Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a range of conditions classified as neurodevelopmental disorders. People diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder present with two types of symptoms: problems in social communication and social interaction, and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities.
What people with Autism say when they talk about Autism
Design considerations
When we design for people with ASD, we need to provide:
- Simple color palettes.
- Content written in plain English.
- Simple sentences and bullets.
- Descriptive buttons and links (“attach files”).
- Simple and consistent layouts.
We need to avoid:
- Using bright contrasting colors.
- Using figures of speech and idioms.
- Creating large blocks of text.
- Vague or unpredictable buttons or links (“click here”).
- Building complex and cluttered layouts.
Additional resources
- Karwai Pun’s Dos and Don’ts on designing for accessibility at Accessibility.blog.gov.uk and the accompanying poster for ASD
- Usability Testing with People on the Autism Spectrum: What to Expect by Zsombor Varnagy-Toth on UX Matters
