About 1 in 100 people have autism. That makes 700,000 people in the UK alone, and around 1% of the entire world population.
Research suggests that many autistic people feel the most comfortable online, which results in a high representation of autistic online users who socialise, shop and learn frequently.
So, how can we ensure that websites and apps are inclusive for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
To help raise awareness for World Autism Acceptance Week, here are 7 things to consider when designing for autism:
https://youtu.be/_F_8s02KuT8
1. Imagery
Use visual cues such as pictures or icons to illustrate a concept and help with reading comprehension.
Simple graphics in colour have been found to be very effective, however, visuals should not overlay text as it can be distracting.
Visuals, icons and graphics should only be used to support or explain text further, or to provide information that text alone can not achieve.
Brighter colours have a higher luminance value, which could be the reason for the lower tolerance and people with ASD often have hypersensitivity and are prone to sensory overload.
5. Metaphors
ASD people can be extremely proficient in understanding information as a whole.
Horizontal scrolling can also be unpleasant for autistic users. Elements on a page which do not show the entire content and are hard to control are distracting and uncomfortable to use for people with ASD.
Avoid using animated banners, autoplay ads and pop-ups, as this can cause anxiety for people with ASD.
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See the links below for further reading on designing for autism: