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  • National Disability Authority
  1. Home
  2. Communications & Digital
  3. Web and Mobile Accessibility
  4. Web Accessibility Techniques
  5. Design accessible digital content - introduction and index
  6. Provide a consistent and flexible design

Provide a consistent and flexible design

Consistency is one of the most important principles behind good interactive design and accessible content. Cross-page consistency helps people efficiently navigate, read and interact with digital content. Being forced to learn the structure of every new page or section can be annoying for everyone but it can make life particularly difficult for some people.

Some users may need to enlarge or magnify elements of a web page in order to see the content. If the webpage is not specifically designed to adapt to being viewed up close, page elements may cease to display correctly and it may become difficult for the user to read or interact with what's on screen. Using an adaptive or responsive layout ensures that the content on the page is able to change to accommodate users at a variety of different viewport dimensions or zoom levels.

  • In this section
  • References for this section
  • Videos
  • Further Reading

Web Accessibility Techniques

  • Design accessible digital content - introduction and index

    • Provide a consistent and flexible design

      • Aim for maximum Consistency
      • Design adaptive or responsive layouts
    • Design accessible navigation
    • Use accessible design to communicate information
    • Ensure images, video and audio are accessible to everyone
    • Design accessible interactions and feedback
    • Always test your designs with users who have access needs
  • Content Provider's Introduction and Index
  • Developer's Introduction and Index

In this section

  • Aim for maximum consistency
  • Design adaptive or responsive layouts

References for this section

WCAG 2.1

  • 1.3.4 Orientation (AA)
  • 3.2.3 Consistent Navigation (AA)
  • 3.2.4 Consistent Identification (AA)

EN 301 549 v 2.1.2

  • 9.1.3.4 Orientation
  • 9.3.2.3 Consistent Navigation
  • 9.3.2.4 Consistent Identification

Videos

  • Reading with and without text wrapping - W3C Digital Accessibility Foundations

Further reading

  • Why Consistency is Important to Accessible Design
  • About Universal Design
  • Definition and Overview of Universal Design (UD)
  • History of Universal Design
  • Benefits and Drivers
  • Policy and Legislation
  • Standards
  • Universal Design of Products and Services
  • Universal Design Approach
  • Awards
  • The 7 Principles
  • News & Events
  • Overview of Built Environment
  • eLearning Module - Buildings for Everyone: Central Bank of Ireland
  • Building for Everyone
  • Housing
  • Early Learning and Care Settings
  • Residential Long Term Care Settings for Older People
  • Walkability Auditing
  • Shared Space
  • Shared Educational Campuses
  • Universal Design Guidelines for Changing Places Toilets
  • Built Environment CPD
  • Overview of Communications & Digital
  • Web and Mobile Accessibility
  • ICT Research and Guidelines (Archived content)
  • Customer Communications Toolkit for Services to the Public - A Universal Design Approach
  • European Accessibility Act
  • Overview of Education
  • Primary Level Education
  • Secondary Level Education
  • Third Level Education
  • Continuous Professional Development
  • Privacy
  • Copyrights
  • Disclaimer
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
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The National Disability Authority (NDA) is the independent statutory body that provides information and advice to Government on policy and practice relevant to the lives of persons with disabilities. The NDA assists in the co-ordination of disability policy, and also promotes Universal Design through the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design.

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