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