Survey Results

Overview

The survey questions were grouped into 11 main categories from Demographics
to Impact and Opinions. The responses to the questions are listed on this page and grouped into those categorizations. Each of the questions include the response percentages as well as a summary of the findings. The summary information does not compare or relate each question to determine larger relationships.

If you are interested in determining question results for certain user types, the Data page and downloadable Excel file can be filtered by demographics. For example, data can be filtered to show results for only those who identified as having a specific disability.

There are other pages that provide comparisons and extrapolated information. We are continuing to organize and provide overarching findings based on our own review of the data in the Key Findings page. Furthermore, we connected with WebAIM for this project, since the organization’s surveys are recognized in the accessibility industry. If you are interested in comparing results with their overlapping survey questions, we included a WebAIM Comparison page.

Related Pages

Key Findings WebAIM Comparison Data

Do you have a disability?

1286 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Yes 758 respondents 58.9%
  • No 528 respondents 41.1%

Summary of Findings

Though the survey is aimed towards people with disabilities, we did not make it mandatory to say yes to having a disability. Not all individuals that need to use assistive technology will define themselves as having a disability. For instance, someone with dyslexia may not consider themselves disabled or individuals that need glasses. These may very well be native users of assistive technology and can benefit the bigger conversation of web accessibility.

Regardless, a larger number of respondents still identified as having a disability. If it is a concern for your own research, when reviewing the raw data, you can filter the yes/no responses and how they relate to the other questions.

What types of disabilities do you have?

758 out of 1286 people answered this question (with multiple choice)

  • Cognitive or Learning 303 respondents 40%
  • Low Vision or Visually-Impaired 283 respondents 37.3%
  • Blindness 181 respondents 23.9%
  • Motor 133 respondents 17.5%
  • Deafness or Hard-of-Hearing 106 respondents 14%
  • Other 129 respondents 17%

Summary of Findings

This question was a multiple choice option so the percentages add up beyond 100%. Of the 758 respondents, 267 identified as having more more than one disability either through listing multiple “Other” or a combination of multiple selections. It is a reminder that individuals are generally not easily categorized into only one disability. When testing and implementing your own site content, consider how there are users that have vision and motor impairments or Blindness and Deafness.

Many of the submissions written in for “Other” could have been placed within the technical categorization of other listed categories, such as “Cognitive” and “Motor”. However, terminology use and classifications differ between individuals. For instance, neurodiversity, autism, and ADHD were listed out separately when these can be placed within the cognitive option. Additionally, there were others that wanted to list out that they have many other conditions or include specific diseases.

Where are you currently located?

1286 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • North America 773 respondents 60.1%
  • Europe 338 respondents 26.3%
  • Oceania 71 respondents 5.5%
  • Asia 63 respondents 4.9%
  • South America 21 respondents 1.6%
  • Middle East 9 respondents 0.7%
  • Africa 7 respondents 0.5%
  • Central America 3 respondents 0.2%
  • Caribbean 1 respondent 0.1%

Summary of Findings

Even though the survey was done online and open to any location, a majority of submission came from North America and Europe. The survey was not multi-lingual, which was a known limitation and future consideration. Even this site is solely in English, which can limit information.

So keep in mind that the results are weighted towards English speaking individuals. Regardless, there were multiple other non-English speaking location submissions. Keep in mind this is not a question around ethnicity or language. The information to gather is potentially browser and assistive technology use by location, such as iOS versus Android use.

What is your age?

1286 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • 30- to 34 years 228 respondents 17.7%
  • 25- to 29 years 202 respondents 15.7%
  • 20- to 24 years 197 respondents 15.3%
  • 35- to 39 years 183 respondents 14.2%
  • Below 20 years 150 respondents 11.7%
  • 40- to 44 years 129 respondents 10%
  • 45- to 49 years 81 respondents 6.3%
  • 50- to 54 years 59 respondents 4.6%
  • 55- to 59 years 30 respondents 2.3%
  • 60- to 64 years 13 respondents 1%
  • 70- to 74 years 7 respondents 0.5%
  • 65- to 69 years 6 respondents 0.5%
  • 75- to 79 years 1 respondent 0.1%

Summary of Findings

The goal of incorporating this question is to compare how assistive tech use may differ based off of age. The options were fairly granular for raw data reference. If we group these into ranges of 20 years, a majority of respondents were in the combined age range of 20 to 39 with 810 or 63% of submission. The next highest range would be 40-59 with 299 submissions. Then below 20 at 150.

Only 27 respondents were aged 60 or older, which may be influenced by the survey being spread on online reddit communities. Regardless, with the World Wide Web’s inception 34 years ago, we will continue to see a growing demographic of older audiences that are highly active online. This is a further reason to consider accessibility in your site development.

What is your current level of employment?

1286 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Employed full time 690 respondents 53.7%
  • Not employed 219 respondents 17%
  • Student or too young 211 respondents 16.4%
  • Employed part time 131 respondents 10.2%
  • Retired 35 respondents 2.7%

Summary of Findings

A combined 63.9% of the respondents noted they are employed full or part time. This should help remind e-commerce and sales related site owners that there are potential losses or missed customers by overlooking accessibility processes.

Note that of the 758 individuals who identified as having a disability, only 178 (around 23.5%) indicated they also were unemployed. The data will hopefully help battle the misconception that having a disability means individuals cannot be active members in the workforce.

Would you consider yourself a rehabilitation specialist?

1286 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Yes 50 respondents 3.9%
  • No 1236 respondents 96.1%

Summary of Findings

The goal of this question is to help distinguish responses from those who are active professionals, since they may have knowledge and technology influences from their work. However, with 96.1% of users not indicating being a rehabilitation specialist, there is limited influence on statistical data.

Would you consider yourself a professional in the web accessibility industry?

1286 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Yes 235 respondents 18.3%
  • No 1051 respondents 81.7%

Summary of Findings

Similar to the prior question, the goal is to help distinguish responses of accessibility professionals, since they may have knowledge and technology influences from their work. However, at 81.7% a large of submissions are not specialists.

What would you rate your proficiency using the Internet?

1286 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Professional / Expert 609 respondents 47.4%
  • Advanced 538 respondents 41.8%
  • Intermediate 131 respondents 10.2%
  • Beginner 8 respondents 0.6%

Summary of Findings

Some users may be unsure if they should state “Advanced” or “Professional / Expert”. Regardless, the large majority of respondents (89.2%) noted being above “Intermediate”. The large number of participants coming from online communities likely weighted the responses heavier than other surveys, so consider this in your own review of data.

Do you use a desktop/laptop?

