Beyond accessibility basics: designing with choice

Because users should have experiences that fit their needs

I was once asked how to approach accessibility from a design perspective during the exploration/iteration phase of projects. Outside of blurting out conventional wisdom, I drew a blank. The common approach mentions color contrast ratios, tap target sizes, font sizes, etc., but most of that is hopefully covered by the design system if there’s one in place.

After a bit of reflection, I realized what I really wanted to communicate was the principle of “flexibility in use”. This principle is about creating design solutions that accommodate a wide range of individual preferences and abilities. It answers questions like: how would a blind person interact with this? Or, how would someone with limited dexterity complete this task? By considering how a solution solves problems for a variety of users, we are going a step further to ensure our designs are inclusive.

Voice search is an excellent example of this. It gives people the ability to search websites and apps using voice commands. While this feature wasn’t originally created with accessibility in mind, it was quickly adopted by a large range of users because of the choice it provides. This is especially helpful for people who have motor limitations, cognitive impairments, or those who simply find hands-free more convenient.

Another great example is video captions. Captions provide a great alternative for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, those who comprehend better through reading, or anyone who may be situationally impaired. For instance, someone could be in a library and want to watch a video, but doesn’t want to cause a stir or get evil looks from those nearby.

Not only are video captions a great example of flexibility in use, but they also align seamlessly with the perceivable accessibility principle. This principle states that information and UI components must be presented to people in ways they can best perceive it. For instance, if a person can't hear content, they should be able to read it, and vice versa.

Ultimately, it’s about creating solutions that offer people choice. By considering flexibility in use while exploring design solutions, we can create inclusive designs that cater to a wide range of preferences and abilities. So, to the person who asked me how to approach accessibility from a design perspective during the exploration/iteration phase of projects, know that this is the information I wish I’d shared.