Today, we're exploring how to design mobile apps that are accessible to everyone from the beginning, with special focus on how accessibility supports food security for disabled community members. By the end of this lesson, you'll understand:
Get ready to design apps that truly serve everyone!
Definition: Accessibility-first design means considering the needs of disabled users from the very beginning of the design process, recognizing that accessible design creates better experiences for everyone.
Disabled people face disproportionate food insecurity due to:
const FoodAccessBarriers = {
economic: {
lowerIncomes: 'Higher poverty rates among disabled people',
additionalCosts: 'Medical expenses reduce food budget',
employmentDiscrimination: 'Lower employment rates and wages',
benefitRestrictions: 'Food stamp restrictions and bureaucracy'
},
physical: {
transportation: 'Difficulty getting to grocery stores',
mobilityBarriers: 'Inaccessible food retail locations',
preparationChallenges: 'Difficulty with food prep and cooking',
energyLimitations: 'Chronic illness affecting daily energy'
},
social: {
socialIsolation: 'Fewer connections to food sharing networks',
stigma: 'Discrimination in food assistance programs',
caregiverStrain: 'Family caregivers stretched thin',
institutionalBarriers: 'Complex systems difficult to navigate'
}
};
The "curb cut effect" shows how accessibility features help everyone:
const CurbCutExamples = {
// Originally designed for wheelchair users, now helps everyone
ramps: ['wheelchair users', 'parents with strollers', 'delivery workers', 'travelers with luggage'],
// Text alternatives for screen readers also help
altText: ['blind users', 'people with slow internet', 'users in loud environments'],
// Voice interfaces for motor impairments also serve
voiceControl: ['users with limited mobility', 'drivers', 'multitaskers', 'users with dirty hands'],
// Large touch targets for dexterity challenges help
bigButtons: ['users with tremors', 'older adults', 'users wearing gloves', 'anyone using phones one-handed']
};
Ensure all users can perceive the information being presented:
const PerceivableDesign = {
visual: {
colorContrast: {
minimum: '4.5:1 ratio for normal text',
enhanced: '7:1 ratio for better readability',
testing: 'Test with color blindness simulators'
},
textAlternatives: {
images: 'Descriptive alt text for all images',
icons: 'Text labels or ARIA labels for icons',
graphs: 'Data tables or detailed descriptions for charts'
},
adaptablePresentation: {
zoomable: 'Text can be enlarged to 200% without horizontal scrolling',
responsive: 'Content reflows at different screen sizes',
orientationSupport: 'Works in both portrait and landscape'
}
},
audio: {
captions: 'All video content has accurate captions',
transcripts: 'Audio content has text transcripts',
visualIndicators: 'Important audio cues also shown visually'
}
};
Ensure all users can operate the interface:
const OperableDesign = {
keyboardAccessible: {
tabOrder: 'Logical tab order through interactive elements',
focusVisible: 'Clear visual focus indicators',
noKeyboardTraps: 'Users can tab away from all elements',
shortcuts: 'Keyboard shortcuts for common actions'
},
timing: {
noTimeouts: 'No automatic timeouts or user can extend time',
pauseControl: 'Users can pause, stop, or hide moving content',
interruptions: 'Users can control or disable interruptions'
},
seizuresafe: {
flashingContent: 'No content flashes more than 3 times per second',
animationControl: 'Users can disable animations and transitions'
},
navigation: {
skipLinks: 'Skip to main content links',
clearHeadings: 'Hierarchical heading structure',
landmarks: 'ARIA landmarks for screen readers',
breadcrumbs: 'Clear navigation paths'
}
};
Make content and functionality understandable:
const UnderstandableDesign = {
readability: {
plainLanguage: 'Use simple, clear language',
shortSentences: 'Break up long, complex sentences',
commonWords: 'Use familiar vocabulary',
definitions: 'Define technical terms when needed'
},
predictability: {
consistentNavigation: 'Same navigation patterns throughout app',
consistentLabeling: 'Same labels for same functions',
contextChanges: 'Warn users before context changes',
feedback: 'Clear feedback for user actions'
},
inputAssistance: {
errorPrevention: 'Prevent errors when possible',
errorIdentification: 'Clearly identify and describe errors',
suggestions: 'Provide suggestions for fixing errors',
confirmation: 'Confirm or allow undo for important actions'
}
};
Ensure content can be interpreted by assistive technologies:
const RobustDesign = {
semanticHTML: {
properElements: 'Use correct HTML elements for their purpose',
landmarks: 'main, nav, aside, header, footer elements',
headings: 'Proper heading hierarchy (h1, h2, h3)',
lists: 'Use ul, ol, dl for lists of items'
},
ariaLabels: {
labelledby: 'Associate form controls with labels',
describedby: 'Provide additional descriptions when needed',
expanded: 'Indicate state of collapsible content',
live: 'Announce dynamic content changes'
},
compatibility: {
standardsCompliance: 'Follow web standards and best practices',
assistiveTech: 'Test with actual screen readers and other tools',
futureProof: 'Code that will work with future assistive technologies'
