visual appearance, however, it is difficult to conclude it indicates an angry face.

Colour Contrast

Emojis are presented using different colours like default, white, black and brown, giving users more options to select emojis. This adds up a task to ensure the emojis are visible in different modes like high contrast, dark mode and light mode. The emojis should meet the required contrast to help all users to identify the emojis.

Colour contrast requirements as per Success Criterion 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast:

  • Identify all the key parts of a graphical object i.e., Emojis.
    • For example, in the case of a crying face emoji, the yellow circle face, the blue tears, black eyes and mouth are key parts of the emoji for a user to identify it as a crying face.
  • Ensure that all the key parts meet the color contrast requirement of 3:1 with their adjacent colours.

Check out the Decoding WCAG 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast blog that explains the Non-text content requirements in layman’s language.

Note: Meeting Success Criterion 1.4.11 is only required when the emoji does not have any alternative to convey the same information in the surrounding.

Good Example:

Red Heart Emoji with sufficient contrast against its background

In the above good example, the ‘heart’ emoji is clearly visible due to its sufficient contrast with background.

Bad Example:

Speechless Emoji with insufficient contrast against its background

In the above bad example, the ‘speechless’ emoji is not clearly visible due to its insufficient contrast with background.

Moving and Blinking Emojis

Many emojis move continuously like a clinking wine glass, a smiley with a thumb moving to indicate a like, moving eyes, and so on emojis. We must have seen such emojis on different platforms and even used some of these.

Watching them all move is delightful, but will it be the same for users with reading impairments, vestibular disorders and users with attention deficit disorders I guess NO.

One should avoid the auto movement of emojis. Even if auto movement is required it should only appear on keyboard focus or mouse hover. Also, the movement should be slow and stop within 5 seconds.

Good Example:

New Badge

Using a Gif that stops within 5 seconds.

In the above good example, the Gif will be stoped after 5 seconds, not distracting users from page content or even having severe consequences.

Bad Example:

New Badge

Using a Gif that cannot be stopped.

In the above bad example, the Gif will be played continuously, distracting users from page content or even having severe consequences.

CSS @prefers-reduced-motion media query

Use CSS @prefers-reduced-motion media query that ensures the page is displayed as per the user’s device setting for displaying animated content.

Animation can be displayed using the user’s device setting:

  • On Windows to reduce the motion use Show animations in Windows
    • Steps: Settings > Display > Ease of Access
  • On MacOS to reduce the motion use Reduce Motion
    • Steps: Settings > Accessibility > Display.
  • On Android to reduce the motion use Remove animations
    • Steps: Settings > Accessibility > Text and display.


Hello!

Try the user’s device setting to turn off the animation.

Visual tooltip

(Again something that helps enhance user experience)

  • Are the emojis used across different platforms look completely alike? No!
  • Are there limited emojis? No
  • Do we all really know all the emojis meaning? No!

'Morning after party' visual tooltip text along with the emoji.

Yes, you read that correct! There are so many emojis that we have interpreted it wrong even today there are emojis that we do not know the real meaning of.

One of the best examples is folded hands emoji that many have thought of and used as a High Five emoji.

To avoid such misunderstanding for all the visual users it’s best to add a visual tooltip conveying the meaning of the emo

The tooltip does not have to be too descriptive or extra fancy. The tooltip text should be available on keyboard focus and on mouse hover. The requirement of 1.4.13: Content on Hover or Focus should be considered.

Do’s!

  • Use colour combination for emojis that have sufficient contrast against all background modes like Default, Dark and High contrast modes.
  • Provide concise alternate text that describe the emojis if you want all users to get an identical description.
  • Use emojis instead of Emoticons to help the user understand the meaning of it.
  • Use emojis in the statement where it makes the most meaning, preferably at the end of the statement.
  •  Animated emojis should stop the motion within 5 seconds. If this is not achievable then the best solution is to provide a single play/stop button at the beginning of the page to control the animations. Alternatively, animated emojis should adhere to user device settings of controlling the animation.

Yippee! We have successfully understood the requirement to create accessible emojis for all users.

So, I hope now after understanding the requirement we all will be careful in which context to use emojis and how to ensure they will be accessible.

Let’s use accessible emojis and create delightful reading experiences for all!

