In order for your web or mobile app to be accessible, the audience needs to be factored into the design and development.

• people with sight loss, low vision or who use a screen reader
• those with colour deficiencies or colour blindness people with hearing loss or who are deaf
• those with limited dexterity
• those with learning difficulties, like dyslexia, those who are autistic or have ADHD

What are the four principles of content accessibility (POUR)?

• Perceivable
• Operable
• Understandable
• Robust

Perceivable

Relevant senses

• sight
• hearing
• touch The content on your website needs to be perceivable to at least one of the senses.

Operable

There are many different ways that people might interact with your website.

• keyboard navigation
• screen reader
• speech recognition software.

Understandable

People with dyslexia can struggle with reading and lots of text. Others on the autism spectrum, can struggle with metaphorical and figurative language.

A general guide

• shorter sentences, Hemingway App can help
• remove jargon or complex language
• break up long paragraphs
• headings to break up long pages
• short bullet points

Robust

Is your website built in a way that is compatible with the technology of your audience? Can visually impaired people use a screen reader to access the content on your website?