Web Design and Autism

When it comes to websites and other coding tools it is always important to make it accessible and easy to follow. Using fonts like OpenDyslexic, reducing the number of high intensity and “hot” colors, and including visual graphics are just a few, yet impactful, tips to begin with. Always be sure to not have too much sensory input such as flashing or bright lights.

Empathy Map

To be empathetic to your user base, you may want to construct an empathy map. Create a box with four squares. The first square will cover what your audience say, the second covers what they do, the third what they think, and the fourth what they feel.

Let’s practice in terms of autism. In the first box, you could anticipate the sensory overwhelm your product might cause autistic individuals. In the second box, you could anticipate the stimming of individuals with autism or ADHD. In the third box, you could cover what neurodiverse individuals think about your product. Specifically, is it accessible and effective? If yes, then you are on the right track! Finally, in the fourth box, you can anticipate the frustration of those struggling to read or write because they have dyslexia. You could modify your product to have an audio feature. The possibilities are endless!

Online Resources

Use the following resources to help integrate software into your non-profit! The following are all recommended by experts in this field. We include Unique Human, Autism in Black, and even Reddit platforms for autistic individuals.

Case Study: Code the Spectrum