Creating inclusive and accessible user experiences and user interfaces unfortunately remains an afterthought for many during the design and development process, leaving 1.3 billion individuals with disabilities behind. Only 3% of websites achieve full accessibility, with a mere 2.2% complying with WCAG 2.1. The global market for people with disabilities exceeds £15 trillion. Yellow Panther advocates for a proactive approach, integrating the following tools and strategies to ensure equal opportunities for all users.

Strategies for Enhancing Accessibility:

• Contrast and Colour Choices:

• Use sufficient colour contrast to make text and interactive elements distinguishable.

• Avoid relying solely on colour to convey information; use additional cues such as text labels or icons.

• Colour Contrast Checkers:

• Tools like Contrast Checker and Stark help designers assess and adjust colour contrast for improved readability.

• Readable Typography:

• Choose readable fonts with clear spacing between characters.

• Allow users to adjust font size without breaking the layout.

• WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool):

• A browser extension that identifies accessibility issues in web content and provides suggestions for improvement.

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• Keyboard Accessibility:

• Design interfaces that can be navigated using a keyboard alone.

• Ensure that interactive elements are focusable and operable with the keyboard.

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• Alternative Text for Images:

• Provide descriptive alt text for images to convey their content to users who rely on screen readers.

• Avoid using images of text; use actual text whenever possible.

• Screen Readers:

• Use screen readers such as VoiceOver (iOS/Mac), TalkBack (Android), and NVDA (Windows) to experience designs from the perspective of users with visual impairments.

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Another powerful tool that we recommend to all of our clients is accessiBe, which has a range of features that, when plugged in to a website, can adapt it depending on a users needs.

Prioritising accessibility in UX/UI design not only aligns with ethical design principles but also enhances the overall user experience for a diverse audience.