In a world where inclusivity is more than just a buzzword, app accessibility is not just a technical requirement – it’s a statement about your values as a business. Ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, can access and enjoy your app is both a smart business move and a reflection of social responsibility.

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There are only good reasons to focus on app accessibility:

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• It’s the right thing to do.
• It increases your app’s user base.
• It often makes the app easier for all users.
• It’s required for public apps.
• It’s a smart investment – especially cost-effective when built into the design from the start.

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In today’s digital world, where smartphones are an integral part of everyday life, ensuring that your app is accessible to all users isn’t just good practice – it’s necessary. App accessibility means ensuring that people with visual, auditory, cognitive, or motor impairments can fully interact with your app. By doing so, you not only expand your user base but also demonstrate social responsibility. At the same time, investing in accessibility benefits both your users and your business.

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Globally, 1.3 billion people live with some form of disability, representing a vast, often untapped market. By prioritizing accessibility, you’re not just being inclusive – you’re opening the door to millions of potential new users.

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Another key reason to invest in accessibility is that it leads to better user experiences for everyone. Accessibility features like larger text sizes, voice commands, decent color contrast, or simplified interfaces often make an app more user-friendly – even for people without disabilities. These features can improve usability in challenging environments, like when someone is in a hurry, outdoors in bright light, in the evening, or in noisy surroundings. By designing with accessibility in mind, you ultimately create a more thoughtful and functional product.

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There are also significant legal benefits to making your app accessible. Many countries, including the EU and the U.S., have strict regulations that require apps and digital services to be accessible. Ensuring that your app complies with these regulations helps you avoid potential lawsuits and fines. Beyond legal compliance, adopting accessibility standards early positions your company as a forward-thinking leader, building trust with users and partners alike.

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For example, since 2021, all public apps in Denmark  must meet a certain level of accessibility, as measured by the WCAG standard.

Finally, investing in app accessibility is simply the right thing to do. Technology has the power to empower and include everyone, and by making your app accessible, you’re contributing to a more equitable world. People with disabilities shouldn’t have to struggle for access to the same services that others use effortlessly. By considering their needs, you create a better and more inclusive experience – a value that resonates with today’s socially conscious consumers.

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In short, accessibility is not just an add-on; it’s a foundational element of good business. By embracing app accessibility, you widen your potential market, boost your app’s overall quality, ensure compliance with regulations, and showcase your commitment to inclusivity. This isn’t just smart business – it’s a commitment to making the digital world available for everyone.

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Here are some areas or themes to consider for your accessibility checklist:

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• Alt Texts: All buttons and images in apps should have alt-texts that can be read aloud or displayed. It’s crucial to leave these “trails” in the app for accessibility tools to follow. For a visually impaired person, there’s a huge difference between an app that says “button-click-unpressed-ok” and one that says “Approve transaction.”

• Contrast: Text should be easy to read, with clear contrast between text and background. This is especially important for users with visual impairments. Don’t choose a design created by a 29-year-old designer with perfect vision.

• Colors: Some color combinations are no-go for colorblind users – test your design using web tools and avoid the worst mistakes. This is a craft, as it’s not obvious to non-colorblind people which combinations are problematic.

• ‍Feedback: Use multiple forms of feedback for key interactions. For example, use haptic feedback or sounds to indicate whether an action was successful or not.‍

• Text Sizes: Avoid very small fonts that only teenagers can read.

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In the development process, accessibility should be integrated into several stages:

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• UX and Design: Color choices, interface layouts, and text sizes affect an app’s accessibility. The challenge in the design phase is that there may be trade-offs between good UX, aesthetic preferences, and accessibility. The most important thing is to bring accessibility into focus. Designers should balance accessibility with aesthetics, usability, and business goals. UX designers and developers need to build an understanding of accessibility.‍

• Development: For developers, accessibility is about mastering the craft. The right tags need to be used, text applied correctly, etc. The challenge here is focus and time. It’s crucial to include accessibility features in version 1 of the app.

• QA: During QA, accessibility should be part of the agenda. QA testers need tools to ensure accessibility. It’s vital that testers understand what types of solutions work for different disabilities.

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There aren’t as many app accessibility tools as there are web tools. However, we still find these online resources very valuable:

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• W3C’s WCAG Guidelines: The gold standard for web and app accessibility, offering comprehensive guidance on creating accessible digital products.
• Accessibility Scanner: A handy tool from Google that helps identify potential accessibility issues in Android apps.
• Colorblindor: Simulate different types of color blindness to ensure your app is usable by colorblind users.
• TPG’s Mobile QA Test Guide: A thorough guide to testing mobile apps for accessibility, helping developers ensure high accessibility standards.
• Color Oracle: A color blindness simulator that helps designers create accessible designs by visualizing how color-impaired users would experience them. Supports various types of color blindness.
• The Danish Agency for Digital Government’s Guide: Provides an official overview of how to ensure compliance with accessibility regulations for web and app design.