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# iOS Accessibility

An introduction to accessibility on iOS
An **introduction** to accessibility on iOS

@Metadata {
@PageColor(blue)
Expand All @@ -22,10 +22,12 @@ An introduction to accessibility on iOS
## What does it mean for something to be accessible?
**Accessibility** is a *property* of products (e.g. devices, services, concepts, environments) that measures **approachability** — the widest possible range of people who can use it.

Every person has their own *preferences* and *capabilities*, therefore it is required to consider the *diversity* of products' audience if there is a wish to extend the **reach**.
Every person has their own *preferences*, *circumstances* and *capabilities*, therefore it is required to consider the *diversity* of products' audience if there is a wish to extend the **reach**.
@Image(source: fifteen-percent, alt: "A large text Keynote slide saying \"Approximately 15% of the world''s population live with disabilities\"")

There are many reasons why one would want to *include* more people — from straightforward sales increase to moral beliefs, but regardlessly of the case the **goal** is the same: *to provide equal access to the same experience*.
> Important: It is *impossible* to design products **universally convenient** for everyone. But it is *possible* to **not exclude** anyone intentionally. Audience is essentially **unknowable** and it is *the purpose* of [**inclusive design**](<doc:InclusiveDesign>) to not create products based on *prejudices*.
There are many reasons why one would want to *include* more people — from straightforward sales increase to moral beliefs, but regardlessly of the case the **goal** is the same: *to provide equitable access to the same experience*.
@Image(source: fifty-percent, alt: "A large text Keynote slide saying \"More than 50% is the average number of mobile users that turn on at least one of Accessibility settings\"")

## Computer accessibility
Expand All @@ -35,19 +37,19 @@ There are many reasons why one would want to *include* more people — from stra
}

## Accessibility of iOS
In this book we are going to discuss **how to make iOS applications accessible**. Due to the current state of technological advancement the task may be narrowed to *adapting* your programs to the use of **assistive technology**, which involves nothing more than following [**specific design guidelines**](<doc:AccessibleDesign>) that support the usage of [**Accessibility Features**](<doc:AccessibilityFeatures>) and promote **inclusivity**.
In the course of the book we are going to discuss **how to make iOS applications accessible**. Due to the current state of technological advancement the task may be narrowed to *adapting* your programs to the use of **assistive technology**, which involves nothing more than following [**specific design guidelines**](<doc:AccessibleDesign>) that support the usage of [**Accessibility Features**](<doc:AccessibilityFeatures>) and promote **inclusivity**.

@Image(source: ios-a11y, alt: "A decorative image showing a smartphone symbol plus accessibility symbol")


### History of iOS Accessibility
[**"A Timeline of iOS Accessibility: It Started with 36 Seconds"**](https://www.macstories.net/stories/a-timeline-of-ios-accessibility-it-started-with-36-seconds/) is a marvellous research done by **Shelly Brisbin** that covers the path Apple has been following to make their devices accessible from the very beginning of iPhone story.
[**"A Timeline of iOS Accessibility: It Started with 36 Seconds"**](https://www.macstories.net/stories/a-timeline-of-ios-accessibility-it-started-with-36-seconds/) is a marvellous research done by **Shelly Brisbin** that covers the **path** Apple has been following to make their devices accessible from the very beginning of iPhone story.
@Image(source: 36-seconds, alt: "A screenshot of the article's web page")

### Current state
From June 8, 2009 Apple hasn't stopped for a second in promotion of **accessible design**. [**Inclusivity**](https://www.apple.com/diversity/) is one of the *core values* the company has been always exposing and [**accessibility**](https://www.apple.com/accessibility/) is an immanent part of it.
From June 8, 2009 Apple hasn't stopped for a second in promotion of **inclusive design**. [**Inclusivity**](https://www.apple.com/diversity/) is one of the *core values* the company has been always exposing and [**accessibility**](https://www.apple.com/accessibility/) is an immanent part of it.

Aiming to make a product as *universal* so everyone can use it led Apple to unmeasurable efforts put to [**assistive technology**](<doc:AccessibilityFeatures>) support.
Aiming to make their products as *accessible* so everyone could use it led Apple to unmeasurable efforts put to [**assistive technology**](<doc:AccessibilityFeatures>) support.

