Motor disability: take this into account online
For someone with a motor disability, daily life can be challenging, especially when it comes to activities that other people take for granted, such as shopping or travelling. This can also be a challenge online, while getting things done online can also be a solution. In this article, we explain what a motor disability means and what you can take into account on a website and in an app.
What is a motor disability?
Motor impairments can have various causes, such as a congenital defect, an accident or an illness. Examples of the latter include:
Multiple sclerosis (MS). This is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that allows nerves to stop functioning properly. This leads to symptoms such as fatigue, vision problems, sensory disorders, muscle weakness, coordination disorders, balance problems and difficulty speaking.
Cerebral palsy (CP). This is a chronic condition caused by damage to the brain, usually at birth. It can lead to problems with the body's movement and posture and sometimes other symptoms, such as problems with speaking, swallowing and vision.
A motor or body disability can range from mild to severe and affects the body's movement and coordination. This can make performing daily activities, such as operating a computer or smartphone, difficult. Fortunately, there are many ways to support people with motor disabilities and help them carry out (online) activities.
People who have motor disabilities sometimes also experience other types of functional disabilities, such as visual, auditory or cognitive impairment.
Assistive devices for motor disabilities
Some tools that can help people with motor disabilities use the computer, for example to arrange things or look up information on websites:
Customised mice and keyboards. Adapted mice and keyboards are available for people with limited hand or arm function. For example, these are equipped with large buttons or can be operated with the feet.
Speech recognition. Voice recognition allows people with motor disabilities to control the computer using their voice. This can be done, for example, through software such as Dragon Naturally Speaking.
Eye-tracking. Eye-tracking allows people with motor disabilities to perform different actions on the screen via eye movements. This is a combination of hardware (which tracks eye movements) and software (which translates these movements into actions).
Digital accessibility is needed
For people with motor disabilities, navigating websites can be challenging, even using the tools above. Websites and apps properly designed with digital accessibility in mind have features such as keyboard navigation and clear headings and labels.
Guidelines such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) ensure that websites and apps are usable by people with different types of disabilities, including motor disabilities. For someone with a motor disability, this means that websites and apps are easy to navigate and do not require a lot of typing or clicking.
Keep this in mind online
Here are some tips for designing and building accessible websites and apps.
Make sure the navigation on the website and in the app is clear and simple. Use clear titles for links and put important links in a logical place.
Don't make the website design too complex. For example, use a calm background and make sure there is a clear separation between the different sections of the website. This makes it easier to focus on the actual content.
Make the buttons on the website large enough for easy clicking. Also use different colours to highlight important buttons.
Keep forms simple. Allow people to fill in their own details automatically and don't make people fill in unnecessary fields. Every form field to fill in can be one challenge too many.
Use voice technology to navigate the website. This can be done, for example, through speech recognition or by using a voice assistant. This also means that you should make it possible for people to control the website via voice control software.
Make sure the website can be controlled entirely by keyboard. This is especially useful for people who cannot use a mouse.
Some websites go a step further and offer tools to make navigation easier for people with motor disabilities. For example, an option to enlarge the text or change the colours of the background and font to make reading easier. Other websites offer alternative ways of navigation, such as voice-activated or mouse-less navigation.
These additional tools can add value, but are not mandatory for digital accessibility. Most importantly, the website or app should be flexible enough to ensure that all information and functionality is always available, regardless of how someone uses it.
Accessible for people with motor disabilities
If you apply the tips in this article, your website or app will be a lot more accessible for people with motor disabilities. This is especially important for them, as their motor or physical disability can make it a huge challenge to shop or physically book a trip. If they can do this online, it saves them a lot of effort and allows them to participate as fully as possible in our society. That benefits everyone, right?
Want help making your website or app accessible? Our experienced consultants will be happy to help.