1286 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Yes 1233 respondents 95.9%
  • No 53 respondents 4.1%

Summary of Findings

The results from this question may seem unnecessary with a non-surprising result of a large percentage (95.9%) stating they do use a desktop/laptop. However, this had two goals: question logic to only display desktop related questions if survey takers said yes and to show not all users have or use desktops.

Though a smaller percentage (4.1%) stated they do not use a desktop/laptop, it is still a noteworthy reminder to not make drastic reductions in functionality for mobile users. If users can only access your site through a mobile device, they may be missing important information.

What is your primary operating system you use on desktops/laptops?

1233 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Windows 856 respondents 69.4%
  • Mac 235 respondents 19.1%
  • Linux 107 respondents 8.7%
  • Chrome OS 30 respondents 2.4%
  • Other 5 respondents 0.4%

Summary of Findings

Windows unsurprisingly had the highest number of respondents (69.4%). This generally aligns with global statistics from locations like StatCounter.

Individuals who selected “other” considered both Mac and Windows or Mac and Linux equally as being their primary system. Additional operating systems noted include Opera GX and OpenBSD.

Which desktop browsers do you use?

1233 out of 1286 people answered this question (with multiple choice)

  • Chrome 880 respondents 71.4%
  • Firefox 824 respondents 66.8%
  • Edge 361 respondents 29.3%
  • Safari 278 respondents 22.5%
  • Opera 89 respondents 7.2%
  • Other 129 respondents 10.5%

Summary of Findings

Since this question was multiple choice, the similar numbers of Chrome and Firefox indicates many users utilizing both browsers. Edge and Safari being in a similar range between 20 and 30 may influence decisions on additional browser testing for web development. Safari testing may be more insightful between the two because Edge uses the Blink engine, which is what powers Chrome, as well.

Individuals who selected “other” included other Chromium and Firefox deviated browsers, such as Brave, Vivaldi, Waterfox, and SeaMonkey. Alternative browsers noted multiple times, also include Arc, Orion, and Tor. Additionally, some users noted their search engines, such as Bing and Ecosia.

Which is your primary desktop browser?

1233 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Chrome 532 respondents 43.1%
  • Firefox 450 respondents 36.5%
  • Edge 82 respondents 6.7%
  • Safari 72 respondents 5.8%
  • Opera 32 respondents 2.6%
  • Other 65 respondents 5.3%

Summary of Findings

The secondary question after listing all browsers used helps narrow focus on what users utilize the most. This did not change the order of which is most popular with Chrome still the most used. Chrome, Firefox, and other were roughly halved in responses. However, Edge, Safari, and Opera dropped by three to four times for primary use. When considering what browsers to include in testing that reach the largest number of users, Chrome and Firefox are still the ideal starters.

Individuals who selected “Other” included the same responses as the prior question stating Chromium and Firefox deviated browsers, such as Brave, Vivaldi, Waterfox, and SeaMonkey. Alternative browsers noted multiple times, also include Arc, Orion, and Tor.

Do you use a mobile device?

1286 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Yes 1269 respondents 98.7%
  • No 17 respondents 1.3%

Summary of Findings

Similar to the desktop/laptop question, the results may seem unnecessary with a non-surprising result of a large percentage (98.7%) stating they do use a mobile device. The goal still was to provide question logic so desktop-only users do not receive mobile related questions.

This is another reminder to site owners that mobile support is a mandatory part of development. Desktop-only sites should be updated to account for smaller screens.

What is your primary mobile operating system?

1269 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Android 667 respondents 52.6%
  • iOS 584 respondents 46%
  • Chrome OS 12 respondents 0.9%
  • Other 6 respondents 0.5%
  • Other 5 respondents 0.4%

Summary of Findings

Android slightly overtakes iOS in market share of respondents. When considering region data, 50.3% of the respondents in US use Android versus 57% of respondents in Europe. For the remaining countries combined Android primary use is 61.7%.

Keep in mind a wide audience of respondents participated in the survey. There are larger differences in device use when comparing disabilities. For instance, 71% of those that indicated blindness use iOS.

Individuals who selected “Other” noted using Samsung, /e/OS, GrapheneOS, LineageOS, Windows, or both Android and iOS.

Which mobile browsers do you use?

1269 out of 1286 people answered this question (with multiple choice)

  • Chrome 696 respondents 54.8%
  • Safari 520 respondents 41%
  • Firefox 445 respondents 35.1%
  • Edge 59 respondents 4.6%
  • Opera 89 respondents 4.3%
  • Other 171 respondents 13.5%

Summary of Findings

Similar to the desktop browser responses, the big names are all used: Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. For mobile, Safari being more prominent in responses is not surprising since it is the default browser for iOS.

Individuals who selected “Other” included other Chromium deviated browsers, such as Brave, Vivaldi, and Kiwi. Alternative browsers noted multiple times, also include DuckDuckGo, Orion, and Tor.

Which is your primary mobile browsers?

1269 out of 1286 people answered this question 

  • Chrome 459 respondents 36.2%
  • Safari 400 respondents 31.5%
  • Firefox 259 respondents 20.4%
  • Edge 19 respondents 1.5%
  • Opera 19 respondents 1.5%
  • Other 113 respondents 8.9%

Summary of Findings

Chrome and Safari are the top two browsers and those are both the main browsers of corresponding Android and iOS.

What will be interesting in time is how this might change due to the announcement around iOS 17.4 allowing browsers to users their own rendering engines. Currently, all browsers are limited to using Safari’s WebKit engine. However, this may be only available in the EU, so location demographics may influence numbers for testing in the future, as well.

Individuals who selected “Other” included other Chromium deviated browsers, such as Brave, Vivaldi, and Kiwi. Alternative browsers noted multiple times, also include DuckDuckGo, Orion, and Tor.

What is your primary input device to navigate?

1286 out of 1286 people answered this question 

  • Mouse 646 respondents 50.2%
  • Keyboard 451 respondents 35.1%
  • Pointer 74 respondents 5.8%
  • Voice Dictation 55 respondents 4.3%
  • Switch Access 14 respondents 1.1%
  • Other 46 respondents 3.6%

Summary of Findings

The data shows that about half of the users use a mouse with then a large percentage using keyboards. This is a reminder to include keyboards in your testing process. The results also indicates how users access the web with more than those two. Though smaller percentages, there are respondents using switch devices, pointers, and voice dictation software, as well.

In the future, separate questions for both mobile and desktop can help narrow down users that utilize methods like keyboard on mobile and users that use touchscreens with desktop monitors. This can help better determine what to include in testing.