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}
}

### Available features
As for today here is the list of all [**Accessible Features**](<doc:AccessibilityFeatures>) on iOS.
@Image(source: features-list, alt: "A large text Keynote slide listing Accessibility Features: Dynamic Type, VoiceOver, Zoom, Spoken Content features, Reduce Transparency, Switch Control, Reduce Motion, On and Off labels, AssistiveTouch, Full keyboard access, Voice Control, Bold Text, Pointer Control, Sound Recognition, Guided Access, Dwel Control, Type to Siri, Sound Actions, Button Shapes, Color Filters, Increase Contrast, Hearing Aids")
## Accessibility Features
As for today, here is the list of some [**Accessible Features**](<doc:AccessibilityFeatures>) **available on iOS**. Its amount is continually increasing year by year. The stack is considered to be one of the most efficient *system* solutions of **assistive technology integration**, which provides sufficient **tools** for presenting **accessible interfaces** in accordance with modern [**accessibility guidelines**](<doc:AccessibilityStandards>).
@Image(source: features-list, alt: "A large text Keynote slide listing Accessibility Features: Dynamic Type, VoiceOver, Zoom, Spoken Content features, Reduce Transparency, Switch Control, Reduce Motion, On and Off labels, AssistiveTouch, Full keyboard access, Voice Control, Bold Text, Pointer Control, Sound Recognition, Guided Access, Dwell Control, Type to Siri, Sound Actions, Button Shapes, Color Filters, Increase Contrast, Hearing Aids")

To see how these technologies **adjust the user experience** go to the settings and play around.
### Field research
To check out the object of our interest go to **Settings** and try to **adjust your user experience**.

@Image(source: settings-features, alt: "To turn Accessibility Features on, go to Settings app and find Accessibility category")

> Warning: Please consider that turning on some features like [**Switch Control**](<doc:SwitchControl>) may be tricky to turn off, so make sure you are *aware* of what is going to happen when you toggle the settings.
Just **be careful** turning on *some* features (like [**Switch Control**](<doc:SwitchControl>)): it may be *tricky* to **turn off**, so make sure you are *aware* of what is going to happen when you toggle the setting. In other words, **read the messages from popping-up windows before confirming**!

### In this book
Talking about **accessibility of iOS applications** we will have to *inspect* some of the features **in greater detail**. The *principles* behind functionality of various **assistive technology** are shared, but it is *vital* to **recognise** them and have a **clear understanding** of what we work on.

To know more about *specific features*, their **concepts** and **implementations** visit the guides in [**Accessibility Features**](<doc:AccessibilityFeatures>) series:
To know more about *key features* -- those of our professional (as app creators) *interest*, their **concepts** and **implementations**, there are *observational* guides in [**Accessibility Features**](<doc:AccessibilityFeatures>) series:
@Links(visualStyle: list) {
- <doc:VoiceOver>
- <doc:VoiceControl>
Expand All @@ -180,21 +186,13 @@ To know more about *specific features*, their **concepts** and **implementations
- <doc:AssistiveAccess>
}

### Community practices
Finally, we came to the point where stating the **purpose of this book** is possible. [**iOS Accessibility Handbook**](https://vodgroup.github.io/AccessibilityDocumentation/documentation/iosaccessibilityhandbook) is a collection of *guidelines* of how to create software for iOS which supports [**Accessible Features**](<doc:AccessibilityFeatures>) and promotes [**accessible design**](<doc:AccessibleDesign>).
## Wrap-up
So, here we are. We came to the point where stating the **purpose of this book** is possible.

[**iOS Accessibility Handbook**](https://vodgroup.github.io/AccessibilityDocumentation/documentation/iosaccessibilityhandbook) is a collection of *guidelines* of how to create **iOS applications** that support [**Accessible Features**](<doc:AccessibilityFeatures>) and promote [**inclusive design**](<doc:InclusiveDesign>).
@Image(source: human-interface-guidelines, alt: "A screenshot of Apple's Human Interface Guidelines web page")

To dive right into the process of developing accessible applications open the [**iOS Accessibility Guide**](https://vodgroup.github.io/AccessibilityDocumentation/tutorials/adaptionstrategy) map, which covers the *practical* side of the book.
To dive right into the process of **developing accessible applications** don't hesitate to open the [**iOS Accessibility Guide**](https://vodgroup.github.io/AccessibilityDocumentation/tutorials/adaptionstrategy) map. *Everything* is there, you won't be left unprepared.
@Image(source: roadmap, alt: "A screenshot of the guide's map")

