Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Accessibility for No-Vision Users at Work (self.Blind)
submitted by greatjobguise
I'm not blind, and I work in UI Design.
I'm currently working on a project for my job, and we're trying to make it accessible to no-vision users. I was wondering if I could pick this subreddit's brain about using technology and apps in your daily lives.
How does using technology help or hurt?
What are you biggest complaints about accessibility in tech?
How could I be a better user tester when we start testing no-vision participants? For instance, what is okay to ask and what is not?
What do you think could be better about certain apps/technology?
I'm posting this from my personal reddit account, my job has no idea I'm doing it. It's just been on my mind a lot lately and as a UI designer by trade, I want to be better educated in accessibility. User Interface & User experience is my lifeblood, and I want to make sure no users are being left out.
Give me your feedback r/blind!
I'm currently working on a project for my job, and we're trying to make it accessible to no-vision users. I was wondering if I could pick this subreddit's brain about using technology and apps in your daily lives.
How does using technology help or hurt?
What are you biggest complaints about accessibility in tech?
How could I be a better user tester when we start testing no-vision participants? For instance, what is okay to ask and what is not?
What do you think could be better about certain apps/technology?
I'm posting this from my personal reddit account, my job has no idea I'm doing it. It's just been on my mind a lot lately and as a UI designer by trade, I want to be better educated in accessibility. User Interface & User experience is my lifeblood, and I want to make sure no users are being left out.
Give me your feedback r/blind!
CloudyBeep 4 points 3y ago
The first place to go to find guidelines for accessibility are the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Have you looked at these? These will provide specific and measurable strategies you can use to make your website accessible. Try to conform to the guidelines to Level AA.
greatjobguise [OP] 2 points 3y ago
Yes. I've done a lot of research and specialize in website accessibility. However, we're currently working on a kiosk - and while I was on the team and worked hard to ensure the hardware itself had accessibility ergonomics and match with the standards from the guidelines, what I really need now is personal no-vision user experiences with technology. I'll use this to make a thing called a "User Persona" to better understand what a no-vision user would go through day to day, and make sure that our UI is helping, easy, and provides independence.
DoctorDubz 2 points 3y ago
Not sure exactly what you mean by a kiosk, but if it’s something like a touch screen at a MetroCard vending machine or LinkNYC, one of the hardest partS for me is knowing there exists an accessibility mode and how to activate it. Even after figuring that out (with help from a sighted person), if it’s running Android underneath, it probably isn’t very usable. The simpler UI the better in terms of accessibility design, especially at a kiosk that will be a new or rare experience for the blind user. (Most of) the cabs in NYC have a great super simple accessibility mode if you know how to initiate it. The visual appearance of the UI is actually completely different in that mode.
P.S. I know the world doesn’t revolve around NYC but I am just one person with one set of experiences. :-)
Generally speaking, I would find it really useful if when the user first interacts with the kiosk (e.g. touches the screen or even just walks up to it), there is an audible announcement about how to switch to accessibility mode. Also, keep in mind that the vast majority of blind people don’t know Braille due to the ubiquity of smartphones... at least according to my O&M instructors.
P.S. I know the world doesn’t revolve around NYC but I am just one person with one set of experiences. :-)
Generally speaking, I would find it really useful if when the user first interacts with the kiosk (e.g. touches the screen or even just walks up to it), there is an audible announcement about how to switch to accessibility mode. Also, keep in mind that the vast majority of blind people don’t know Braille due to the ubiquity of smartphones... at least according to my O&M instructors.
greatjobguise [OP] 2 points 3y ago
Never thought to look at a NYC cab for accessibility and I had no idea that a vast majority of blind people don't use braille. Everything you said is fantastic feedback thank you!
CloudyBeep 1 points 3y ago
You're doing the right thing. I was just checking you knew about WCAG.
greatjobguise [OP] 2 points 3y ago
Good Ol' WCAG I love saying that acronym in real life cause there's always like one person who gets it and is relieved that they're random niche knowledge is paying off.
CloudyBeep 2 points 3y ago
Do you say each letter or are you one of those cool people who pronounce it like "wuh-kag"?
hopesthoughts 1 points 3y ago
I'm willing to test anything via the internet. My complaints are weirdly specific. As in, it would just come off as me ranting. For instance, the RSS reader I use doesn't meet my design criteria. It's usable, it just doesn't meet my criteria for what a web-based RSS reader should be designed like.
Oh, and Verizon should probably fix their online bill pay system. I haven't been able to use it for the past 2-3 months now, after using it successfully for like 7 years before that. Whatever, I'll just set my bank's bill pay system up to be able to pay them.
Oh, and Verizon should probably fix their online bill pay system. I haven't been able to use it for the past 2-3 months now, after using it successfully for like 7 years before that. Whatever, I'll just set my bank's bill pay system up to be able to pay them.
twinklery 1 points 3y ago
I am no blind not work as a social worker with blind and vision impaired people in a long term care setting. One of my clients can’t access her email because the navigation tools intended for her use don’t translate deeply enough into the email program (a third party site purchased for accreditation for the school that seems to have wrap around service for sighted users). My client can “see” that she has an email, but cannot navigate into the content itself and thus can’t read it.
This issue pervades many of the schools sites. So when testing, make sure you can navigate everywhere! No table or headings make things difficult!
This issue pervades many of the schools sites. So when testing, make sure you can navigate everywhere! No table or headings make things difficult!
greatjobguise [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Interesting, thank you!
SpikeTheCookie 1 points 3y ago
Great questions! A lot of technology does have accessibility issues, for example, anything with touchpads/digital display or drag and drop.
Here's an example: $1
Here's an example: $1
greatjobguise [OP] 2 points 3y ago
This is a great resource thank you!
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