Furthermore, we should have explained the meaning of pointer devices, since some users may be unsure to include fingers and pens as pointers. In future iterations, we can create separate options and explanations so it is clearer for users.

Individuals who selected “Other” included Apple pencils, touchscreens, trackpads, touchpads, trackballs, combination of mouse and keyboard, and fingers.

Do you use accessibility related browser extensions while accessing the web?

1272 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Yes 654 respondents 51.4%
  • No 618 respondents 48.6%

Summary of Findings

With a little over half the respondents stating they do use accessibility related browser extensions, the data shows many users rely on their own tools to adjust site experiences.

When developing your own site content, consider that you may not need to build theme options and your own magnification, since users may already have their own extensions that handle these. This does not mean build inaccessible websites and be worry free. It may mean that you don’t have to build your own theme switchers if you include your own accessible base colors by default.

In the future, additional follow up questions may be needed to determine what type of extensions are being used and if they are used for all sites or particular ones. From there, site owners can better understand features to account for.

Are you using the same assistive technology at work and home?

1286 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Yes 829 respondents 64.5%
  • No 457 respondents 35.5%

Summary of Findings

This question helps better review the data for users that may be required to use particular software at work. Licensing restrictions may force screen-reader users to only use NVDA or only use JAWS on their work machines. When the users may be using a Mac at home for a majority of their purchases.

The nuanced insight from filtering the data against these types of questions can help site owners know what devices and software to best account for.

A large majority (64.5%) note that they do use the same technology, which may make it easier for determining what to test for.

Do you consider your work setup your primary device?

457 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Yes 125 respondents 27.4%
  • No 332 respondents 72.6%

Summary of Findings

This question displayed for users that selected “No” in the prior question and use different technology for work and home.

These two questions are aiming to determine if screen reader and other assistive technology responses are influenced by work use. If their work setup is their primary device then the primary screen reader results, for instance, may be influenced.

A large number of respondents (72.6%) noted that their work setup is not their primary device. This means subsequent question responses are more likely to be from the perspective of how they browse the web at home.

Do you use a screen reader?

1286 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Yes 362 respondents 28.1%
  • No 924 respondents 71.9%

Summary of Findings

Since the survey expanded into multiple subreddits including r/CerebralPalsy, r/Autism, and r/Disability there was a wider range of participants than other more screen-reader focused surveys. The 28.1% of respondents that said yes to this question then received the following questions in this section.

With 362 submissions specifically around screen-reader usage in this section, we can still extrapolate a fair amount of understanding of this user type.

What is your screen-reader proficiency?

362 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Advanced 111 respondents 30.7%
  • Intermediate 103 respondents 28.5%
  • Beginner 80 respondents 22.1%
  • Professional / Expert 68 respondents 18.8%

Summary of Findings

Unlike the questions around internet proficiency, there were was a lower percentage that considered themselves “Professional / Expert” level (18.8%). Still, the largest percentage consider themselves “Advanced” (30.7%).

Note that the term “Professional” could have influenced decisions for users as well, if they did not consider themselves professional trainers and specialists of screen reader technology.

What screen readers do you commonly use on a desktop/laptop?

337 out of 1286 people answered this question (with multiple choice)

  • NVDA 225 respondents 66.8%
  • JAWS 144 respondents 42.7%
  • VoiceOver 140 respondents 41.5%
  • Narrator 177 respondents 34.7%
  • Zoom Text 38 respondents 11.3%
  • Orca 31 respondents 9.2%
  • Other 16 respondents 4.7%

Summary of Findings

Users that noted they use a desktop/laptop and a screen-reader received this question.

Even with users being able select multiple options, there is a significant higher number of references of NVDA (66.8%). Though the top spot differs from other surveys, the three top choices do align. When considering initial desktop screen readers, you may want to consider NVDA and JAWS on Windows and VoiceOver on Mac.

Individuals who selected “Other” included general names indicating they may not know the names off hand or that they use whatever is needed per app or device. For example, a user added “Native screen readers on Windows and iOS”.

The most common referenced screen reader under “Other” was TalkBack. Additional screen readers noted include “Spoken Content” on Apple devices, Dolphin Access Suite: Supernova, Read and Write Gold, ChromeVox, and 争渡 ZhengDuSR.

What is your primary screen reader on desktop/laptop?

337 out of 1286 people answered this question (with multiple choice)

  • NVDA 181 respondents 53.7%
  • JAWS 84 respondents 24.9%
  • VoiceOver 78 respondents 23.1%
  • Narrator 42 respondents 12.5%
  • Zoom Text 20 respondents 5.9%
  • Orca 18 respondents 5.3%
  • Other 12 respondents 3.6%

Summary of Findings

In testing of the form, certain screen-reader users became stuck on the Typeform list of radio options that included “Other”, where not all options would list. We had to adjust the format to be multiple choice to resolve the issue, so the numbers are partially influenced by 22 people (6.5% of the 337 total users) selecting more than one option.

Even with a potential change of 6.5%, NVDA still ranks significantly higher than JAWS in primary desktop use. There were almost double the amount of NVDA primary users than JAWS.

Individuals who selected “Other” included similar options with the prior question with some even stating “Same as before”.

Do you use a mouse when using a screen reader?

337 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Yes 158 respondents 46.9%
  • No 179 respondents 53.1%

Summary of Findings

We introduced this question, because we notice mouse use is an overlooked interaction point for screen-reader test cases. There is a wide range of users that may use a screen reader with varying vision levels and reasons for using a screen reader.

There may be an assumption that users that are blind or have low vision may not operate a mouse. However, 68 of users that identified blindness and/or low vision as one of their disabilities noted “Yes” to this question. This was much higher than that same audience that said “no” (23 individuals).

There is a wide range to vision loss and some users may lose their sight later in life after acclimating to mouse use. Regardless, be considerate of your development testing to include mouse use with a screen reader.

How often do you use a mouse with a screen reader?

158 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Often 67 respondents 42.4%
  • Sometimes 66 respondents 41.8%
  • Occasionally 25 respondents 15.8%

Summary of Findings

A majority of the 158 participants that stated “Yes” to using a mouse with a screen reader “Often” use a mouse (42.4%). This further reinforces how it should be considered as a test case as site owners and developers.

An example development situation that would impact this user type, would be the use of an anchor overlapping an entire card of content to make the entire card clickable. If the anchor is empty of text but has an aria-label attribute, it is reachable and understandable by keyboard navigation. However, mouse users in NVDA will not get the aria-label and it will only announce as “link”. The content behind the anchor will also not be read.

What screen readers do you commonly use on mobile?