}
};
const AccessibleNavigation = {
// For users with visual impairments
voiceDirections: {
turnByTurn: 'Audio directions to food locations',
landmarks: 'Use recognizable landmarks in directions',
hazards: 'Warn about construction, stairs, busy intersections'
},
// For users with cognitive disabilities
simplifiedRoutes: {
stepByStep: 'Break routes into simple steps',
visualCues: 'Use pictures and icons alongside text',
repetition: 'Allow users to repeat directions'
},
// For users with mobility challenges
accessibilityInfo: {
entrances: 'Location of accessible entrances',
parking: 'Accessible parking availability',
restrooms: 'Accessible restroom locations',
seating: 'Available seating or rest areas'
}
};
const AccessibleFoodInfo = {
// Multiple ways to present same information
multiFormat: {
text: 'Written descriptions of food items',
audio: 'Audio descriptions and pronunciations',
visual: 'High-contrast photos with good lighting',
tactile: 'Integration with haptic feedback where possible'
},
// Dietary and health information
clearLabeling: {
allergies: 'Clear, prominent allergy information',
nutrition: 'Simple, understandable nutrition facts',
preparation: 'Step-by-step cooking instructions',
storage: 'Simple food storage guidelines'
},
// Cultural and language accessibility
multilingual: {
primaryLanguages: 'Support for community languages',
visualSupport: 'Pictures to support text',
culturalContext: 'Respect cultural food practices and terminology'
}
};
const AccessibleCommunication = {
// Multiple communication modalities
flexibleCommunication: {
text: 'Written messages and chat',
voice: 'Voice messages and calls',
video: 'Video calls with captions',
symbols: 'Icon-based communication options'
},
// Support for communication disabilities
communicationSupport: {
predictiveText: 'Smart text completion',
templates: 'Pre-written message templates',
slowTyping: 'Extra time for typing responses',
voiceToText: 'Speech-to-text input support'
},
// Accessible group coordination
groupFeatures: {
clearRoles: 'Simple role definitions in groups',
flexibleParticipation: 'Multiple ways to participate',
asynchronousOptions: 'Not everything requires real-time participation',
summaries: 'Clear summaries of group decisions and plans'
}
};
Many people experience cognitive challenges that affect how they use technology:
const CognitiveAccessibility = {
// Reduce cognitive load
simplicityFirst: {
oneTaskPerScreen: 'Focus on single task at a time',
clearPaths: 'Obvious next steps',
minimalChoices: 'Limit options to prevent overwhelm',
progressIndicators: 'Show where users are in multi-step processes'
},
// Support memory challenges
memorySupport: {
autoSave: 'Automatically save progress',
reminders: 'Helpful reminders for important tasks',
recentItems: 'Easy access to recently used features',
favorites: 'Save frequently used locations and items'
},
// Support executive function challenges
executiveSupport: {
planning: 'Help users plan food shopping and preparation',
organization: 'Organize information in logical, consistent ways',
prioritization: 'Help users identify most important tasks',
timeManagement: 'Realistic time estimates for tasks'
}
};
const InclusiveTestingProcess = {
recruitment: {
disabilityOrganizations: 'Partner with disability rights organizations',
paidParticipation: 'Compensate participants fairly for expertise',
accessibleVenues: 'Choose accessible testing locations',
accommodationSupport: 'Provide needed accommodations'
},
testingAdaptations: {
flexibleTiming: 'Allow extra time for testing sessions',
breaks: 'Include breaks in longer sessions',
assistiveTech: 'Test with users\' own assistive technologies',
supportPeople: 'Welcome caregivers or interpreters'
},
feedbackCollection: {
multipleFormats: 'Written, verbal, and demonstration feedback',
followUp: 'Allow time for additional thoughts after testing',
collaboration: 'Involve participants in solution brainstorming',
priorities: 'Ask participants what matters most to them'
}
};
const FoodAccessTesting = {
scenarios: [
'Finding food while navigating with a white cane',
'Using app while managing chronic pain and brain fog',
'Coordinating food pickup with limited working memory',
'Using voice control while cooking with limited hand mobility',
'Understanding food information with intellectual disability',
'Managing food budget with dyscalculia (math learning difference)'
],
environments: {
noisy: 'Test in environments with background noise',
lowLight: 'Test in various lighting conditions',
movement: 'Test while walking or in vehicles',
multitasking: 'Test while managing other responsibilities'
}
};
Visual Accessibility:
Motor Accessibility:
Hearing Accessibility:
Cognitive Accessibility:
Remember: Design WITH, Not FOR
The best way to create accessible apps is to involve disabled community members throughout the design and development process, not just at the end for testing.
Congratulations! You now understand how to design apps that are accessible to everyone from the start, creating better experiences for all users while specifically supporting disabled community members' food security.
Your accessibility-first design toolkit:
You're ready to design apps that truly serve everyone in the community!