by Connor Courtien, RDPFS Intern
The use of online surveys is very convenient for both the taker and the giver, providing a seamless way for an organization to get feedback from students, clients, or customers. However, this convenience starts to break down if surveys are not designed to be usable by individuals who are blind or have low vision, as this can make the experience frustrating or inaccessible. In that vein, here are some recommendations for providing accessible online surveys:
– When it comes to font size, make sure it’s at least 16-point, with a high level of contrast against the background of the survey. This is important to readability for users with low vision who may use magnification software.
– If available, use headings and question numbers in the survey, which make it much easier for those who use screen-readers to navigate.
– Make it clear in the question what type of response is expected, such as writing “Select all that apply” to indicate that more than one selection can be chosen.
– Finally, the most important tip is to pilot test the survey with those who use the relevant assistive technologies for your target audience.
For further recommendations for surveys, as well as other digital documents, check out these accessibility resources from Mississippi State University’s National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision.