358 out of 1286 people answered this question (with multiple choice)

  • VoiceOver 209 respondents 58.4%
  • Talkback 110 respondents 30.7%
  • Voice Assistant 53 respondents 14.8%
  • Mobile Accessibility for Android 52 respondents 14.5%
  • Commentary/Jieshuo 14 respondents 3.9%
  • VoiceView 12 respondents 3.4%
  • Mobile Speak 11 respondents 3.1%
  • IDEAL 8 respondents 2.2%
  • Nuance Talks 7 respondents 2%
  • Other 19 respondents 5.3%

Summary of Findings

Participants that noted they use a mobile device as well as a screen reader received this question.

VoiceOver stands out for mobile screen reader use with 58.4% of respondents selecting the option. The number of respondents was almost double of Talkback on Android, even though overarching mobile device use had Android higher than iOS. This points to VoiceOver being a good starting point for screen reader testing on mobile if you only select one device.

We did not include a “primary screen reader” question due to users generally only having access to the device’s default screen reader. However, there were still users that selected some of the alternatives, so there may be benefit of an additional “primary” question in time.

Many individuals who selected “Other” stated they only use screen readers on desktop and not on mobile or do not have an option since they use a Windows phone. BrailleSense 6, Speechify, and “Spoken Content” in Apple accessibility settings were noted, as well.

For longer pages, which of the following do you use most to find information?

362 out of 1286 people answered this question (with multiple choice)

  • Navigate by headings 239 respondents 66%
  • Use a keyboard find/search feature 239 respondents 27.5%
  • Read through the page 93 respondents 25.7%
  • Navigate by landmarks 55 respondents 15.2%
  • Navigate by links 55 respondents 15.2%
  • Other 4 respondents 1.1%

Summary of Findings

With newer web aspects over the years for navigation, such as landmark roles, this question was included to determine preferences of screen-reader users. This is a multiple-choice question, so users were able to note multiple options.

With 66% of users stating “Navigate by headings”, this is a reminder of the importance of basic semantics in content creation.

The 4 “Other” responses were “Skim and zoom”, “Navigation by most or all types of elements…”, “Finger,” and “embeddings and LLM”. The Large Language Models note is an interesting take on using AI to summarize information for users that may have difficulty navigating the entire page.

When navigating through web content, how useful are heading levels?

362 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Very useful 227 respondents 62.7%
  • Somewhat useful 101 respondents 27.9%
  • Indifferent 29 respondents 8%
  • Not very useful 4 respondents 1.1%
  • Not useful at all 1 respondents 0.3%

Summary of Findings

Though headings are one of the common known needs for accessibility, this question was included to further confirm if headings are of strong importance for navigation. Considering that a large majority of 62.7% stated “Very Useful”, be extra mindful to include headings and use proper heading orders when creating content.

Do you use a braille reader while navigating websites?

362 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Yes 65 respondents 18%
  • No 297 respondents 82%

Summary of Findings

Though braille frequency of use and experience feedback were limited in this round of the survey, we wanted to still determine what percentage of screen-reader users utilize braille readers.

With 82% of users stating “No” it may be a a reminder of lower Braille literacy rate since the 1960s, which is a concern brought up by The National Federation of the Blind.

Do you use magnification options, software or hardware?

1286 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Yes 576 respondents 44.8%
  • No 710 respondents 55.2%

Summary of Findings

Though not the majority, nearly half of the respondents (44.8%) use magnification options of some type. This is a significant number of participants. On top of that, 35% of all participants that did not state having a disability noted using magnification.

Users find these options beneficial for enhancing their digital experience. It is important during site creation to consider the different ways users magnify their screens. Development should utilize dynamic font sizing and style responsively to different magnification. Design wise avoid over use of sticky/fixed position content, especially on smaller screens.

What assistive technology approaches do you use for magnification?

576 out of 1286 people answered this question (with multiple choice)

  • Browser Magnification (Zoom Feature) 477 respondents 82.8%
  • Browser Font Size Enlargement (Settings within your browser) 351 respondents 60.9%
  • Operating System Magnification (Windows and Mac zoom/magnify settings) 343 respondents 59.5%
  • Device Magnification Software (Such as ZoomText, SuperNova, or WindowsZoom) 116 respondents 20.1%
  • External Devices or Hardware (Monitor Attachment and Vision Magnifier) 47 respondents 8.2%
  • Other 17 respondents 3%

Summary of Findings

Most respondents (73%) selected at least two options indicating many users utilize multiple options. We cannot fully determine from the results if they use multiple at the same time or change depending on the site, which indicates needing more clarity in the future.

When considering where to begin planning and testing site development for magnification, the most popular option selected was browser magnification (82.8%). Following that, the next available option that site developers can account for was browser font size enlargement at 60.9%. We recommend accounting for both of these options that are within the control of the site.

Those that selected “Other” noted approaches, such as “Reading mode, downloading a page then enlarging font size in Apple Books…”, “Snip + zoom”, and “UserCSS”.

What browser magnification percentage do you use?

477 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • 100- to 150% magnification 220 respondents 46.1%
  • 151- to 200% magnification 143 respondents 30%
  • 201- to 250% magnification 69 respondents 14.5%
  • 251- to 300% magnification 25 respondents 5.2%
  • 301- to 350% magnification 11 respondents 2.3%
  • 351- to 400% magnification 5 respondents 1%
  • 451- to 500% magnification 3 respondents 0.6%
  • 401- to 450% magnification 1 respondents 0.2%

Summary of Findings

The most common magnification range chosen by respondents is 100 to 150%, with 46.1% of respondents opting for this level of magnification. This range likely provides a compromise of increased font size while avoiding major layout changes. Since we did not have a question if they use multiple options at the same time, we do not know for sure that they selected lower magnifications because of other simultaneous technology use.

What is your browser font size enlargement?

351 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • 16 to 20px 129 respondents 36.8%
  • 21 to 25px 105 respondents 29.9%
  • 26 to 30px 74 respondents 21.1%
  • 31 to 35px 18 respondents 5.1%
  • 36 to 40px 10 respondents 2.8%
  • 45px or higher 10 respondents 2.8%
  • 41 to 44px 5 respondents 1.4%

Summary of Findings

Similar to the other questions, we do not know for sure that they selected smaller font size ranges because of other simultaneous technology use. The most popular selection (36.8%) had default 16px to 20px font sizes, so smaller increases than the other ranges.

There was a drop off in percentage of responses beyond 30px. WCAG includes criteria around users increasing font sizes up to 200%, which would commonly 32px based on default browser font sizes. So the common use cases from respondents seems to align with the criteria.

What is your operating system (OS) magnification percentage?

