Computers, smart phones, and related technologies are actively improving the lives of people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). These technologies can help compensate for verbal and social challenges as well as enabling new ways of communication, socialization, and learning.
ASD and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and possible repetitive behaviors. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the current incidence of autism is a staggering 1 in 68 children.
Every day we see new apps or software tools marketed to this rapidly growing demographic. However, while the technical capabilities of these tools continue to improve, usually much less attention is paid to the design and implementation of the user interface (UI) – or how the user views and interacts with the system. A well-designed UI can make the difference between a great user experience and a horrible one - and from a business sense - the difference between success and failure.
While there has been significant research in the area of UI design for individuals with disabilities, most of these efforts have focused on individuals with either visual, hearing, or mobility (fine motor or gross motor) impairments. Much less work has focused on UI design for individuals with cognitive disorders such as autism.
One person seeking to change the research momentum in this area is Nikolay Pavlov, Associate Professor of Mathematics and Informatics at Plovdiv University (Bulgaria). Pavlov reviewed a number of different design standards originally intended for individuals with learning disabilities and/or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as well as feedback from end users and clinical professionals. He then aggregated the best practices to create UI design recommendations for individuals with autism.
His recommendations follow the guidelines set up by the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) to improve web access for people with disabilities through the use of inclusive design concepts. The goals of which are to improve accessibility and usability of the developed software. A summary of his findings are broken down into the categories below.
Presentation:
- Use contrast between font and background
- Use soft, mild colors when possible
- Make sure any text box is clearly separated from the rest of the page
- Present text in a single column
- Use simple graphics
- Use clear, sans-serif fonts
- Avoid use of bright colors
- Avoid use of background images
- Do not overlap transparent images and text
- Avoid use of pop-up elements and other visual distractions
- Eliminate elements that “stand out” too much on the page
- Avoid horizontal scrolling
Navigation and Page Loading
- Strive for simple, clear navigation methods
- Indicate on each page clearly where the user is located
- Support navigation with mouse or keyboard
- Allow the use of the browser’s buttons
- Design to decrease the loading time of new pages
- Use visual progress indicators for time-consuming actions
- Always have a clearly located “help” button
- Avoid the use of complex and/or hierarchical menus
Interaction
- Design for simplicity with few elements on screen
- Try to have only one toolbar
- Use clear, large buttons with both icons and text
- Give short, easy to follow, instructions of use at every step
- Avoid cluttered interfaces
- Do not use multi-colored icons
- Avoid buttons with icons only, except for the most popular actions (i.e., “back”)
Personalization
- Allow personalization of (a) font type and size, (b) line-spacing, and (c) themes for text background and foreground colors
Ease of personalization was determined to be a key element of UI design for people with autism because these individuals have a wide variety of personal preferences based on their sensory tolerance levels.
While good UI design is important for any software development effort, it’s even more important when designing for individuals on the autism spectrum.
