Every December 3, we celebrate International Day of People with Disability (IDPWD). This day raises awareness of people with disabilities and promotes their inclusion in all aspects of life.
At Intopia, we believe meaningful change starts with understanding. True accessibility leadership comes from working closely with people with disabilities and learning from their lived experiences. That’s why our Intopia Connect panel plays a central role in shaping inclusive design. By collaborating with people with disabilities, we uncover real-world challenges and develop practical, inclusive solutions that benefit everyone.
Our Equitable Research and Design service has made strides in improving accessibility this past year.
Highlights from 2024:
- 92 usability sessions with people with disabilities
- 13 projects focused on inclusive digital experiences
- Research involving 43 Intopia Connect participants
We test with people who are blind, have low vision, use wheelchairs, are deaf or hard of hearing, are neurodivergent, and more. These diverse voices provide important insights that shape better digital experiences.
Key insights from our user testing
To mark IDPWD, we’re sharing insights from our Equitable Research and Design work. Our usability sessions this year revealed some recurring themes. These are three common challenges that people with disabilities face when using websites and apps.
Navigation and information structure
Navigation issues are a major barrier for many users. People often find it difficult to find the information they need. This is especially true for people who use screen readers. “Poor headings felt like wandering a maze with no signs.”
Here’s what helps:
- Use logical, well-organised headings
- Ensure links and buttons have descriptive text
- Use descriptive links to create clear pathways
Form usability and input fields
Forms are a common frustration. One participant said that form issues often make them avoid some websites. “If I can’t get through the first step, I don’t bother with the rest”.
Participants reported problems with:
- Poorly labelled mandatory fields
- Unclear instructions for filling out fields
- Rigid input formats (like strict date fields)
What works better:
- Provide clear instructions, like “DD/MM/YYYY” for date fields
- Clearly mark required fields with both visual indicators and text
- Use forgiving input formats (e.g., allow slashes or hyphens in dates)
Visual clarity and contrast
Low contrast and poor visual design exclude users with low vision. “If I can’t see it, I can’t use it”.
Problems include:
- Low contrast between text and background colours
- Buttons or links that aren’t visually distinct
- Hard-to-read fonts due to size or style
Improvements:
- Increase contrast ratios between text and background
- Ensure interactive elements stand out clearly
- Use larger, readable fonts
Important reflections
- Accessibility compliance does not guarantee usability
- Wheelchair users notice colour visibility differences on kiosk screens due to viewing angles
- Features like “show password” benefit all users, not just those with disabilities
Listen, collaborate, and act
By amplifying diverse voices, we create a more inclusive world. Let’s not wait for a special day or a regulatory piece to prioritise accessibility. Let’s make it an everyday commitment.
This year’s IDPWD theme reminds us to:
- Listen to lived experiences to better understand real-world challenges
- Collaborate with people with disabilities to co-design inclusive solutions
- Act to improve accessibility, one step at a time
If you’re ready to create more accessible digital experiences, get in touch with us. We’ll help you address digital accessibility and equitable design with confidence.
