itsual Accessibility Design
Overview
Accessibility is part of good design, not a compliance afterthought. Inclusive design improves usability for everyone while ensuring people with disabilities can use the product.
When to Use
- Designing new components or flows
- Auditing existing UI for accessibility gaps
- Preparing designs for engineering handoff with a11y requirements
- Responding to accessibility feedback or legal requirements
Core Concerns
- Keyboard operability and focus order
- Screen reader structure (headings, labels, roles)
- Color contrast and non-color cues
- Touch target size and spacing
- Motion and animation preferences
- Forms, errors, and instructions
- Alternative text and media alternatives
Principles
- Design semantic structure, not only visual appearance
- Meet WCAG baselines; exceed them where impact is high
- Include people with disabilities in research when possible
- Document accessibility intent in handoff artifacts
- Treat accessibility bugs as product defects
Verification
- Critical flows are operable by keyboard alone
- Contrast and text alternatives meet standards
- Accessibility requirements are explicit in handoff