For Autistic individuals, thoughtful accessibility isn’t a cherry on top – it’s the cake itself. Let’s get into it:
First: What are the core accessibility needs for Autistic users?
Autistic people may experience:
- Sensory sensitivities (e.g., sound, light, touch, cluttered visuals)
- Executive functioning differences (e.g., trouble with planning, memory, multi-step processes)
- Social communication differences (e.g., interpreting subtle cues, metaphors, idioms)
- Need for predictability and routine (e.g., unexpected changes causing distress)
- Processing differences (e.g., needing extra time, different ways of processing language or stimuli)
Designing accessibly means reducing the friction in all those areas.
Practical Ways to Implement Accessibility for Autism
Here’s the “tell it like it is” list:
1. Reduce Sensory Overload
- Simplify visual design: Limit flashing animations, excessive colour changes and unnecessary movement.
- Offer dark mode or customizable themes.
- Provide options to disable background music, sounds, animations, or motion without punishing the user experience (don’t hide critical content behind motion!).
- Avoid crowded layouts. White space is not wasted space, it’s kindness.
2. Enhance Predictability
- Consistent navigation and page layouts.
- Clearly labelled buttons and links.
- Avoid unexpected pop-ups or sudden content shifts (or at least warn users first).
- Breadcrumbs and progress bars are small heroes here: they show where you are and how much is left.
3. Support Executive Functioning
- Chunk information into manageable pieces (short paragraphs, bullet points, logical headings).
- Provide clear, step-by-step instructions for tasks.
- Autosave progress and allow users to return to tasks later.
- Give users the ability to set reminders, flags, or visual markers if your app or content is task-based.
4. Use Clear and Direct Language
- Plain language should be your religion.
- Avoid jargon, metaphors, idioms, sarcasm, unless you explain them.
- When you must use complex language (looking at you, legal or government sites), offer an Easy Read or Simplified version.
5. Offer Flexible Communication Options
- Not everyone likes real-time chats, phone calls, or video.
- Provide email, text, or asynchronous communication options whenever possible.
- Give users time to respond – don’t rush interactions if it’s not absolutely necessary.
6. Allow for Personalization
- Flexible settings: font size, colours, sound, motion, notifications.
- Let users control how they receive information (text-only versions, simplified views, etc.).
- Bonus points for apps that save user preferences and remember them across sessions.
7. Be Mindful About Social Expectations
- Clear expectations in social spaces (forums, discussion boards).
- Set norms visibly: “You are welcome to participate at your own pace.”
- Minimize ambiguity about what is expected from users socially or professionally.
Some Real-World Examples Done Well
- Microsoft’s Accessibility Settings: High contrast mode, Narrator, Focus Assist for minimizing interruptions.
- Slack’s interface customization: Colour themes, notification control, setting your status (“focusing,” “away,” etc.).
- Apple’s Sensory Accessibility features: Reducing motion, adjusting display settings, and assistive communication options.
- Google’s “Simple View” experiments: Beta versions of search results focused on ultra-simple layouts for easier digestion.
Where people think they’re helping, but mess it up
- Forcing calming colours or oversimplifying everything into baby language. Respect the user. Simplicity ≠ condescension.
- “Gamifying” too much. For many autistic users, constant achievements, pop-ups, and badges are stressful, not rewarding.
- Over-correcting for empathy with sugary fake-friendliness. Clear and respectful communication beats forced warmth every time.
Accessibility for Autism isn’t a checklist – it’s a mindset.
Give control. Remove surprises. Respect processing differences. Prioritize clarity over “coolness.”
You do that? You’re not just meeting “criteria” – you’re building something truly usable by real people.
