Summary
You may be familiar with desktop screen readers like JAWS, and desktop voice control like Dragon Naturally speaking. You might know about WCAG, and popular automated testing tools for your websites. But what about mobile apps? How do accessibility techniques apply on the touch screen? As the entire world moves mobile first, your accessibility strategy needs to adapt. In this talk, we’ll introduce you to some of the changes that managing mobile-first accessibility correctly requires. We’ll cover some of the most popular assistive technologies on mobile, give you tips for automated and manual testing of your mobile apps, warn you of some of the pitfalls to watch for, and help you bring your mobile accessibility strategy to the next level.
Key Insights
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54% of users use mobile first, making it critical to prioritize mobile accessibility.
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Mobile platforms have more mature built-in assistive technology than desktops, reducing reliance on costly third-party tools.
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Mobile’s smaller screens encourage simpler, less cluttered, and more cognitively accessible interfaces.
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Mobile devices’ sensors (GPS, accelerometer) provide unique accessibility benefits not available on desktop.
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People with disabilities may skip owning desktops altogether, relying solely on mobile devices.
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Mobile accessibility tooling is more standardized since platforms control OS, APIs, assistive tech, and browsers.
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Developers benefit from free built-in mobile accessibility testing tools that update automatically with the OS.
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Mobile allows easier and more detailed data collection for researchers with better insights into assistive tech usage.
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Cognitive accessibility can be improved through mobile OS features like Apple’s Focus mode and guided access.
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Starting with mobile accessibility creates reusable processes and cultural changes that translate effectively to desktop.
Notable Quotes
"If you are not thinking about accessibility from a mobile first perspective, you are locking out some of the most important and valuable users of your products."
"Mobile can actually be easier for developers, researchers, and users because of the maturity and consistency of the built-in accessibility features."
"On mobile, you know if you're on iOS 15, you have the latest version of VoiceOver because it updates with the operating system."
"People with disabilities just like anyone will choose the right tool for the job, often mobile first, except for heavy text input where desktop wins."
"Mobile phones can be moved, angled, held close or far away to accommodate vision or environmental needs, unlike stationary desktops."
"On desktop you have to worry about multiple screen readers, browsers, and versions, but on mobile the platform standardizes these."
"The confidence mobile users have knowing updates come from the app store or settings is a huge win, especially for older or less tech-savvy users."
"Two factor authentication should be customizable with options like SMS, QR codes, and email to accommodate different needs."
"For cognitive disabilities, features like Focus mode that limit notifications are a significant accessibility win."
"Having an assistant during presentations can reduce overwhelm and let you focus 100% on telling your story, especially if you have cognitive challenges."
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