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Building accessibility into your company culture https://www.barrierbreak.com/building-accessibility-into-your-company-culture/ https://www.barrierbreak.com/building-accessibility-into-your-company-culture/#respond Thu, 23 Jun 2022 08:36:20 +0000 https://www.barrierbreak.com/?p=19870 When we think of accessibility, we usually think of wheelchair ramps and elevators. But there is so much more that can be done to make a company accessible. An accessible work culture encompasses the attitudes and beliefs of the organization and its employees. It results in effective communication, accessible work stations, and accessible programs and… Read More »Building accessibility into your company culture

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When we think of accessibility, we usually think of wheelchair ramps and elevators. But there is so much more that can be done to make a company accessible. An accessible work culture encompasses the attitudes and beliefs of the organization and its employees. It results in effective communication, accessible work stations, and accessible programs and services.


The culture of an organization can make a huge difference in the work experience of employees. The culture is not just about the people in the organization, but also includes how they interact with each other and their environment. A company that has a culture that is inclusive, open, and supportive will have a much more positive work environment than one where employees feel they are not welcome or do not have the support they need to be successful.


Companies that want to build an inclusive and accessible culture in their workplace should focus on the following 5 things:


1. Incorporating Universal Design


Universal design is the design of products, environments and services that are usable by the widest possible group of people. The seven main principles of universal design are:



  • Equitable use

  • Flexibility in use

  • Low physical effort

  • Simple and intuitive use

  • Perceptible information

  • Tolerance for error

  • Low visual clutter


The goal of universal design is to make sure that these people can use the same item or service without any modifications. A good example of this is a coffee machine which has a large button with Braille on it. Universal design should be applied to workplace environments so that all employees can work in a comfortable environment where they feel supported and respected.


2. Accessible Website and Job Portal


The number of job seekers who are applying for jobs online is increasing every year. Applicant accessibility is a key factor in hiring decisions, and companies are trying to make it easier for job seekers to apply for positions by making the application process simpler and more user-friendly.


If your online job application portal is not accessible, you are eliminating a potential applicant from the very beginning. An accessible job portal or company website sends a clear message that as an organization you value diversity and are actively working towards including employees with disabilities. Also, ensuring HR Onboarding documents are accessible is the perfect place to start as your organization continues to create an inclusive culture. 


3. Providing Assistive Technology


The company should ensure that it provides accessibility tools or assistive technology for employees with disabilities. For example, the company could offer a screen reader for those who are blind or have low vision. They could also provide a speech recognition software that would allow people with mobility impairments to use their computer without the need of a mouse.


4. Flexible Work Policy


In the past, companies have been reluctant to hire disabled workers because they were not sure how to make accommodations for them. But now that the world has become more inclusive and understanding, more companies are hiring people with disabilities. Employer should consider implementing a hybrid or remote work policy. This would allow disabled employees to work from home when needed.


Check out this blog on Accessible Digital Ready Technology — Future of Work


5. Accessible Trainings & Meetings


Employees with disabilities should be afforded the same opportunities as everyone else to receive workplace training or be a part of company meetings. In order for every employee to be able to learn new skills, it is important that they feel comfortable in their learning environment. Training can take many forms, but all of it must be designed so that employees with disabilities can participate fully and effectively. All training materials and instructions needs to be made available in a format that is accessible so that everyone can take the benefit of them. Employers should establish policies and procedures for the management and distribution of training and other resources. These policies should be reviewed and updated as necessary to reflect changes in the workplace and the needs of employees with disabilities.


A culture of accessibility is key to the success of any company, and it is something that we should all be striving for. Inclusive workplaces are more successful, with higher productivity and better employee engagement. One of the most important factors in this is making sure that employees with disabilities are not left out. This means providing them with an inclusive environment to do their job. It may seem overwhelming, but it can go a long way towards making sure that all employees feel welcome and included in the workplace.


No matter what the level of your accessibility commitment as an organization is, choosing the right digital accessibility vendor is of utmost importance. Get in touch with our team today at info@barrierbreak.com to plan your accessibility roadmap.

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Higher Sales and a Business Win with Accessible Digital Products https://www.barrierbreak.com/higher-sales-and-a-business-win-with-accessible-digital-products/ https://www.barrierbreak.com/higher-sales-and-a-business-win-with-accessible-digital-products/#respond Sat, 11 Jun 2022 06:16:16 +0000 https://www.barrierbreak.com/?p=16108 The COVID-19 pandemic has served as a wake-up call and business now are considering accessibility of digital products as a priority. In an increasingly and undeniably digital world, it's important to have products that are accessible to everyone.If you're looking to increase sales and win more business, making your digital products accessible is a great… Read More »Higher Sales and a Business Win with Accessible Digital Products

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The COVID-19 pandemic has served as a wake-up call and business now are considering accessibility of digital products as a priority. In an increasingly and undeniably digital world, it's important to have products that are accessible to everyone.

