How can you ensure your text is accessible to all users?

Ensuring text accessibility involves conducting user testing with diverse participants. Analyse how well users comprehend and interact with text. Pay attention to readability, clarity, and adjust content based on user feedback to enhance overall accessibility. Like use clear and straightforward language. Avoid jargon and complex sentences. For instance, instead of saying "utilise," you can simply say "use." This helps people with varying levels of literacy or language proficiency to easily understand the information presented.

People often confuse easy language and simple/plain language. Plain language is a writing style that aims to match the reading level of a 12 to 14-year-old. Simple language follows stricter guidelines: No more than 15 words per sentence, font size of 14pt, all acronyms must be explained if they cannot be avoided, and images and icons cannot be too abstract. The Centre for Inclusive Design has a guide on this, which you can quickly locate by googling "What is easy and plain language?"

As per my experience, I make sure my words are easy to understand, avoiding complicated language (Jargon). I use clear headings and lists to make reading easier. Testing with different people helps catch any problems, especially for those with different needs. I stay updated on guidelines, like WCAG, to ensure everyone can enjoy a friendly and inclusive experience.

One of the very first rule of UX says that “Users comes first” means whatever you are designing , you are making it for your user’s comfort. Your users comes from different backgrounds & diverse groups. So,Try to make your designs equitable & usable for everyone. Avoid using heavy languages, jargons as well as technical terms in your UX as it might exclude many of your users. For example,if you want to use ‘Ambiguous’ then it might be possible that some of your user group are not familiar with this word so , rather using it use simpler word like ‘unclear’.

Es Espa?a, se acaba de reformar la Ley General de Discapacidad para garantizar la accesibilidad cognitiva a través de la incorporación de pictogramas, lectura fácil, sistemas alternativos y aumentativos de la comunicación, así como la presencia de otros medios humanos y tecnológicos

Very few fonts are accessible, namely Arial, Verdana, Roboto, and Trebuchet MS. If you are designing a custom font for brand identity, keep in mind to distinguish similar letters such 0 and O, but also pairs like c and o. Serifs should generally be avoided but can help with distinguishing certain letter pairs, for example by adding a serif at the base of a lowercase l to differentiate it from an uppercase I.

Empower users by offering customization options for text display. Some users may benefit from adjusting font sizes, line spacing, or even choosing alternative color schemes.

In UX, text accessibility extends to font and color choices. Opt for clear, simple fonts in sizes suitable for various screens. Avoid overly thin or ornate fonts and ensure contrast with the background for readability. Steer clear of using color alone for conveying meaning. Tools like WebAIM's Color Contrast Checker help uphold accessibility standards, ensuring a universally inclusive design.

Select fonts that are clear and easy to read, especially in different sizes. Avoid overly fancy or intricate fonts that can be challenging for some readers. When it comes to colors, ensure there is enough contrast between the text and the background. High contrast is particularly important for individuals with visual impairments. Opt for dark text on a light background or vice versa to enhance legibility. Consider the potential impact on color-blind users and avoid relying solely on color to convey information. By making thoughtful choices in fonts and colors, you enhance the overall readability of your text and create a more inclusive experience for all users.

This also refers to design’s visibility! For example, if your device is desktop the smallest should be specified and test with real users whether they can read. Color should be regarded with AAA standard. Font should also be tested in different layout with users if they can perform the reading clearly easily fast regarding with real context

One of the most important consideration is to enable accessbile design for websites or mobile apps for the users . this can be ranged from providing text for non textuel content(images and videos), if you are working with videos you need to keep in mind to provide captions , sign interpreter , sound and of course full controls of the videos(pause ,play , fast , slow ...) . also if you are improving your websites for the impaired , it might be good to optimize it also for elderly , ensuring increased font size , high contrast and easy to locate help section is crucial . and if for exemple you are designing for users that might have epilepsy , it might be good to minimize or completely remove flashing effects and animations .

