Chatbot Accessibility Playbook

Recommendation 4.3.17:
Include people with disabilities in planning, development and testing the chatbot interface

Benefits Users

Icon for VisualIcon for AuditoryIcon for CognitiveIcon for SpeechIcon for PhysicalVisual | Auditory | Cognitive | Speech | Physical


Phase 1: Gather & Organize

Icon for Read MoreRead More

  • W3C offers personas of users with diverse abilities to aid developers in evaluating accessibility.


Phase 2: Design & Implement

Icon for Design QuestionDesign Question

  • What activities will you prioritize user involvement in?

    • Use the W3C personas to perform an initial pass at the recommendations in this play. This will reveal the areas that need the most attention from real users with disabilities so you can maximize your time with them.

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  • Include people with disabilities in the following activities.
Recommendation Gather & Organize Design & Implement Test & Evaluate
4.3.1 Offer multi-modal interaction   Design Question: Interfacing with AT Ask the User: Offer multi-modal interaction

Ask the User: Accessible interaction
4.3.2 Support STT and TTS     Ask the User: Built-in vs. BYO
4.3.3 Support keyboard navigation     Ask the User: Keyboard navigation
4.3.4 Support screen readers     Testing: Screen readers
4.3.5 Support zoom     Ask the User: Zooming in
4.3.6 Offer color contrast User Research: Color palette options Design Question: Customizable colors Ask the User: Color palette

Ask the User: Color contrast
4.3.8 Consider font size   Design Question: Font size control

Design Question: Font size
Ask the User: Adjustable font size

Ask the User: Font size

Testing: Font size
4.3.9 Highlight visual focus     Ask the User: Visual focus

Testing: Visual focus
4.3.10 Consider chatbot size   Design Question: Chatbot size Ask the User: Chatbot size
4.3.11 Minimize distraction     Ask the User: Clean design

Ask the User: Distracting content
4.3.12 Distinguish senders   Examples: Sender distinctions Ask the User: Distinguish senders
4.3.13 Label buttons     Ask the User: Are button labels clear?
4.3.14 Accept varied language User Research: Common vocabulary

User Research: Common errors
  Ask the User: Error tolerance

Ask the User: Logical suggestions

Ask the User: Vocabulary tolerance
4.3.15 Allow user customization     Ask the User: Visual settings

Ask the User: Conversational settings
4.3.16 Manage pacing     Ask the User: Conversation pacing
4.3.18 Follow WCAG   Tip: Prioritize user feedback  


Phase 3: Test & Evaluate

Icon for Self CheckSelf Check

  • Did you include people with disabilities in the appropriate interface activities?