Technology is ubiquitous throughout most of the world today, and its role in daily life is only growing. And as our understanding of neurodivergence improves, more people learn they're autistic. And they need access to digital content, tools, and services just as much as anyone else.
Understanding the challenges that autistic users can face when accessing digital content can help reveal opportunities to improve accessibility and provide a more inclusive user experience.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition that causes the brain to develop differently. It's common for people who have ASD to experience the following:
People may have a set image of what autism looks like, but it can present with various symptoms, affecting each person differently. Plus, other factors such as gender, culture, and life circumstances can affect how these symptoms manifest or how apparent they may be to others.
Since autism affects everyone differently, there isn't a single answer to this question. And since ASD can have such a broad range of symptoms, there are several barriers that inaccessible content can pose:
Even just considering these few examples, it's clear that following the four principles of accessibility — Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR) — is crucial. Autistic users should be able to access, recognize, understand, and use content. And they should be able to do the same when revisiting content in the future.
Since autism can present in so many ways, improving accessibility for users with ASD starts with the basics:
People with ASD are just as unique as every other member of your audience. And they are learning about how different each autistic individual's accessibility challenges may reveal how important it is to prioritize accessibility.
Content that is easy to understand, available in alternative formats, and supported by appropriate supplementary content will help more people engage. And delivering it via an intuitive, distraction-free interface ensures it will be easier to reach and focus on.
No user experience is perfect, but when digital resources are created without consideration for accessibility, it causes barriers to access. And because people with ASD can experience things in so many different ways, they're almost certain to be among those affected by digital accessibility issues.
But by learning about the unique challenges faced by individuals with autism and how that impacts how they access and interact with digital content, businesses and organizations can identify best practices and strategies to improve the accessibility and reach of their digital resources.