Otherwise, if you want to **learn about accessibility** in general first, take a look at the articles from **General Knowledge** category.
@Links(visualStyle: detailedGrid) {
- <doc:InterfacePerception>
- <doc:InterfaceInteractions>
- <doc:MobileAccessibility>
- <doc:AccessibilityFeatures>
- <doc:AccessibleUI>
- <doc:AccessibleUX>
}

## Have fun!
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# ``iOSAccessibilityHandbook``

Make your iOS application accessible for everyone
Make your iOS applications **accessible**

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Expand Down Expand Up @@ -36,34 +36,38 @@ In other words, materials here cover **everything one could ever need to know ab

### Featured
@Links(visualStyle: detailedGrid) {
- <doc:MobileAccessibility>
- <doc:AdoptionGuide>
- <doc:iOSAccessibility>
- <doc:AccessibilityFeatures>
}

### Target audience
The project is dedicated to help *developers*, *designers*, *testers*, *researchers* and *mere users* — in other words, to *everyone working with accessibility* on iOS.
The project is dedicated to help *developers*, *designers*, *testers*, *researchers* and *mere users* — in other words, to *everyone working with accessibility* on iOS.

There is **no commercial underlayment** and the only reason the project exists is to popularise the topic and *share* relevant real-life experience of contributing *accessibility professionals*.
@Comment {
Working as an iOS engineer in a *corporation*? Publishing applications as an independent developer? Responsible for interface design of products on mobile platforms? Regardless of what you are doing, as long as you have to deal with iOS products and wish to make them accessible, this book is for you.
}

There is **no commercial underlayment** and the only reason the project exists is to popularise the topic and **share** relevant real-life experience of contributing *accessibility professionals*.

## Book structure

The handbook is somewhat of a *complete course* of **how to make iOS applications accessible**. The material is split into conceptual *topics* and categorised by its relation to particular assistive technologies and field of implementation.
The handbook is somewhat of a *complete course* of **how to make iOS applications accessible**. The material is split into conceptual *topics* and categorised by its relation to a particular [**assistive technology**](<doc:AccessibilityFeatures>) and its field of implementation.

@Image(source: book-content, alt: "")

To know more about the book's structure take a look at the left side of the page where the [**table of contents**](https://vodgroup.github.io/AccessibilityDocumentation/documentation/iosaccessibilityhandbook/#topics) is.
To know more about the book's structure take a look at the left side of the page where the [**table of contents**](https://vodgroup.github.io/AccessibilityDocumentation/documentation/iosaccessibilityhandbook/#topics) is located.

### Technical implementation
At the moment the project's form is defined by being a *documentation catalog* ([**DocC**](https://www.swift.org/documentation/docc)) hosted by [**GitHub pages**](https://pages.github.com).

To contribute to the project visit its [GitHub page](https://github.com/VODGroup/AccessibilityDocumentation) and see the instruction of how you may help.
To **contribute** to the project visit its [GitHub page](https://github.com/VODGroup/AccessibilityDocumentation) and see the instruction of how you may help.

### Contributors
The resources are provided by **Mikhail Rubanov**, Head of Mobile Development at [**Dodo Brands**](https://dodobrands.io), an accessibility activist and the author of ["**About Accessibility on iOS**"]( https://rubanov.dev/a11y-book) book. Exemplary and illustrative materials are based on his *working experience*.
@Image(source: "aboutAccessibility-sample", alt: "-")

### VoiceOver Designer
Reading the book you may sometimes notice screenshots of iOS applications with *mark-ups* related to accessibility design over them. This is [**VoiceOver Designer**](https://rubanov.dev/voice-over-designer), an [open-source](https://github.com/VODGroup/VoiceOverDesigner) macOS application that allows to design *accessibility scenarios* over a screenshot of an app.
Reading the book you may notice screenshots of iOS applications with *mark-ups* related to **accessibility design** over them. This is [**VoiceOver Designer**](https://rubanov.dev/voice-over-designer), an [open-source](https://github.com/VODGroup/VoiceOverDesigner) macOS application that allows to design *accessible interfaces* over a screenshot of an app.
@Image(source: "vod-sample", alt: "-")

### Design Resources
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