I make sure that my website is accessible to everyone, even those who might have trouble reading because of vision or hearing issues, or who have slow internet connections. To do this, I use pictures or videos to help explain things. But, I always add descriptions or subtitles to these, so people who use screen readers or have hearing difficulties can still understand what's being shown. I also organize my website carefully and use special coding techniques. This helps tools like screen readers describe the content accurately for those who rely on them. My goal is to make sure that everyone can access and understand everything on my site.

Inclusive text design goes beyond words. For users with varying abilities, offer alternatives such as image descriptions, alt text, or captions for visual content. Utilize audio or video, ensuring transcripts or subtitles are available for comprehension. Employ semantic markup and aria attributes for code-based accessibility, accommodating assistive technologies like screen readers or braille displays. This multifaceted approach guarantees an inclusive user experience for everyone.

Add alt text to images that describe their content. Use captions for videos and audio transcripts for podcasts. Offer downloadable PDFs for text-heavy content

Providing alternatives for text is about ensuring that your content is accessible to everyone, including those with visual or auditory impairments. When using images, include descriptive alternative text that conveys the essential information or context of the image. This allows screen readers to read the description aloud to users who can't see the image. For multimedia content like videos or audio, offer transcripts or captions. Transcripts allow users with hearing impairments to read the spoken content, while captions provide a visual representation of spoken words. These alternatives ensure that users relying on assistive technologies can access and understand the content, fostering a more inclusive experience for a diverse audience.

The most important thing I do to make sure my text is easy for everyone to read is to test it with different people. I use a few ways to do this, like checking if people can use it easily, making sure it meets accessibility standards, seeing how easy it is to read, or asking for feedback. I also use online tools like Hemingway App or Readable. These help me see how readable my text is and find any problems. By testing with users, I can make sure my assumptions are right, spot any issues, and make my text better for everyone.

The ultimate step in text accessibility is testing with users of diverse abilities and preferences. Employ methods like usability, accessibility, and readability testing, along with feedback surveys. Online tools like Hemingway App or Readable can assist in assessing readability levels. Testing ensures assumptions are validated, problems are identified, and solutions are enhanced, ensuring your text is truly inclusive and effective for all users.

While conducting usability tests, one thing to note is how the users feel when looking at those fonts. Is it clear to them? can they read it? do they want it bigger? thicker, thinner, etc. should be taken into notice while conducting the test.

It's very important part: -- try to ask your mom or grand-mom what they understood, you can be surprised! -- simple hallway test (ask your colleague), you can be surprised already on this stage -- try A/B test if possible; it's the most reliable option

Keep your content up to date and review it regularly to ensure ongoing accessibility. Updates to the website or content may introduce new accessibility challenges.

Flexibility Across Devices: Ensure that text remains readable on various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and desktops. Scalable Text: Text should scale properly without losing clarity when zoomed in or viewed on different screen sizes. Whitespace: Use adequate whitespace to reduce visual clutter and enhance readability. Avoid Text in Images: Text within images can be inaccessible to screen readers unless properly labeled with alt text. These are the things could be considered

If you are creating a web application that doesn't use simple language or very high contrast with readable/large fonts from the start, add these options for users to set up the page as they need it when visiting your website to ensure a good user experience.

One key consideration is the proper implementation of heading structures to organize your content logically. This helps users navigate through the text easily, especially those using screen readers. Pay attention to the reading order, ensuring that the flow of information makes sense when read aloud. Additionally, offer options for users to customize text size and spacing, accommodating those with visual challenges who may need adjustments for better readability. Thinking about these details ensures a more comprehensive approach to text accessibility, addressing not only the content itself but also the structure and customizable features that cater to a diverse audience.

I find important to consider being mindful of cultural differences and nuances in language that might affect understanding. Use examples and references that are universally relatable or explain specific cultural references to avoid alienation.

Few more pointers: - contrast from the background is of prime importance. The same content could be seen in a different manner indoors or out in the sun. - consider looking at all the fonts in the typeface, especially for cases when some alphabet combinations might be merging with each other and may lead to an lack of comprehension or readability. - experiment with kerning and paragraph spacing, test it before arriving at a final draft.