343 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • 150- to 199% 211 respondents 61.5%
  • 200- to 249% 73 respondents 21.3%
  • 250 to 299% 33 respondents 9.6%
  • 350% or higher 14 respondents 4.1%
  • 300- to 349% 12 respondents 3.5%

Summary of Findings

With 61.5% of respondents choosing 150 to 199%, there is a common theme across these questions indicating many users do not need large amounts of magnification. However, as noted in prior explanations, there is a missing clarity of whether users utilize multiple options at the same time. Anecdotally, users we have interacted with noted using multiple options, such as OS plus browser magnification so they avoid viewing “mobile” versions of sites.

If you use another layer of OS magnification, what is the level of the magnifier?

343 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • I do not use another OS magnification layer 209 respondents 60.9%
  • 1x – 1.9x 60 respondents 17.5%
  • 2x – 3.9x 49 respondents 14.3%
  • 4x – 5.9x 16 respondents 4.7%
  • 6x – 9.9x 7 respondents 2%
  • 10x or higher 2 respondents 0.6%

Summary of Findings

This question was included because operating systems do provide multiple options to magnify content, so we wanted to confirm if users did use a combination. The largest percentage of responses (60.9%) noted they do not. There is a wide range of vision loss and needs, so there are still instances of users magnifying further up to 10x or higher.

What level of software magnification do you use?

116 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • 1x – 1.9x 49 respondents 42.2%
  • 2x – 3.9x 43 respondents 37.1%
  • 4x – 5.9x 12 respondents 10.3%
  • 6x – 9.9x 7 respondents 6%
  • 10x or higher 5 respondents 4.3%

Summary of Findings

The software magnification levels were similar to all of the magnification questions so far, with the lower range of 1x to 1.9x at 42.2% of respondents.

Remember that the levels of respondents changed based on what options they initially selected for “What browser magnification percentage do you use?”. With that in mind, 24.3% of the total respondents that stated “Yes” to using magnification use software navigation. We will want to know in time, if these users always utilize the software and if they use it simultaneously with others.

Do you need to adjust color settings to browse the web?

1286 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Yes 525 respondents 40.8%
  • No 761 respondents 59.2%

Summary of Findings

Considering the diverse needs of users, especially those with disabilities, web designers must prioritize inclusive design practices when configuring color settings. For individuals with visual impairments, high contrast settings and customizable color schemes are essential for enhancing readability and usability. Though not the majority, a large percentage (40.8%) of responses were “Yes”.

There may be different reasons for color changes from those that prefer dark mode to those that need certain colors to avoid headaches. Furthermore, many individuals require high contrast to be able to read content due to different vision levels. As site owners and developers this does not necessarily mean you have to build the tools. However, be sure to not get in the way of users’ settings and tools.

How do you adjust color settings and contrast to browse the web?

525 out of 1286 people answered this question (with multiple choice)

  • Operating System Settings 352 respondents 67%
  • Third-party extensions, tools, software 342 respondents 65.1%
  • Custom Browser Styles 295 respondents 56.2%

Summary of Findings

Since this question is multiple choice, a large number of respondents (316) selected two or more options. This indicates that users may need to use different options depending on the app and site. It can also indicate that users may need multiple levels to sufficiently control their styles. The largest group were users that selected all three options (148).

Custom Browser styles was the lowest selection, which may be influenced on ease of setup of styles compared to extensions and settings. It could also be that respondents consider third-party extensions as a way to create custom browser styles. So there could be effort on better categorization phrasing in future rounds.

Do you prefer high-contrast modes on your browser or machine?

525 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Yes 311 respondents 59.2%
  • No 214 respondents 40.8%

Summary of Findings

A majority of respondents prefer high-contrast modes on their browser or machine with 59.2% answering “Yes”. This points to a preference for enhanced visibility and readability.

Those that indicated Low vision as one of their disabilities was the largest group (124) that answered “yes”. This aligns with expectation that many with varying vision use high-contrast modes. The 124 respondents make up 43% of all participants that indicated “Low Vision or Visually-Impaired”.

If high-contrast modes are used, what type do you typically use?

311 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Dark background with light text 256 respondents 82.3%
  • Light background with dark text 36 respondents 11.6%
  • A theme with reduced foreground-background color contrast 19 respondents 6.1%

Summary of Findings

Overall, the majority of respondents (82.3%) favor dark background high-contrast modes. Though to some white or light text on black causes more eyestrain, bright light from a screen or other sources prevents some people with low vision (including those with photophobia and with reading disabilities such as dyslexia) from reading.

This high favorability of darker backgrounds aligns with why the later question around dark mode, which also had a high response rate of “Yes”. This does not mean all sites should not use light backgrounds, since there were respondents that selected needing dark text, as well.

If websites offers a high contrast mode, do you use it?

311 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Yes 289 respondents 92.9%
  • No 22 respondents 7.1%

Follow up question for those that selected “No”:

You noted preferring high-contrast modes but choose not use websites’ high-contrast modes. Can you elaborate why?

Summary of Findings

The significant majority of respondents indicated they do use website offerings of high-contrast modes. We cannot determine if it is because the websites that have high contrast modes have poor contrast by default or if users just prefer the theme options of sites when provided. However, as site owners, designers, and developers, consider well thought out theme switching options for your content.

For the follow up question, the responses included general sentiments of lack of trust in the websites or preference of their own settings, such as “Usually poor implementation”, “…browse the web on desktop under Windows and there the browsers used by me support the native Windows high contrast mode…”, and “Browser extension takes care of it.”

Do you prefer dark mode on your browser or machine?

525 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Yes 471 respondents 89.7%
  • No 54 respondents 10.3%

Summary of Findings

With 89.7% of respondents preferring dark mode, these findings align with the general preference for dark background contrast modes. This majority highlights the widespread adoption of dark mode, likely driven by factors, such as improved readability for low-vision users, less eyestrain in low light conditions, and aesthetic preferences. Consider if a dark mode theme is a realistic option for your site, but be conscientious when building it so contrasts needed are not lost.

If websites offers a dark mode, do you use it?

471 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Yes 289 respondents 92.9%
  • No 22 respondents 7.1%

Follow up question for those that selected “No”:

You noted preferring dark mode but choose not use websites’ dark modes. Can you elaborate why?

Summary of Findings

The large percentage (92.9%) of “Yes” responses indicates the strong interest of users enjoying curated dark mode themes from site and app creators. Site developed dark modes can provide subtle touches of branding and aesthetic while maintaining contrast needs.

