Designing for Global Accessibility, Part I

In our three-part series, Google’s User Experience researchers Nithya Sambasivan and Astrid Weber discuss the principles behind building globally accessible products, and offer practical resources for the design and development community. Here in part one, we’ll outline how designers and developers can increase their own awareness around accessibility issues by checking assumptions around users, use cases, and use contexts. By setting out to gain a more nuanced understanding of users’ needs, we can move towards technologies that serve the largest, most diverse audience. 

What exactly is global accessibility? And what does it have to do with design?

No two users are exactly alike. Physical and cognitive disabilities, as well as environmental factors, can inhibit people from fully engaging with technology: hardware, software, and beyond.

As UX researchers, we often find similar—sometimes even identical—issues that impact users’ ability to interact with their tech; and while the restrictions across users and use cases vary, the design implications are similar. For example, bright sunshine, low vision, or a cracked phone screen can all be factors that motivate the need for better contrast ratios.

Living in an increasingly globalized world means that there's an opportunity to proactively build ethical and meaningful products that are inclusive of societies and cultures worldwide. Let’s start that journey by learning more about designing for global accessibility.

Learn about global user communities and how they use technology  

Use cases for your application might surprise you. Sarita, from Bangalore, India, fell from her roof a couple of years ago, and was left paralyzed in her early 40s. Unable to leave the house for work, she turned to the Internet to create an income for herself. These days she ships the traditional garments from her home town all across the country, and lives financially independent from her family. She also operates her laptop with one hand. Make an effort to understand how people with a variety of needs will make use of your technology.

It’s also important to understand that accessibility is almost always intersectional; norms of gender, religion, or class may further include or exclude people from technology.

Be mindful about representing users inclusively

Designers and developers of apps often imagine a “target” user, who is represented in design choices, onboarding, and marketing--somebody from the majority population due to familiar assumptions. Don’t exclude people with disabilities from advancing and meaningfully making use of your app; expand your idea of the “average” in representation choices. Remember that representation does not mean adding a token solo shot of a technology user with disability, but truly aiming for broader inclusion in society.

Accommodate different levels of literacy and many different languages

English is the most dominant language on the web, but on a global level, it’s not that widely spoken or understood. India has 22 official languages with over a million speakers each, and one quarter of the Indian population is non-literate. For people with disabilities, the literacy rate is even lower. When these users open your app, they may rely on symbols and pictures, potentially with accessibility aids, to perform tasks.

Empower your users when it comes to privacy, safety, and security

People who are illiterate or visually impaired often depend on others for daily activities. They may rely on family, friends, or caretakers to help them get places or perform private tasks, such as paying bills and creating accounts. Users who listen to content via screen readers or who hear audio-visual cues may face privacy issues because people around them may hear their personal content. Online harassment based on disability, along with gender, religion or class is another common pain point. As a result, people with disabilities are especially hesitant to share personal information like phone numbers or pictures, which can make online participation even harder.

In Part II of the series, learn about the impact of infrastructure, economics, and device specifications on a globally diverse audience.