If you're looking to increase sales and win more business, making your digital products accessible is a great place to start. By ensuring that your websites, apps, and other digital products are accessible to users with disabilities, you can open your business to a whole new customer base.

There are a number of benefits to making your digital products accessible.

According to Forrester, about $10-16 billion in design spending between the US and Canada alone will shift towards tech companies that are prioritizing accessibility.

Benefits of ensuring Accessible Digital Products

  • Expand your reach: Providing accessible digital products gives your business an opportunity to tap into the 1-billion market of people with disabilities that has an annual disposable income of $1.2 trillion. Accessibility also helps you increase sales to government or the federal markets.
  • Win long term customers: People with disabilities tend to remain loyal to your business if they are able to access your digital products. The report from Business Disability Forum, UK, found that 75% of disabled people and their families have walked away from a service provider because of poor disability awareness at a cost of £1.8bn to UK businesses every month.
  • Comply with legal requirements: In many countries, including the United States, Canada, and the European Union, laws require that digital products be accessible to people with disabilities. The BarrierBreak team of accessibility experts provide you support for all your accessibility needs ensuring conformance to WCAG standards and compliance to Section 508ADAVPAT Creation
  • Improve the user experience: When your digital products are accessible, everyone can use them more easily and effectively. This can lead to better customer satisfaction and loyalty.
  • Improve search engine optimization: Accessible digital products are often better coded, which can help them rank higher in search engine results. This can lead to more traffic and more sales.

Making your digital products accessible doesn't have to be difficult or time-consuming. Incorporate accessibility in your digital products right from the beginning. There are several tools and resources available to help you. And, by taking the time to make your products accessible, you can reap a number of benefits for your business.

If you are looking for an accessibility partner who can help you get started or support you in your accessibility journey, get in touch now!

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Encouraging Accessible Advertising this Diwali https://www.barrierbreak.com/encouraging-accessible-advertising-this-diwali/ https://www.barrierbreak.com/encouraging-accessible-advertising-this-diwali/#respond Tue, 02 Nov 2021 23:32:21 +0000 https://www.barrierbreak.com/?p=15423 The festival of light has bestowed upon us! It’s that time of the year when people from all walks of life come together and celebrate Diwali. It doesn’t matter if you are a teacher or a student, young or an elderly, an abled person or a disabled person, this occasion is celebrated by each and everyone. That’s the beauty of Diwali.… Read More »Encouraging Accessible Advertising this Diwali

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The festival of light has bestowed upon us! It’s that time of the year when people from all walks of life come together and celebrate Diwali. It doesn’t matter if you are a teacher or a student, young or an elderly, an abled person or a disabled person, this occasion is celebrated by each and everyone. That’s the beauty of Diwali. It is inclusive!

Diwali and Accessibility

Diwali is a time when one goes to meet their loved ones and exchange gifts and sweets, burst firecrackers, have delicious traditional feasts and wear new clothes. It is also a time when  business is booming, and brands are looking to create awareness and increase their sales. Whether it’s an online business or offline, all these brands are giving discount and promotional offers on their products and services. But not all these businesses focus on accessibility and inclusion. Not all of them have their content made accessible. This is where you can edge out your competitor. This is where you can ensure that your promotional activities are accessible and appeals your audiences. And this is where we come in!

Our team at BarrierBreak believes a good marketing strategy and accessible content should always go hand in hand. They ensure your content is rendered accessible by applying inclusive design practices. 

Why Accessibility?

We have known Diwali being celebrated by everyone. But do we know what all difficulties are faced by people with disabilities while accessing promotional Diwali campaigns or offers?

Inclusive design and marketing strategy aim to create a positive and accessible user experience for all, including the people with disabilities. Rather than targeting a single user group or target market, integrative design principles seek to appeal to a wide range of users and understand the different ways in which people engage on your website. Inclusive design considers accessibility and inclusion from the outset of a promotional activity and helps you understand diversity and create products and services that are experienced by a large number of people.

Accessibility is an experience that meets the needs of your audience, including those with disabilities. Accessible design provides the foundation to ensure that the experience of your content is inclusive, but it also invites you to consider the content itself. When it comes to creating content, barrier-free design ensures that everyone has equal access so that no one is excluded.