For the follow up question, the responses included general sentiments of lack of trust in the websites, already using extensions, or variance based on the website. This points again to the need to build dark modes with contrast needs in mind.

Some example responses:
  • “Too much variation”
  • “…poor implementation”
  • “Reading large amounts of text with light text on a dark background is difficult. Small amounts is fine and reduces eye strain…”
  • “Browser extension takes care of it”

If you use custom styles, what do you commonly change through Stylish, Stylus, or custom style sheets?

525 out of 1286 people answered this question (multiple choice)

  • Background and/or text color 343 respondents 65.3%
  • Font size 293 respondents 55.8%
  • Font family/Font face 206 respondents 39.2%
  • Font weight/Boldness 151 respondents 28.8%
  • Line height/spacing 144 respondents 27.4%
  • Spacing around paragraphs, headings, etc. 131 respondents 25%
  • I do not use custom styles 108 respondents 20.6%
  • Letter or word spacing 97 respondents 18.5%

Summary of Findings

The results illustrate various preferences among respondents regarding the customization of web styles. The highest adjustments include “Background and/or text color” and “font size”. A notable percentage of respondents also modify font families, font weight, line height, and spacing between paragraphs/headings.

These results cannot be extrapolated to determine whether websites and apps have poor readability. However, it is a reminder as we design sites to consider larger fonts, spacings, and sufficient contrasts.

Do you use a keyboard to navigate websites?

1286 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Yes 874 respondents 68%
  • No 412 respondents 32%

Summary of Findings

With a large majority (68%) of participants using a keyboard to navigate, development and design teams should not overlook this input type. Keep in mind that 38.6% of those that did not indicate having a disability stated “Yes” to using a keyboard to navigate. This further establishes why focusing on keyboard for interfaces can help a large variety of users.

What is your preferred method of navigation when using a keyboard?

555 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Tab Key Browsing 519 respondents 93.5%
  • Caret Browsing (F7) 31 respondents 5.6%
  • Other 41 respondents 1.9%

Summary of Findings

The overarching preference for tab key browsing (93.5%), is not surprising since it is a basic interaction that browsers and apps natively support and users are aware of.

However, it is notable that there are respondents (5.6%) that utilize caret browsing, which enables users to navigate through text using arrow keys and additional keyboard options. Many users may not be aware what the term means or that this feature exists in browsers.

Examples provided when users selected “Other” include Vimium (Vim code editor that provides commands for web navigation), arrow keys, touch pad gestures, keyboard shortcuts, and search (Ctrl + F).

What is your preferred keyboard method of navigation with a screen reader?

319 out of 1286 people answered this question (multiple choice)

  • Tab key 244 respondents 76.5%
  • Arrow keys 239 respondents 74.9%
  • Additional key shortcuts, such as those for headings, lists, and landmarks 209 respondents 65.5%
  • Caret Browsing (F7) 32 respondents 10%
  • Other 6 respondents 1.9%

Summary of Findings

There are many diverse methods used by screen-reader users for keyboard navigation. Unsurprisingly, the basic level options of tab and arrow keys were similar percentages. This indicates users utilize both options when navigating sites. This does clarify when users preference when they utilize tab or arrow keys.

Though a lower number, a significant number of users (65.5%) utilize a wider range of additional key commands built into the software, as well. Furthermore, while caret browsing is less commonly chosen, it still represents a (10%) usage among respondents.

Examples provided when users selected “Other” include search, Talon (voice dictation to trigger keyboard commands), and additional screen reader key commands.

Do you use an external keyboard to navigate content on your mobile devices?

864 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Yes 126 respondents 14.6%
  • No 738 respondents 85.4%

Summary of Findings

While the majority of respondents (85.4%) prefer not to use keyboards on mobile. There still are a percentage of users that do utilize keyboards. The question only does not indicate if the adoption is low because of difficulty or preference.

As developers and app creators, it is important to note that there are a percentage of users that do use a keyboard to access your content. Consider including keyboard testing in your process to account for these users.

Is keyboard navigation on mobile applications and websites intuitive?

864 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Yes 281 respondents 32.5%
  • No 583 respondents 67.5%

Summary of Findings

A significant majority of users (67.5%), found keyboard navigation on mobile non-intuitive. This suggests that while keyboard navigation is available, it is perceived as needing improvement and may not meet user expectations for ease of use. Keyboard support has not always been available in mobile operating systems, which may influence use and support.

However, in further review, this question could have benefited with a “not applicable” option, since users that do not use a keyboard on mobile because of preference may want to avoid influencing the results.

How often do you experience difficulty interacting with a link, button, or input through keyboard?

874 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Sometimes – A few times a week 317 respondents 36.3%
  • Occasionally – A few times a month 233 respondents 26.7%
  • Often – Every day 170 respondents 19.5%
  • Rarely – A few times a year 118 respondents 13.5%
  • Never 36 respondents 4.1%

Summary of Findings

With the largest number of respondents (36.3%) noting difficulty a few times a week, there are still signs of missing keyboard support from websites. Furthermore, only 4.1% of respondents never had any difficulty. This is a strong reminder to site owners that keyboard support is a common missing consideration. Be sure to include keyboards in testing and planning.

Do you use switch access to navigate websites?

1286 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Yes 70 respondents 5.4%
  • No 1216 respondents 94.6%

Summary of Findings

From the different communities and individuals that participated in the survey, there are low number of switch access users (5.4%). We cannot determine the cause for the lower usage rate and it may not be an indicator of a smaller demographic. Additional questions and clarity may be needed in this section, such as preference of technologies in comparison and why.

How often do you experience difficulty interacting with a link, button, or input through switch access?

70 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Often – Every day 22 respondents 31.4%
  • Sometimes – A few times a week 21 respondents 30%
  • Occasionally – A few times a month 19 respondents 27.1%
  • Rarely – A few times a year 6 respondents 8.6%
  • Never 2 respondents 2.9%

Summary of Findings

While most participants do not use switch access, a majority of those that use switches encounter challenges a few times a week to every day. The largest percentage (31.4%) experience such difficulties on a daily basis.

This likely indicates more testing being needed for websites and apps. Regardless, more clarity on why users experience difficulty is needed.

Do you use eye tracking and/or physical pointers to navigate websites?

1286 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Yes 73 respondents 5.7%
  • No 1213 respondents 94.3%

Summary of Findings

Similar to switch access questions, the fewer individuals that participated in the survey indicated eye tracking or physical pointer use (5.7%). We cannot determine the cause for the lower usage rate from the data itself and it may not be an indicator of a smaller demographic. As noted in the switch section, additional questions and clarity may be needed in this section, such as participants’ comparison of technologies.

