Accessibility Guidelines
WCAG or Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, works in cooperation with organizations and individuals around the globe. Their goal includes providing a single standard format of web content accessibility that meets the requirements of individuals, businesses, and governments internationally. Referenced below are the key principles of WCAG.
Principles of WCAG
- Perceivable
- Operable
- Understandable
- Robust
1. Perceivable
The perceivable factor provides text alterations for non-text content, captions, and other multimedia. In addition, content is easier to hear and view for users navigating throughout a site.
2. Operable
Operable refers to making all functionality available through the use of a keyboard. It allows the user to navigate content comfortably and find info without the risk of error or visual triggers.
3. Understandable
The content should be clear and understandable for users, allowing them to avoid and correct mistakes. Lastly, the content should appear and operate in a predictable format.
4. Robust
Robust focuses on maximizing the compatibility between current and future user tools. It allows for easy transitioning.
User Experience
Each visual component designed for Happy Kitchen is tailored around the user experience. With Glucose Design we make it easy to navigate between imagery, type, and color. The Brand Elements library is used as a guide for building future applications and layouts. These tools can be mixed and matched to form various combinations of typographical hierarchy and color palettes.
Brand Elements
- Logo
- Typography
- Color
- Illustration
- Graphical Elements
1. Logo
The Happy Kitchen logo is our most iconic symbol that is repeated through all applications. It plays an important role in brand identity and familiarity. Users should be able to recognize and remember our logo across varying content.
2. Typography
Using Glucose Design, we have implemented a type scale for visual hierarchy between paragraphs of information. This allows for a system with multiple headers, subtitles, and body compositions to have cohesiveness with one another. In addition, we use the Arial typeface to provide our users with legible type between grouped information.
3. Color
Color is an important factor for us at Happy Kitchen. We use the WCAG contrast checker to verify that our colors are legible for users and web applications. For more information regarding color use, you can access it through the Brand Elements Library.
4. Illustration
Our illustration components involve two main styles – line and flat. At Happy Kitchen, our illustrations should provide a clear purpose and create meaningful interactions with our users.
5. Graphical Elements
All of the graphical elements we use at Happy Kitchen have a purpose and designated application. These tools are divided between shape, texture, and line. Using the perceivable principle, we want to provide our users with unique visuals that allow for easy navigation. Each graphical element has a corresponding tool, enabling us to create hundreds of visual combinations.
Assistive Technologies
Assistive technology is an assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative device for people with accessibility needs. These people often have difficulty performing activities of daily living and digital platforms such as the internet. At Happy Kitchen, we support the use of AT and meeting the needs of our users. According to the principles and practice of AT, these actions produce professional integrity, accountability, and maintenance of standards. These actions reflect our values at Happy Kitchen, which we continue to strengthen and push towards every day.
Devices
- KinderBoard
- ORBIT Reader 20
- Air Mouse
- Headband Stylus
- VoiceOver
1. KinderBoard
The KinderBoard functions like a normal keyboard, only with larger keys. This device allows children to easily navigate a keyboard and learn to type. It removes the barrier of compressed text by highlighting vowels, consonants, and numbers.
2. ORBIT Reader 20
ORBIT Reader 20 is a device that connects to your computer via Bluetooth and translates onscreen text to braille. In addition, users can download books onto an SD card without needing to be connected on a separate device.
3. Air Mouse
The Air Mouse is a surface-free handheld device. It’s very adaptable to the user’s ability, as it can be used with either hand. Users also have the option to customize the device’s buttons making it adaptable.
4. Headband Stylus
A headband stylus gives users with limited mobility the means to navigate through on-screen content. It can be adjusted to fit the user’s head and pairs with tablets, smartphones, or any touchscreen.
5. VoiceOver
VoiceOver is a tool that can be found through a devices accessibility panel. Activating VoiceOver allows the user to select on-screen text for sound narration. It’s a recommended tool for users with low vision or blindness.