What is Accessibility in Mobile Apps? Legal Requirements in App Development Series – Part I

“Accessibility” is becoming a hot topic in 2024 with its growing popularity, largely due to upcoming EU legislation (from June 2025) covering digital products for consumers of various services in the largest markets. However, it is not only regulations that are driving this change. Growing consumer awareness is creating a popular demand to truly move into the 21st century and make accessibility a standard. What is “accessibility” and what does accessibility in mobile apps mean? Is there anything to worry about? Read on to learn more.

At Droids On Roids, we ensure that the products we build for our clients are valuable, high-quality, and comprehensive – which not only succeed in the market but also comply with legal standards. With this article, we begin a series on mobile app accessibility, focusing on legal requirements and compliance. 

By reading this part, you will:

• Gain extended knowledge about the broader perspective of digital accessibility and mobile app accessibility,
• Learn about digital areas of accessibility,
• Learn about specific character and challenges of mobile app accessibility,
• Get to learn further why accessibility is about more than helping people with disabilities,
• Gain solid knowledge about the importance and benefits of mobile app accessibility for business owners.

Understanding accessibility in mobile apps

The term accessibility describes a reality that is adapted and usable for people with different types and degrees of disabilities. 

It also extends to the digital world. 

When talking about accessibility, people with disabilities themselves emphasize that accessibility means independence, choice, acceptance, and the ability to use products, services, and spaces on an equal basis with others.

Digital and mobile accessibility is at the heart of taking full advantage of the opportunities the world has to offer for everyone. It is about equality, inclusivity, and improving the quality of life for users.

But, it is also about giving your app additional users, a chance to increase your reach, improve the user experience, and avoid legal repercussions.

What is digital accessibility?

Mobile accessibility is part of the broader term “digital accessibility” which refers to the design and development of digital content and tools, as well as related physical products, that are usable by people with varying levels of disability. 

This may include a wide range of digital environments such as:

• Computers and smartphones: Making operating systems accessible through special software and applications, either included by the manufacturer (such as TalkBack on Android or VoiceOver on iOS and MacOS) or purchased by the user (such as a screen reader for Windows, or NVDA). This may also include software for Kindle or other e-readers.

• ATMs, terminals, parcel boxes, or ticket machines: Physical products should be designed to be accessible to users with disabilities, both in terms of their appearance (e.g., by ensuring that there is a facility to connect headphones for users with hearing impairments) and the associated software.

• Websites: In that case, accessibility can be ensured through the likes of screen reader compatibility, alternative text for images, alternatives for color-blind users, and proper content sizing.

• Documents: Make documents such as PDFs readable by assistive technologies.

• Multimedia: Ensure the accessibility of audio or video content through captions, transcripts, audio, and text descriptions. This may include adding a warning about the possibility of inducing epilepsy.

• Services: Including necessary solutions for a wide range of technology-based services such as those required or provided by government or public authorities, banking, e-commerce, recruitment processes, etc. To achieve this, a customized assessment and accessibility by design approach is a must.

• Communication: Remembering that people with different disabilities need to be included in various means of communication, such as text-based communicators (which in most cases can be achieved through screen reader compatibility for the blind and partially sighted), but also 112 or 911 calls for the hearing impaired.

How does mobile app accessibility fit in?

Mobile app accessibility focuses on the specific requirements and challenges of designing and developing accessibility solutions in mobile applications. This ensures that digital content and functionalities within the app are accessible to all users.

It also considers the specifics of the app and industry and whether there is a physical product associated with the application. The accessibility of mobile apps is also related to the business and legal aspects – who you are targeting with the app, in which countries it will be available, what functionalities it will offer, and what specific legal requirements may apply.

Challenges for mobile app accessibility may include:

• Specific factors: These include small screen sizes and resolutions, variable lighting conditions, and device limitations (e.g., battery life or processor speed).
• General compatibility with screen readers: Available for iOS (VoiceOver) and Android (TalkBack).
• Readable content of the app: Alternative texts and correct arrangement of elements on the application screens.
• Alternative methods of interaction: Support for assistive touch technologies or voice commands.