With technology changes to more headset use due to AR and VR adoption, there may be changes to the number of users utilizing eye tracking over time.

How often do you experience difficulty interacting with a link, button, or input through eye tracking or physical pointers?

73 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Sometimes – A few times a week 25 respondents 34.2%
  • Often – Every day 18 respondents 24.7%
  • Occasionally – A few times a month 16 respondents 21.9%
  • Rarely – A few times a year 11 respondents 15.1%
  • Never 3 respondents 4.1%

Summary of Findings

Though not the same, there is some similarity to the experiences from those that use switch access with a majority noting a few times a week to every day. It is still not enough information to determine if the cause is from the websites and applications or the eye tracking software and pointers.

Out of the users that use eye tracking or physical pointers, the survey results clearly outline the difficulty behind navigating the web, and the need for broader accessibility testing. While there are other disabilities that are more prominent within the surveyed respondents, developers should also be aware of users that utilize eye tracking software and physical pointers to navigate websites.

Do you use a voice dictation to navigate websites?

1286 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Yes 125 respondents 9.7%
  • No 1161 respondents 90.3%

Summary of Findings

The survey did include a wide variety of disabilities and user types, so not every device and tool will have high results. This may explain the 9.7% of participants that stated “Yes”. When looking at different disabilities the percentage of a particular type does increase. For instance, around a quarter of the respondents that indicated “Motor” disabilities (24%) stated using voice dictation.

While improvements in voice assistant technology and voice-dictation software, we will see if the percentages increase or remain the same over time.

Do you prefer using grid numbers or labels to trigger links when using voice-dictation to navigate a page?

125 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Depends on content 85 respondents 68%
  • Names and labels 27 respondents 21.6%
  • Grid Numbers 13 respondents 10.4%

Summary of Findings

Out of 125 respondents using voice dictation for website navigation, a majority (68%) indicated that their preference for triggering links depended on the content. This suggests a flexible approach based on context or specific needs. This may indicate that websites and apps make it difficult to only use names or voice-dictation software needing improvements. However, these causes are not something that can be determined from only this question. Additional clarity questions may be needed in the future.

How often do you experience difficulty interacting with a link, button, or input through voice dictation?

125 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Often – Every day 48 respondents 38.4%
  • Sometimes – A few times a week 48 respondents 38.4%
  • Occasionally – A few times a month 18 respondents 14.4%
  • Rarely – A few times a year 10 respondents 8%
  • Never 1 respondents 0.8%

Summary of Findings

We did include a follow up question for voice-dictation users to try and determine if the preference from the prior question was influenced by difficulty of sites and apps. With “Often – Every day” and “Sometimes – A few times a week” being the highest selections, this starts to connect with the theory that websites and apps or voice-dictation software needing improvement. However, follow up is needed to determine the real experiences of this user type.

What methods or tools do you typically use to consume multimedia content?

1286 out of 1286 people answered this question (with multiple choice)

  • Closed Captions: Adding text to the video that displays spoken dialogue and sound effects 837 respondents 65.1%
  • Subtitles: Adding text to the video that translates spoken dialogue into another language. 837 respondents 65.1%
  • Speed Control: Allowing users to adjust the playback speed of the video. 679 respondents 52.8%
  • Transcripts: Providing a written transcript of the video’s spoken dialogue and sound efforts 566 respondents 44%
  • Audio Descriptions Adding an audio track that describes what is happening on screen for users who are visually impaired. 299 respondents 23.3%
  • Other 47 respondents 3.7%

Summary of Findings

With closed captions and subtitles understandably tied at 65.1% of respondents, this feature should be strongly considered for all of your video content. This feature is a benefit for all types of users whether they have a disability or not.

However, closed captions alone are not enough to account for all types of disabilities. There were no main selections that resulted in very low responses. Definitely consider including all features in your video and audio players.

In review of the question, options selected as typically using may be influenced on whether these features are available. A large number of multimedia players and content we have seen anecdotally do not include transcripts and audio descriptions. There may be benefit of indicating how often users have access to the options they want to use.

Many respondents that included “Other” were stating that they did not use the options provided. This may be a question that warrants an additional “None” option so users do not have to enter it. Other common responses included audio controls, such as volume and mute, and ways to skip content, such as rewinding 30 seconds to rehear content.

As a screen-reader user, do you prefer consuming video content with audio descriptions or descriptive transcripts?

362 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Audio Described Videos 156 respondents 43.1%
  • Both 110 respondents 30.4%
  • Descriptive Transcripts 96 respondents 26.5%

Summary of Findings

While a good percentage of users noted preference of transcripts, audio described videos was most popular at 43.1%. This should not be completely surprising, since users that are watching videos likely want to enjoy the content in real time with sound rather than needing to read the stage play. However, with 30.4% stating both and additional 26.5% preferring transcripts, content creators should consider both options.

The nice part of doing both is that descriptive transcripts help in creating the audio description narrator’s explanations of scene. So to aim for audio descriptions you end up doing both.

Regardless, we still recommend transcripts because they account for users that may be deaf and blind. Furthermore, there are SEO benefits, since search engine crawlers will not watch your video but they will read the transcript text.

If speed adjustments are used. What level of speeds do you prefer to access video and audio?

679 out of 1286 people answered this question (with multiple choice)

  • 1.25x 263 respondents 38.7%
  • 1.5x 243 respondents 35.8%
  • 1x 238 respondents 35.1%
  • 0.75x 143 respondents 21.1%
  • 2x or higher 121 respondents 17.8%
  • 0.5x 67 respondents 9.9%
  • 1.75x 50 respondents 7.4%
  • 0.25x 17 respondents 2.5%

Summary of Findings

Respondents selected 1.25x and 1.5x speeds the most, indicating many users having a preference to watch video content at fast speeds. This is likely a preference rather than a requirement for particular disability. Regardless, it is a reminder that users appreciate having speed controls, so when possible include these options in your video and audio players.

With 21.1% of respondents selecting 0.75x, there are additional signs that including speed controls is important. Users may need to slow video content down to best understand the content.

Are you familiar with Overlays?

1286 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • No 830 respondents 64.5%
  • Yes 304 respondents 23.6%
  • Not Sure 152 respondents 11.8%

Summary of Findings

In further review, this question could have had more clarification around the terminology, since it is industry specific. The largest number of responses were “No” at 64.5%, which may have been influenced by individuals that may have come across them but did not know what they are called. Additionally, overlays are not expansive on every site and many users that have ad blocker extensions may never see the overlays.