Benefits of Accessible Advertising

Accessibility is just one of the many areas that need to be addressed to create inclusive content. Companies must create policies for internal and external content, including the creation of accessible promotional campaigns. There are many benefits in doing so:

  • Accessible advertising campaigns help in reaching people with disabilities, such as people with impaired mobility, vision, hearing and learning.
  • Using inclusive designs can not only help you reach potential customers and grow your business. It also shows your brand is committed to serving as many people as possible.
  • Creating accessible content is a great way to promote an SEO strategy for brands.
  • Creating inclusive content enables brands to forge stronger connections with customers. Consumers with disabilities and their family members are increasingly recognizing the value of the products and services which include them.
  • Furthermore, applying universal design principles from the outset can help people with disabilities become potential customers of your brand. Being aware of accessibility increases inclusivity in your brand and improves the user experience.

Challenges Faced

One reason why more brands are not capitalizing on this opportunity is perceived difficulty in making their campaigns available to everyone. Festive marketing campaigns like the ones in Diwali tend to overlook people with disabilities because of the extra effort required to make ads accessible. In accessible advertising, brands fail to address a significant portion of the population because they overlook people with disabilities in their marketing plans.

As disabilities continue to increase, brands need to refine their marketing efforts to broaden their reach and communicate with this underserved population. One way for companies to avoid unintended barriers in this segment is to focus their marketing efforts on consumers with disabilities and their families. By focusing on accessibility in website design and content, you open your business to more people in more situations than you know.

Your content should be your first port of call to show that you care about making your brand inclusive and accessible to all.

How can we help?

Our highly specialized team at BarrierBreak not only helps you create accessible promotional content but also ensures that it is Section 508 and ADA compliant. We ensure the content is in conformance with WCAG 2.0 and 2.1

Get in touch with us at sales@barrierbreak.com for any support in making your content accessible.

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Accessible Digital Ready Technology — Future of Work https://www.barrierbreak.com/accessible-digital-ready-technology-future-of-work/ https://www.barrierbreak.com/accessible-digital-ready-technology-future-of-work/#respond Tue, 24 Aug 2021 03:30:08 +0000 https://www.barrierbreak.com/?p=15176 The workspace of the future isn’t the office anymore. It is now independent of the physical place. Technology is now where the work lives. It is about the shared digital environment comprising of: Collaboration and communication tools Platforms that employees use that may be specific to their work — For example, if you are in sales and are using… Read More »Accessible Digital Ready Technology — Future of Work

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The workspace of the future isn’t the office anymore. It is now independent of the physical place. Technology is now where the work lives. It is about the shared digital environment comprising of:

  • Collaboration and communication tools
  • Platforms that employees use that may be specific to their work — For example, if you are in sales and are using a CRM platform

In the last year, organizations are re-thinking how they use technology, how they procure technology, the type of technology they procure?

The question to ask is what is the Accessibility Readiness of your digital technologies?

Here is a roadmap of where to start:

  • Take Inventory — A good place to start is knowing what are the different tools and technologies being used, the number of users, the frequency of use, the criticality of a tool, which technology is it in, whether the code base is the organization or is it a managed service, whether Accessibility has been implemented or not?
  • Define the Accessibility Goal — Decide what you would like to achieve Accessibility goal as an organization. Create a plan based on the criticality and priority of the use case of technology.
  • Identify the Accessibility Readiness — conduct accessibility audits to understand where you stand. Based on your Accessibility goals, devise implementation strategies. Train the teams so that they can achieve the goals.
  • Procurement strategy — Don’t wait, look at all the technology that is currently being procured. Put in a procurement strategy to buy accessible. Bring Accessibility to the forefront rather than as an afterthought.
  • Implement Accessibility — Whether with internal teams or vendor teams ensure that they implement accessibility. Bring in strategies to bring transparency to this process so leadership can see the progress on accessibility goals. Verify the accessibility implementation with third-party auditors and employees.

Accessibility is a journey, it isn’t a one-time process. Above all, remember to include the accessibility readiness of all digital technologies as a part of your process.

Have any questions, reach out to talk about how BarrierBreak can support you to put in the Accessibility Readiness processes in your organization.

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Cognitive Disability & Digital Accessibility https://www.barrierbreak.com/cognitive-disability-digital-accessibility/ https://www.barrierbreak.com/cognitive-disability-digital-accessibility/#respond Wed, 04 Aug 2021 03:47:17 +0000 https://www.barrierbreak.com/?p=15155 The idea of accessibility for people with disabilities is not limited to digital or ICT accessibility. Digital accessibility addresses the ability of people with visual, auditory, motor or cognitive disabilities to access electronic resources such as the Internet, software, mobile devices and e-readers. It also covers people with age-related or temporary disabilities due to accident or… Read More »Cognitive Disability & Digital Accessibility

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The idea of accessibility for people with disabilities is not limited to digital or ICT accessibility. Digital accessibility addresses the ability of people with visual, auditory, motor or cognitive disabilities to access electronic resources such as the Internet, software, mobile devices and e-readers. It also covers people with age-related or temporary disabilities due to accident or illness. 