As you can probably see, it is rather challenging to summarise accessibility and its solutions in a few bullet points. This is for a simple reason: accessibility is not just a technical issue but, above all, a reflection of the complexity of people and how they function in the world, including the digital side.

Accessibility extends beyond simply allowing people with disabilities to access given information. It is about ensuring that information is universally available, regardless of an individual’s condition or circumstances. There are various web accessibility perspectives to consider.

It is important to take a tailored approach to accessibility solutions in relation to the specific service or product you want to offer your customers.

However, do not be discouraged. Our blog articles explain step by step how to embrace accessibility.

Read our guide on how to provide accessibility in your native Android app with Jetpack Compose:

• Part 1: Minimal touch/pointer target • Accessibility • Considerations for color blind users
• Part 2: Scaling • Text size • Focus order • Labeling
• Part 3: Semantic properties and screen orientation
• Part 4: List, link semantics and testing

And if you have already decided to develop your product, at Droids On Roids, we are ready to support you with accessibility from both the technical, UX, and legal side. Feel welcome to get in touch.

Why is mobile app accessibility important? 

There are several reasons. For one, if your app is not accessible, you are preventing potential users and customers from experiencing it or using its services, either in part or fully. According to a 2020 Pew Research Center report, over 70% of people with disabilities use smartphones for daily tasks such as communication, internet browsing, and managing daily life. 

Given that people with disabilities include about 15% of the population, if your product is not accessible, more than 10% of all users will be excluded from the possibility of interacting with it.

The above-mentioned data does not include other factors that have a great impact on a person’s ability, such as:

• Age: In 2020, according to a UN report, around 1 in 11 people worldwide are 65 years old or older, and this percentage is steadily increasing. This is a noticeable global trend and shows that most countries face an aging population. As we grow older, there is a natural decline in the ability associated with sight, hearing, or motor skills. This means that the percentage of people who struggle to access an app without proper accommodations is increasing. For instance, people with hearing impairments and an inability to use small buttons or read small text are more significant than the previously estimated 10% and will continue to grow in line with this global trend.

• Neurodiversity: Put very simply, neurodiversity refers to how a person’s brain processes information. For example, there are people with dyslexia, dyspraxia, autism spectrum disorders, or who process auditory or visual stimuli differently. It is estimated that neurodiverse people currently make up 15-20% of the population, and this number is steadily increasing due to a growing awareness of the special needs of non-neurodiverse people and increased access to diagnosis.

• Temporary increase in special needs: As you can see, although the idea of accessibility was born with disabled people in mind, adapting applications to accessibility standards is not limited to people with disabilities alone. It is difficult to estimate the number of people who, at some point in their lives, may need to benefit from accessibility solutions, e.g., people with migraines may benefit from dark modes, while people recovering from surgery, but also busy parents, for example, may be helped by the possibility of voice control.

How designing for accessibility helps everyone

The clue is that every app user can benefit from simple solutions you implement, such as subtitles for audiovisual content, consistent and intuitive app navigation, and overall readability.

Solution	Benefits for users without special needs	Inclusive for persons with disabilities or with special needs
Captions	– able to play in noisy environments – when learning a new language – poor sound quality in a film	– deaf and hard-of-hearing people – elderly people with hearing difficulties – people with learning disabilities – people with hearing processing difficulties
Alternative texts	– poor internet connection  – image too small or unreadable	– visually impaired or blind people – those using a screen reader
Avoiding flashing segments (2-55 Hz) and/or putting a warning beforehand	– avoid triggering or making a migraine or headache worse  – avoid eye fatigue  – users may find this type of content generally annoying	– people with epilepsy – people with light sensitivity
Contrast minimums	– avoid screen and eye fatigue  – screen outside and in the sun	– visually impaired people  – elderly people with eyesight difficulties
Text to speech	– enable multitasking – ability to interact with content when glasses are forgotten	– people with dyslexia – people with learning disabilities
Voice alternatives for texting	– able to interact when busy, in a hurry or driving a car – able to communicate with an injured arm or hand	– people with speech difficulties

Importance and benefits of accessibility in mobile apps for business owners

As you can probably tell from reading this article so far, one of the most important reasons to make your mobile application accessible is to reach new user groups and create a better overall user experience.

