Lesson 24 / 26

Assistive technologies

Get to know the assistive technologies users rely on, from screen readers and voice control to switch devices.

Common assistive technologies

Screen readers: NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, TalkBack. Voice control: Dragon, OS voice assistants. Switch devices: single button, eye tracker. Magnification: zoom tools. Text tools: dyslexia-friendly fonts, reader modes.

Testing with real AT

Automated tools catch ~30% of issues. Test with real assistive tech. Use NVDA (free) for form workflows, complex widgets.

Voice control design

Users can speak commands like 'Tap Button' or 'Say '. Design pages with unique, clear labels for voice control compatibility.

Cognitive accessibility

Use clear language (avoid jargon), short sentences, bullet points. Provide extra time for forms (no timeouts). Consistent design throughout.