Accessibility for users with cognitive disabilities is a greater challenge than for other types of disabilities. While the use of computer technology in the classroom of students with cognitive disabilities has proven effective, the variety of skills and experiences of users with cognitive disabilities can cause problems. 

Our specialized team at BarrierBreak provides guidance on how people with cognitive disabilities best deal with accessibility issues. We aim to provide practical, step-by-step information and design to deliver effective best practices for web and digital accessibility. 

The Underdogs

While vision and hearing impairments are often discussed when it comes to site accessibility, cognitive disabilities represent the most computer users with disabilities according to the National Center for Disability Access and Education. Cognitive impairment is the least understood disability category, and much of what has been published on cognitive impairment from a clinical and scientific point of view does not include questions related to website accessibility. 

Cognitive learning is a neurological disability that includes neurological disorders as well as behavioral and mental disorders. 

What is Cognitive Disability?

Cognitive impairment refers to a wide range of disabilities – from people with intellectual impairments that limit their ability to age-related problems with thinking and remembering. Cognitive impairments include people with learning disabilities such as dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It affects how people express and receive information and communication, their motor skills, vision, hearing and ability to comprehend and consume information. Such disabilities can impair the ability to read and type text, recognize images, make precise gestures and locate important information.  

Accessibility allows people with cognitive disabilities to focus on the primary purpose of the content. Taking into account deficits in reading, language and language comprehension through supplementary media such as illustrations, symbols, videos and audio can improve accessibility for people with cognitive disabilities. Images, icons and graphic content can help users with cognitive impairments. 

Complex texts can cause difficulties for users with cognitive impairments. People with dyslexia, for example, may find it difficult and time-consuming to access text information. Perception disorders, also known as learning disabilities, include difficulties in processing sensory information such as auditory, tactile and visual. 

The Modus Operandi of Digital Accessibility

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 document is based on a broader understanding of how to create accessible content for specific user groups. The WCAG is a set of recommendations to make digital content and technologies accessible to people with disabilities. Regardless of cognitive, learning or neurological disabilities, many adapt digital content to make it easier to see and to use. 

People with cognitive and learning disabilities use a variety of technologies to adapt and simplify content to their needs. For example, screens readers designed for blind users or for accessing content on a computer or mobile phone are increasingly used by people with cognitive impairments to promote literacy. Supporting technologies have also been developed to facilitate cognitive access for people with physical or sensory disabilities. 

In practice, people with cognitive disabilities are less effective at hacking physical or sensory access technologies to meet their own needs, but that is no excuse for not implementing specific CA measures. Cognitive accessibility includes thinking about accessibility for people with cognitive and learning disabilities. 

What can you do?

Align your digital content with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (commonly referred to as WCAG 2.0) the most widely accepted standard for equal access to the Internet. Compliance with these guidelines may help protect against lawsuits alleging violations of Section 508 and American with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

In short, barrier-free websites help secure brands that promote positive word-of-mouth for the disabled population among their friends, family members and the general public. Several organizations have joined forces to identify measures to support the digital inclusion of people with cognitive disabilities. 

It seems that the use of information and communication technology (ICT) is a challenge for people with intellectual disabilities and that there is a digital divide between them and more connected citizens. 

We can bridge that gap for you! Our highly experienced team at BarrierBreak does not only ensure your digital products conform to accessibility standards but also provides a barrier-free experience for people with cognitive disabilities. 

Write to sales@barrierbreak.com and reach out for further assistance. 

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How would inclusive design help your organisation? https://www.barrierbreak.com/how-would-inclusive-design-help-your-organisation/ https://www.barrierbreak.com/how-would-inclusive-design-help-your-organisation/#respond Wed, 21 Oct 2020 06:44:05 +0000 https://www.barrierbreak.com/?p=14169 Limited awareness of people has constrained the use of the term ‘inclusion’ majorly with respect to culture, education and politics.  This has often led to the neglection of the importance of this term relating to the usability of many products and services for people with disabilities.   Inclusive design requires a change in the usual pattern of thinking. It therefore widens and ensures the reach and accessibility of mainstream products and services to… Read More »How would inclusive design help your organisation?

