Identify User Needs | Section508.gov

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Convey visual information or navigation options through alternative means. Design systems to support access through keyboard or voice commands. Use voice feedback to read content out loud. Use touch (haptic) controls that provide adequate physical feedback to understand their function.</li> <li><strong>Can see but has limited vision</strong> - Support the ability to magnify visual content, and adjust inadequate color contrast, and poor environmental lighting. Design systems to work with magnification technology.</li> <li><strong>Can see but has some form of color blindness</strong> - Don鈥檛 use color as the sole means of conveying meaning.</li> <li><strong>Cannot hear or has limited hearing</strong> - Don鈥檛 convey information <em>only</em> through audio or voice. Caption videos and provide sign interpreters for live conversations and presentations; provide the ability to adjust audio volume, and eliminate environmental issues that make it hard to hear audio content. Both environment and technology should support alternative communication formats.</li> <li><strong>Cannot speak</strong> - For user interfaces that require voice interaction (e.g., Apple鈥檚 Siri or Amazon鈥檚 Alexa technology), provide visual- or touch-based communication alternatives.</li> <li><strong>Cannot physically manipulate or reach</strong> - Consider environments or controls that are difficult to reach from a sitting position (wheelchair users), or require physical manipulation as the sole means of interacting with the technology. This can creates a barrier for individuals with fine or gross motor limitations, including the ability to grasp, move, or otherwise physically manipulate controls.</li> <li><strong>Cannot easily understand</strong> - Consider issues that users with limited language, cognitive, or learning abilities might face when dealing with complicated designs, or extensive demands on memory recall. Design interactions that are simple and easy to understand, and use plain language when providing information and instructions.</li> </ul> <h2 id="improve-accessibility-testing">Improve Accessibility Testing</h2> <p>To identify and design for the user needs of people with disabilities, designers and developers need to understand how disabled users interact with technology. Contact your agency鈥檚 Section 508 Program Office to learn more.</p> <ul> <li>Schedule ongoing demonstrations for IT staff, showing how a user with a disability may use a specific type of assistive technology;</li> <li>Conduct user testing on systems or apps that the organization/agency already uses, to show IT staff how users interact with those systems;</li> <li>Ask your agency鈥檚 Employees with Disabilities Resource Group for ideas on how to demonstrate IT user needs of employees with disabilities, and involve them in user testing;</li> <li>Help IT developers, designers, and User Experience (UX) staff become familiar with accessibility testing. Here are some ideas: <ul> <li>Invite them to view user testing of a familiar app or system;</li> <li>Provide instruction on how to address common accessibility issues;</li> <li>Ensure developers have access to accessibility development and testing tools;</li> <li>Establish a loan program for licenses of accessibility tools; or</li> <li>Share accessibility testing training resources with developers.</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <h2 id="update-policies">Update Policies</h2> <p><a href="/manage/laws-and-policies/update-agency-policies">Update your agency policies</a> to assign appropriate responsibilities to stakeholders, including system owners, project managers, and design, development, or change control boards. Responsibilities should include:</p> <ul> <li>Identify the needs of individuals with disabilities and incorporate them into all designs, acquisition plans, and development and modification activities.</li> <li>If using an agile methodology: <ul> <li>Build functionality requirements into individual development sprints;</li> <li>Monitor continuously; and</li> <li>Actively manage sprint backlogs of requirements to ensure user needs of people with disabilities are not forgotten or neglected.</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p>This guidance was developed by the U.S. Federal Government Revised 508 Standards Transition Workgroup. Members include the U.S. Federal CIO Council Accessibility Community of Practice, the U.S. Access Board, and the General Services Administration.</p> <p><strong>Reviewed/Updated:</strong> March 2019</p> </div> </main> </div> </div> </div> <footer class="usa-footer__primary-section"> <div class="grid-container"> <div class="grid-row grid-gap padding-bottom-4"> <div class="desktop:grid-col-4"> <p class="text-bold">Government-wide Initiatives</p> <ul class="add-list-reset line-height-sans-6"> <li> <a href="https://www.gsa.gov/technology/government-it-initiatives/digital-strategy" target="_blank" onclick="return navigate(this)">Digital Strategy</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.plainlanguage.gov/" target="_blank" onclick="return navigate(this)">Plain Language </a></li> <li> <a href="https://designsystem.digital.gov/" target="_blank" onclick="return navigate(this)"> U.S. Web Design System </a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.cio.gov/about/members-and-leadership/accessibility-cop/" 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