Apr 10 - Lecture Notes: Designing for autistic people by Irina Rusakova
Some stats:
There are over 30 different types of diversity.
Neurodiversity is often invisible and overlooked in the tech development process.
1 in 7 people are neurodivergent, 17% in the UK.
Generally neurodivergent people like to do most of their activities online, so over represent in online users.
There are over 700k autistic people in the UK.
Challenges highlighted from an interview with Victoria who is autistic:
Bright colours
Multiple columns
Unclear sections to find information
Sudden animations/interactions
Autistic Super Powers
Exceptional cognitive talents
Ability to concentrate well on one subject for a long period of time
High complex information processing
Honesty
Creativity
Being organised
Autistic Challenges
Low tolerance to chaos
Challenges with communication
Low tolerance to change
Anxiety
Sensory sensitivity
Seeing details before the big picture
Cognitive Overload when
Multitasking
Under pressure
Unwell, but have to complete a complex task
Presented with too much information calling for attention
In a hectic environment
Some tips for designing for neurodiversity:
1.Design for clarity, consistency and simplicity
Group the content
Simplify text fields
Left align the column
Use clear fonts and margins
Avoid using images as background
Use clear CTAs e.g. “attach file” instead of “click here”
Try to have one primary CTA in view
Use a clear hierarchy
Show progress bars
2. Avoid ambiguity
Adopt a literal approach to language
Use plain English
Supply all emojis/icons with text
Ask yourself - could this be misunderstood or misinterpreted?
3. Mind the colour
Avoid bright colours
Reduce luminosity
Use more natural/earthy colours
Avoid extreme contrast e.g. black/white (also beneficial for people with photosensitivity)
4. Avoid unexpected interactions
Avoid unexpected popups
Avoid sound on unexpected popups
Avoid sound for autoplay
5. Support control
Avoid time pressure
Allow saving and returning to actions
Avoid animations that can’t be controlled
Ensure interactions are consistent for aviations
Allow personalisation for interacting with content
Add ability to adjust font size
6. Design pages in the context of flows
Review page layout in context of user flows
Make digital journeys as simple as possible e.g. checkout and login
Review the way your system handles passwords, captures, 404 errors etc.
Use clear progress bars and reassurances to make the flow easier to complete
7. Incorporate broader accessibility guidelines
Add option to turn off sound, use tabs to navigate etc.
Product design principles for autistic people will improve usability for everyone.
Many commonly used inventions have been designed for specific diverse groups and are now used by all.
Reference:
The Microsoft Inclusive Design Toolkit includes personas for inclusive design - https://www.microsoft.com/design/inclusive/