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a group of people sitting around a table working on laptop

Limited awareness of people has constrained the use of the term inclusion majorly with respect to culture, education and politics.  This has often led to the neglection of the importance of this term relating to the usability of many products and services for people with disabilities.  

Inclusive design requires a change in the usual pattern of thinking. It therefore widens and ensures the reach and accessibility of mainstream products and services to a vast majority of the population without the need for special adaptations.  

About 15% of the world’s population lives with some form of disability according to the World Health OrganisationIn India, according to census 2011, around 2. 68 Cr of the population i.e. around 2.21% of the population has some of the other kind of disability

These disabilities include: 

  • People with some form of physical disability– Upper limbs, lower limbs or both 
  • People with visual impairment– Low vision or totally blind 
  • People with hearing impairment– Hard of hearing or deaf 
  • People with speech impairment 
  • People with cognitive impairment– Mild, moderate or severe. 

Along with this, there are other groups of people who do not directly fall into these categories but should be considered.  

  • Elderly– Longer life expectancies and an aging population mean there will be more users with some impairments. 
  • People with temporary disabilities– A person with a muscle pull, fractured arm etc. 

The problem: 

  • Inclusive design is either often neglected or seen as an add-on, like an afterthought.  
  • There’s a general lack of understanding and considering these user groups.  
  • There’s a lack of understanding about how to design for inclusivity and the benefits it brings. 

Why invest in Inclusive Design? 

Inclusive design increases user acquisition and retention.

Inclusively designed products and services are good and accessible for all. With a growing population and longer life expectancies leading to an aging population, there will be more users with some or the other kind of impairments in the future. Designing inclusively creates better solutions and experiences for all. Not designing products and services inclusively would only mean losing out to a large and increasing market segment. 

Inclusive design has been practiced since a long time, but it has not yet been adopted by all.  A good example of a company which started designing with an inclusive approach was OXO good grips. A range of easy to use kitchen utensils. With their brilliant market research, packaging and marketing strategies, they were able to tap into the kitchen market to emerge as one of the best products.

Inclusive design means more profit

Imagine a product or service not being usable enough for any or multiple of these user groups. That would be a large amount of probable spending one would miss out on if they don’t design inclusively.

There’s an upfront cost but you’ll make a return on your investment.
While we may agree that designing inclusively does come with a good cost, but a company investing in good and inclusive design will in no time cover their costs and make a return on the initial investment. Not only would a not -so- useable design cost a lot of money to the company in terms of exchange and warranty but might also cause damage to the brand and goodwill. 

People are united by design

Inclusive design offers a great opportunity to bring people together. Creating and designing user friendly products and services which everyone can use, regardless of their abilities, unites people by design. It creates a sense of belonging. 

Why choose BarrierBreak 

  1. Digital accessibility company with accessibility in out DNA! With inclusive culture being a big part of our company, our team comprises of individuals who can empathize with the disabled users. 
  2. We understand users. We understand the different user groups and the challenges and limitations they face. 
  3. It is not enough to just read about disabilities and design for to fully understand the diversity of users The designers at BarrierBreak work along with our accessibility experts that include people with disability and user groups to bring the most effective digital solutions and plan to do the same for products as well. 

Get in touch with our accessibility experts today. Write to us sales@barrierbreak.com 

 

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Inclusive Design for different user groups https://www.barrierbreak.com/inclusive-design-for-different-user-groups/ https://www.barrierbreak.com/inclusive-design-for-different-user-groups/#respond Tue, 23 Jun 2020 01:10:14 +0000 https://www.barrierbreak.com/?p=13925 In my previous blog, we discussed about Inclusive Design and its importance. Today, let’s try to understand Inclusive Design in more detail considering various user groups.  As we now know, Inclusive design is a design to aid the range of human diversity. It could mean having different features to enhance the product but, the end goal of Inclusive design is to deliver the same experience to the all users regardless of their limitations.   There are multiple user… Read More »Inclusive Design for different user groups

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collage of different disability icons

In my previous blog, we discussed about Inclusive Design and its importance. Today, lettry to understand Inclusive Design in more detail considering various user groups. 

As we now know, Inclusive design is design to aid the range of human diversity. It could mean having different features to enhance the product but, the end goal of Inclusive design is to deliver the same experience to the all users regardless of their limitations.  

There are multiple user groups and people who use various products come from a wide variety of backgrounds and have diverse life experiences. These experiences impact the way they interact with the world and things around them. Therefore, in order to make product experiences easy, diverse user groups need to be studied, understood and empathised with in order to design for them.  

