Autism is a cognitive disability that impacts the way people use the web. People with autism might react differently than people who are not on the autistic spectrum. They often have different behaviors and communication patterns. They also might have different needs when navigating a website.
When designing for accessibility when it comes to autism, there are a few things to keep in mind. People with autism:
- Prefer consistency. Keep navigation and layout as consistent as possible throughout the website.
- Can have a more sensory awareness and can be easily distracted. Keep animations on the down low and offer ways to pause animations for example.
- Like predictability. Let the user have control over the website and behavior. Avoid putting time limits on forms for example, or automatic refreshes which aren’t initiated by the user.