To sum up:

So, a lack of accessibility means that up to 30% of your app’s potential users will not be able or willing to use it. 

From a business perspective, there are several other reasons to build accessibility into your mobile application: 

• Accessibility and disability inclusion is a common practice among high-performing companies, including Fortune 100 companies.
• It is estimated that 2.3 billion people worldwide are affected by accessibility issues, representing nearly $7 trillion in annual spending power.
• There is a growing awareness among consumers and users who are paying attention to corporate social responsibility (CSR), inclusivity, and the quality of products, services, and user experiences.
• Designing for accessibility often incorporates different perspectives and can solve unattainable problems.
• The global community is trending towards inclusivity, which addresses the needs of diverse users. This can be seen in the direction of global legislation that currently only covers some businesses, but is likely to cover new sectors in the near future. Adopting accessibility now will help to avoid the costs associated with redesigning your application to add accessibility at a later stage.
• Lack of accessibility is a form of exclusion, which is directly related to discrimination. It is not overt, but it is perceived and felt by people with disabilities, alongside their friends and family. In a world that has begun to recognize special needs, a lack of accessibility can mean a negative perception of your brand image. Implementing and communicating accessibility from the start will give you a leg up in the marketplace and help your app and brand be seen as open-minded and empathetic.

In some cases, there are also legal reasons which may require your business to make accessible products and some potential risks that may be involved:

• If you don’t make your mobile app accessible, even though you’re required by law to do so, you’re increasing your legal exposure, which can have serious financial consequences.
• If you distribute your app globally, it must comply with many different accessibility laws, such as the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) in the US and the EAA (European Accessibility Act, effective from June 2025) in the European Union. Even if your app complies with one of these laws, you may still be subject to penalties from government agencies in other countries or jurisdictions, alongside class actions and private lawsuits.
• The consequences of failing to comply with a particular accessibility law can vary, depending on the jurisdiction, the type of service or product offered, the size of the company, and other factors. 
• Typically, the national authority could impose a fine based on the company’s revenue and the severity of the violation. Your business could be ordered to modify the product to meet accessibility standards or face further fines, and in severe cases, the product could be banned from distribution or sale until compliance is achieved. This may also apply to software or digital products.

Upcoming regulatory changes

The most discussed and talked about change, which will affect many companies in the private market in terms of mobile app accessibility, is the European Accessibility Act (EAA). Adopted in April 2019, the EAA aims to harmonize accessibility requirements across the EU, strengthening the single market and ensuring equal participation for all citizens. It will certainly not cover all mobile products, but will be important for digital services, e-commerce and fintech or personal e-banking applications. Compliance with the EAA is required by 2025, giving companies time to adapt and implement the necessary changes.

The European regulations are part of a global trend to reduce digital exclusion, including in private sector services. What else can we expect in the near future? Here are some examples:

• USA: On April 8, the U.S. Attorney General signed a final rule establishing digital accessibility requirements under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The new guidelines provide more detailed rules for websites and mobile applications.
• Canada: Canada Accessibility Act: Canada introduced the Accessible Canada Act (ACA) in 2019, and work is underway to develop additional regulations and standards that will be phased in to achieve full accessibility.
• Other laws being discussed or implemented in the context of digital accessibility include those in China and Australia.

These regulations demonstrate a global commitment to improving accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities, which is critical to building more inclusive societies.

Wrap-up

By designing and developing your mobile app with accessibility in mind, you can positively impact your business and the world around you. Sounds cool, right? Here’s more:

• Ensure regulatory compliance and minimize potential financial and legal risks. 
• Open your business to new growth opportunities and improve your brand perception.
• Help improve the quality of life for many.
• Demonstrate your commitment to social responsibility.

In the next article in this series, we’ll take a closer look at what you need to know about mobile accessibility standards, focusing on a step-by-step guide for business owners and legal frameworks.

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