  • Inclusive design for people with visual impairment would be to have an alternative for visual elements such as auditory or haptic feedback, bright contrasting colours, tactile or braille marksAdding a tactile marking on the number 5 on a number pad would be a simple addition in the design that would help them identify the functions of the buttons on a TV remote by exploring it themselves, without being dependent on anyone else.  
  • Inclusive design for people with hearing impairment would be being able to have an alternative for sound in the form of written text or some visual feedback. Example: An alarm clock which vibrates.   
  • Inclusive design for a person with mobility impairment would be to have alternatives such as a big and textured grip so that it is easy for them to hold and use products. It could also be to have alternatives to access places. Such as ramps or railings in public places or multiple holding points for easy access so that they are able to move around easily with their crutches or wheelchairs.  
  • Inclusive design for a person on the autism spectrum and for someone with learning difficulties would bto provide more visual elements to aid their understanding and provide them with time to make a decision 

Inclusive design for different user groups is basically to provide varied users with a choice or an alternative so that things get easy for them to use. People should be able to access and interact with products in their preferred way. The features of the product should be able to enrich the user experience by providing efficient and diverse ways to find and interact with the product.  

Also, inclusive design should be as intuitive as possible and should aim to make the person as self independent as possible. This sense of self independence would also enhance their experience and make the user keep going back for the product or service.  

Get in touch with the BarrierBreak team if you would like to have a quick chat with our team to know how we can help you design an inclusive product. 

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What is Inclusive Product Design- BarrierBreak Approach https://www.barrierbreak.com/what-is-inclusive-product-design-barrierbreak-approach/ https://www.barrierbreak.com/what-is-inclusive-product-design-barrierbreak-approach/#respond Tue, 09 Jun 2020 01:39:40 +0000 https://www.barrierbreak.com/?p=13905 Look around. Touch things. Explore forms. Do you see or feel the bed or the chair you are sitting on, the phone or the laptop you are using, the jewellery you or your partner is wearing or the bottle kept on your desk? Have you wondered who designs these products or why they are designed… Read More »What is Inclusive Product Design- BarrierBreak Approach

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a group of people designing

Look around. Touch things. Explore forms.

Do you see or feel the bed or the chair you are sitting on, the phone or the laptop you are using, the jewellery you or your partner is wearing or the bottle kept on your desk? Have you wondered who designs these products or why they are designed the way they are?

Most of these products have been designed by a product or an industrial designer. While an engineer is responsible for designing the mechanical or the technical aspect of the product, a product designer is in charge of the usability and aesthetics on the product.

What is Product Design?

Product design is commonly defined as imagining and creating products that solve problems or address specific needs of users. A product designer using multiple user research tools identifies and records user specific problems and converts the 2D iterations into 3 dimensional objects using prototyping tools. A product designer’s main role is to create and iterate products to solve users’ problems or address specific needs in a given market. They aim is to improve the way that existing products work and look and/or produce them at a lower cost.

What makes a Product Design good?

Go back to thinking about the objects mentioned earlier. Would your product experience with the chair or the bed be the same had it been at a higher or lower level than its current level? Would the necklace be easier to wear had the clasp been different?

A product designer is able to churn out successful designs only by understanding of the end-user customer or the person for whom the product is being created. They attempt to solve real problems for real people by using both empathy and knowledge of their prospective customers’ habits, behaviours, frustrations, needs, and wants.

What is Inclusive Product Design?

Let us have a look at some of the products that we use daily to understand inclusive design. Do you think the way you use your computer or your mobile phone is the same way a person who is visually or physically impaired would use it? The way one user group uses a product differs in the way another group uses it and every design decision has the potential to include or exclude customers.

Inclusive product design emphasizes the need to widen the horizon, understand and incorporate differing perspectives of the diverse users using the product. This vast spectrum of diversity covers the user groups’ abilities, needs and aspirations.

Inclusive product design is fundamentally to provide alternatives for a person to the use the product. It aims to do so while making sure that the experience of using a product remains the same for all user groups regardless of their limitations. Inclusive design should be embedded in the design process and product.

For example. A simple addition of providing a raised line or a dot along with text on number 5 key on the number pad, makes it easy for a person with visual impairment to identify the key without affecting the overall user experience. 

Why is Inclusive Design important?

There are a large variety of user group with special needs. From people with visual impairment to hearing impairment, from elderly to people with physical and cognitive impairment. Although many a times, designers instinctively design for able-bodied users while neglecting the limitations and needs of people from the other user groups.

