Mobile Accessibility Guidelines

The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Mobile Accessibility Guidelines are a set of technology agnostic best practices for mobile web content, hybrid and native apps.

The Guidelines are based on the requirements of bbc.co.uk content developed for UK audiences and for use with the technology commonly available in the UK. They are intended as a standard for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ employees and suppliers to follow, however, they can also be referenced by anyone involved in mobile development.

The Guidelines are intended for use by anyone involved with the design, development or testing of mobile web and mobile web apps including, but not limited to content producers, user experience designers, information architects, developers and testers.

The Guidelines are organised into 11 topics. Each is listed with HTML, Android and iOS techniques, examples and evaluation criteria.

Definitions

Guidelines categorised as must or must not are best practices that can easily be tested with specific criteria that is not subjective and is technologically possible to achieve with current assistive technology on mobile devices.

Guidelines categorised as should or should not are less testable but considered core to accessible mobile website and apps.

Licensing and reuse

You can use the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Accessibility Standards and Guidelines under an Open Government Licence for Public Sector Information.

Details can be found on the website.

References

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

  • - The GEL guidelines are a reference point for designing ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ services across Web, Mobile, iPTV and Tablet
  • - the editorial guidelines provide a reference point for online content

General

  • – the definitive set of guidelines for building accessible content from the W3C’s Web Accessibility Initiative
  • – published by the University of Austin.
  • – published by Funka Nu

Android

  • - published by Android developers and covers apps

iOS

  • – Apple’s guidance on making iOS apps accessible

Editors

  • Emma Pratt Richens, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ
  • Gareth Ford Williams, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ
  • Jamie Knight, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ
  • Michael Mathews, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ
  • Rebecca Nancarrow, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

Contributors

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback and comments. Main contributors included:

  • Birkir Gunnarsson, European Blind Union Access to Information Commission
  • David Birdsall, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ
  • Hannah Bunce, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ
  • Henny Swann, TGP
  • Ian Pouncy, TPG
  • Jan Richards, Inclusive Design Research Centre, Ocad University
  • Jonathan Avilla, SSB Bart Group
  • Kenton Price, Little Fluffy Toys LTD
  • Matt Bryson, IMI Mobile
  • Nigel Megitt, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ
  • Richard Groves, Noodlefroot
  • Suzanne Clarke, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ
  • Tim Heyes, IMI Mobile
  • And over 150 past and present ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Accessibility Champions.