This presentation will cover my most important learnings from building accessible mobile apps. We’ll also look at what is coming up next in accessibility for users, developers, and testers in iOS.

1. Lessons Learnt From
Building Accessible
Native Mobile Apps
Ashton Williams
Odecee
A11Y Camp

2. VoiceOver
• Screen reader
• Built into every iPhone,
iPad, Mac, and Apple
Watch

3. Dynamic Type
• Device wide setting for text size

4. Dynamic Type
• Device wide setting for text size

5. Dynamic Type
• Device wide setting for text size

6. Dynamic Type
• Device wide setting for text size

7. Dynamic Type
• Device wide setting for text size

8. Dynamic Type
• Device wide setting for text size

9. UIAccessibility
iOS accessibility framework

10. UIAccessibility

11. UIAccessibility
• Textual labels, descriptions, values, hints, ...

12. UIAccessibility
• Textual labels, descriptions, values, hints, ...
• Navigation hierarchy seperate from graphical display

13. UIAccessibility
• Textual labels, descriptions, values, hints, ...
• Navigation hierarchy seperate from graphical display

14. UIAccessibility
• Textual labels, descriptions, values, hints, ...
• Navigation hierarchy seperate from graphical display
• VoiceOver

15. UIAccessibility
• Textual labels, descriptions, values, hints, ...
• Navigation hierarchy seperate from graphical display
• VoiceOver
• Braille displays

16. UIAccessibility
• Textual labels, descriptions, values, hints, ...
• Navigation hierarchy seperate from graphical display
• VoiceOver
• Braille displays
• Switch Control

17. UIAccessibility
• Textual labels, descriptions, values, hints, ...
• Navigation hierarchy seperate from graphical display
• VoiceOver
• Braille displays
• Switch Control
• Teletype (TTY) machines

18. Dynamic Type Examples

19. Notes app
Default Extra Extra Extra Large
Accessibility Extra Extra
Extra Large

20. Settings app
Default Extra Extra Extra Large
Accessibility Extra Extra
Extra Large

21. Twitter app
Default Accessibility Extra Extra Extra Large

22. Methodology

23. Methodology
• Include accessibility in planning

24. Methodology
• Include accessibility in planning
• Accessibility is User Experience (UX)

25. Methodology
• Include accessibility in planning
• Accessibility is User Experience (UX)
• VoiceOver is a User Interface

26. Methodology
• Include accessibility in planning
• Accessibility is User Experience (UX)
• VoiceOver is a User Interface
• Build the app accessible from the start

27. Methodology
• Include accessibility in planning
• Accessibility is User Experience (UX)
• VoiceOver is a User Interface
• Build the app accessible from the start
• Doing it last will be surprisingly difficult

28. Methodology
• Include accessibility in planning
• Accessibility is User Experience (UX)
• VoiceOver is a User Interface
• Build the app accessible from the start
• Doing it last will be surprisingly difficult
• Test on device

29. Pragmatism

30. Pragmatism
• Standard looking apps are easier

31. Pragmatism
• Standard looking apps are easier
• Custom UI means work to create custom graphics and
custom accessibility

32. Pragmatism
• Standard looking apps are easier
• Custom UI means work to create custom graphics and
custom accessibility
• Build for flexibility

33. Dynamic Type

34. Dynamic Type
• Does not support Custom Fonts

35. Dynamic Type
• Does not support Custom Fonts
• Can be significant work to support

36. Tips

37. Tips
• Use VoiceOver

38. Tips
• Use VoiceOver
• Enable two or more accessibility shortcut items

39. iOS 10

40. Magnifier
• Triple tap Home button to start
Magnifier
• Various colour filters to help
someone increase the contrast.
Magnifier app screenshot

41. Custom Search Rotors
To use the rotor you take two fingers and
twist onscreen as though you're
manipulating a physical dial.

42. Custom Search Rotors
• Default rotors include;
Containers, Headings, Links To use the rotor you take two fingers and
twist onscreen as though you're
manipulating a physical dial.

43. Custom Search Rotors
• Default rotors include;
Containers, Headings, Links
• Apps can now define their own
rotors
To use the rotor you take two fingers and
twist onscreen as though you're
manipulating a physical dial.

44. Custom Search Rotors
• Default rotors include;
Containers, Headings, Links
• Apps can now define their own
rotors
• Visually distinctive screen
elements can be quickly
navigated in isolation
To use the rotor you take two fingers and
twist onscreen as though you're
manipulating a physical dial.

45. To use the rotor you take two
fingers and twist onscreen as
though you're manipulating a
physical dial. Do that to select
the rotor setting to use, and
then swipe up or down with
one finger to search previous
or next with that rotor.
Example
A research app could use a rotor
to jump to highlighted portions
of text.
Illustration of text with highlighted
portions.

46. Xcode 8

47. Accessibility Inspector

48. Accessibility Inspector
• Quickly inspect accessibility
• Does not replace testing with
VoiceOver
• Automatic Audit is helpful, but has
false positives. Does not replace
manual testing.

49. More Resources
• Apple Accessibility for Developers
https://developer.apple.com/accessibility/
• Android Accessibility Guide
https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/ui/accessibility/index.html

50. More Resources
• What's New in Accessibility
https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2016/202/
• Inclusive App Design
https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2016/801/
• Auditing Your Apps for Accessibility
https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2016/407/

51. Disability and Innovation: The Universal
Benefits of Accessible Design
First deaf blind person to
graduate from Harvard Law
School.
Accessibility and inclusion
advocate.
https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2016/104/
Haben Girma

52. President Obama and Haben Girma communicating via keyboard and a
digital braille display.

54. –Haben Girma
“Now imagine a lot of people thinking, why would a
camera app need to be accessible? Why would
blind people ever take pictures? We take pictures for
the same reasons sighted people take pictures. To
capture moments, to share experiences with friends.
Our goal is to make sure all apps are accessible.”

56. –Haben Girma
“Try not to make assumptions about what people
with disabilities can and can't do. Instead, strive for
inclusion.”

58. Thank You. Questions?
@AshtonDev
GitHub.com/Ashton-W
Ashton-W.net
Senior iOS Developer at Odecee