Failing to understand such a huge segment of population from varied age groups and experiences could cause unnecessary frustration and exclusion within the communities. This in turn could reduce commercial success because of the limited target audience and increase costs due to returns and customer support.

How do we do practice Inclusive Product Design at BarrierBreak?

We at BarrierBreak believe that inclusivity in product design is not only making something more accessible but also making it more usable. A good product designed keeping in mind all the varied user groups not only enriches the experience of the user but also, expands the market of the product.

We realise that while designs have to be inclusive, the product should not be too stigmatizing. If a product is targeted and labelled for a specific user group, it is stigmatizing for that particular user group and it might also prevent someone from outside the user circle from buying it as they might think it is only for someone with special needs.

We along with our product designer and accessibility experts, conduct user research of various products with different user groups in order to suggest design changes to make it inclusive and increase the market reach. Get in touch with our team if you would like to have a quick chat with our team to know how we can help you design an inclusive product.

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An Inclusive Design study on the “visually impaired friendly” coins launched by the Reserve Bank of India https://www.barrierbreak.com/an-inclusive-design-study-on-the-visually-impaired-friendly-coins-launched-by-the-reserve-bank-of-india/ https://www.barrierbreak.com/an-inclusive-design-study-on-the-visually-impaired-friendly-coins-launched-by-the-reserve-bank-of-india/#respond Thu, 23 Apr 2020 01:06:54 +0000 https://www.barrierbreak.com/?p=13552 Money, a very important commodity everyone needs in order to survive and to grow and, a reward every one works extremely hard for to earn. Would it still be a reward if one can’t access it easily either digitally or physically?Even though the world is shifting towards cashless transactions, dealing with tangible money is still… Read More »An Inclusive Design study on the “visually impaired friendly” coins launched by the Reserve Bank of India

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a stack of coins with Inclusive Design Study on Coins written on top

Money, a very important commodity everyone needs in order to survive and to grow and, a reward every one works extremely hard for to earn. Would it still be a reward if one can’t access it easily either digitally or physically?
Even though the world is shifting towards cashless transactions, dealing with tangible money is still a very day to day business for many of us. And for many of us dealing with something as simple as money, is unfortunately inaccessible and difficult.

India has a population of almost more than 1.3 billion people with, almost 62 million of its population being visually impaired, it is extremely important for Indians to have accessible notes and coins. The demonetization of old notes and introduction of fresh new series in 2016 has brought along its own challenges for the visually impaired users while the continuous changes in the design of coins has been tough for these users. The visually impaired group of people along with the elderly (in terms of diminishing eyesight) face a lot of difficulty in dealing with money.

But right now, let’s talk about coins.

India has seen a lot of change in its coinage since the 1900’s. With major changes in the coins’ shapes and thicknesses as times have passed, to the replacement of the low denomination notes with coins, to some denomination of coins getting discontinued; the visually impaired have had a lot of trouble identifying and differentiating the denominations of coins.

In order to ease this challenge, in 2016 a petition was filed by the National Association of the Blind (NAB) stating the need to consider including special features in order to make currency identification and differentiation, easier for its visually impaired users.

The Reserve Bank of India finally launched its new series called the ‘visually impaired friendly’ coins in 2019. These coins of the denomination of Rs. 1, Rs. 2, Rs. 5, Rs. 10 and Rs. 20 are to come into circulation in 2020.
The features of these coins include changes in weight and size of increasing order of their denomination and textured edges to some coins. A new 12-sided coin of Rs. 20 will be launched in India for the first time through this series.

We being BarrierBreak, a company supporting as well as encouraging accessibility and inclusive design, got our hands on these new Rs. 2, Rs. 5 and Rs. 10 coins and tested out their design with our accessibility testers (coins of Rs. 1 and Rs. 20 were yet to come into circulation when this user test was conducted).

A group of 10 users on the spectrum of low vision to blind were presented with these new coins and were asked to differentiate these coins in different situations. The findings and results of these activities were interesting and were documented.

The ‘Inclusive Design Approach – Visually Impaired Friendly Coins Report’ talks about the new coins, the approach we followed, the current situation of how the visually impaired users deal with coins and whether the new coins actually stand up to their name of being ‘visually impaired friendly’ coins.

We would love to hear your views on the study. This is a step to understand people’s perspectives. At BarrierBreak, we believe that it is time to include inclusive design practices in creating all solutions so that everyone can be included. Feel free to reach out to the BarrierBreak team, via email or call us to learn more Inclusive Design services.

 

 

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