Autism
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a range of conditions classified as neurodevelopmental disorders. People diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder present with two types of symptoms: problems in social communication and social interaction, and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities.
Design considerations
When we design for people with ASD, we need to provide:
- Simple color palettes
- Content written in plain English
- Simple sentences and bullets
- Descriptive buttons and links ("attach files")
- Simple and consistent layouts
We need to avoid:
- Using bright contrasting colors
- Using figures of speech and idioms
- Creating large blocks of text
- Vague or unpredictable buttons or links ("click here")
- Building complex and cluttered layouts
Additional Resources
- Hate at A Diary of a Mom explains why when we talk about autism we can't separate it from people with autism, especially when talking about children.
- Dos and Don'ts on designing for accessibility and the accompanying poster for ASD by Karwai Pun on the [UK Accessibility in Government Blog]
- Usability Testing with People on the Autism Spectrum: What to Expect by Zsombor Varnagy-Toth on UX Matters