Overlays are third-party accessibility tools that site owners place on their site to provide features like color changes, font size/style adjustments, and reading support. Some of these tools include automation to try and fix accessibility concerns on the site. They are often recognizable to sighted users as standing stick figure buttons that are fixed position at the bottom of the screen. The buttons often have labels for screen readers, such as “Accessibility options”.

Which Overlays are you familiar with?

456 out of 1286 people answered this question (with multiple choice)

  • Do not know the name 227 respondents 49.8%
  • AccessiBe 165 respondents 36.2%
  • AudioEye 109 respondents 23.9%
  • EqualWeb 58 respondents 12.7%
  • UsableNet Assistive 53 respondents 11.6%
  • Accessibility Adapter 46 respondents 10.1%
  • User1st 37 respondents 8.1%
  • Amaze 36 respondents 7.9%
  • MaxAccess 25 respondents 5.5%
  • Purple Lens 24 respondents 5.3%
  • TruAbilities 16 respondents 3.5%
  • Poloda AI 14 respondents 3.1
  • MK-Sense 13 respondents 2.9%
  • Adally 10 respondents 2.2%
  • Loisio 6 respondents 1.3%
  • Other 39 respondents 8.6%

Summary of Findings

Brand recognition of overlay tools is low, with most users (49.8%) not knowing the name of the overlays. Even the list of choices we provided was not exhaustive because there are many out there. Furthermore, some of the “Other” options noted probably should have been included in the list.

Under the “Other” selections multiple individuals noted additional companies, such as UserWay, FACILiti, and ReciteMe. Some users noted utilizing their own via Userscripts like Tampermonkey. Interestingly, one individual noted “None in the last 3 months (I block them via an adblock rule)”.

How is your browsing experience with overlays?

456 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • 0 (Poor Experience) 138 respondents 30.3%
  • 1 out of 5 score 50 respondents 11%
  • 2 out of 5 score 58 respondents 12.7%
  • 3 out of 5 score 139 respondents 30.5%
  • 4 out of 5 score 48 respondents 10.5%
  • 5 (Excellent Experience) 23 respondents 5%

Summary of Findings

A combined 41.3% of individuals who answered this question noted experiences on the lower end of the range around “Poor Experience”. Furthermore, 30.3% of all selections were the lowest option.

Additionally, a combined 34.2% of individuals then selected options in the middle area (2 to 3) indicating an okay experience but not a great one.

The lowest 15.5% of respondents indicated choices around “Excellent Experience” with only 5% indicating the highest ranking. With this in mind, even though there are some users that have utilized overlays in a positive way, a larger majority have had more difficult or negative experiences.

Note that the experiences are not explicitly tied to one of the overlay tools, so there may be problems with all overlays or with specific ones. The survey data cannot determine this, but the general sentiment over the next few questions is fairly clear. Site owners need to consider these experiences when deciding on overlay use. Additionally, overlay vendors have to internalize feedback to determine how they can prevent making experiences worse.

What specific tools or features do you use within accessibility overlays?

456 out of 1286 people answered this question (with multiple choice)

  • None 175 respondents 38.4%
  • Zoom in/out 92 respondents 20.2%
  • Text resizing 91 respondents 20%
  • Keyboard navigation 87 respondents 19.1%
  • Contrast adjustment 82 respondents 18%
  • Remove animations 77 respondents 16.9%
  • High-contrast mode 70 respondents 15.4%
  • Remove background images 70 respondents 15.4%
  • Adjusting font type 63 respondents 13.8%
  • Text-to-speech 60 respondents 13.2%
  • Audio/Visual adjustments 59 respondents 12.9%
  • Re-arrange layout 42 respondents 9.2%
  • Language options 41 respondents 9%
  • Increase or decrease line spacing 37 respondents 8.1%
  • Adjusting pointer size 36 respondents 7.9%
  • Adjusting the active element style 36 respondents 7.9%
  • Adjusting reading speed 35 respondents 7.7%
  • Grayscale mode 33 respondents 7.2%
  • Adjusting cursor style 31 respondents 6.8%
  • Adjusting cursor size 30 respondents 6.6%
  • Adjusting the hover effect 26 respondents 5.7%
  • Focus Line 26 respondents 5.7%
  • Adjusting the link underline 25 respondents 5.5%
  • Adjusting the visited link style 24 respondents 5.3%
  • Adjusting the focus indicator 22 respondents 4.8%
  • Other 29 respondents 6.4%

Summary of Findings

The largest majority of respondents noted they did not use any overlay tools at 38.4%. From there, magnification related features like zoom and text resizing were most popular at around 20% each. Many individuals selected more than two options, which is why many of the features are closer in percentages.

Some individuals called out additional features in “Other”, such as ADHD “Mode” and a digital ruler. However, a majority of the other responses are that they do not use them.

Some explanations from respondents on why they do not use overlays:
  • “Would depend on the website but I’m boycotting sites that use overlays”
  • “None, I use accessibyebye to remove all overlays”
  • “avoid because interfere with my system level tools”
  • “Have never been able to use a website when an overlay becomes active; I know of them because they unanimously destroy my ability to use the pages they are on”

Have you had any issues with specific tools or features within accessibility overlays?

456 out of 1286 people answered this question (with multiple choice)

  • None 217 respondents 47.6%
  • Keyboard navigation 108 respondents 23.7%
  • Text resizing 70 respondents 15.4%
  • Text-to-speech 60 respondents 13.2%
  • High-contrast mode 57 respondents 12.5%
  • Audio/Visual adjustments 47 respondents 10.3%
  • Zoom in/out 47 respondents 10.3%
  • Re-arrange layout 46 respondents 10.1%
  • Adjusting font type 39 respondents 8.6%
  • Remove animations 39 respondents 8.6%
  • Language options 31 respondents 6.8%
  • Contrast adjustment 30 respondents 6.6%
  • Remove background images 28 respondents 6.1%
  • Increase or decrease line spacing 24 respondents 5.3%
  • Adjusting the focus indicator 23 respondents 5%
  • Adjusting reading speed 22 respondents 4.8%
  • Focus Line 21 respondents 4.6%
  • Adjusting the hover effect 20 respondents 4.4%
  • Adjusting the visited link style 20 respondents 4.4%
  • Adjusting cursor size 15 respondents 3.3%
  • Adjusting cursor style 14 respondents 3.1%
  • Adjusting the active element style 14 respondents 3.1%
  • Adjusting the link underline 14 respondents 3.1%
  • Adjusting pointer size 12 respondents 2.6%
  • Grayscale mode 12 respondents 2.6%
  • Other 23 respondents 5%

Summary of Findings

This question repeats the same options as earlier, but with the focus on if certain features are more problematic or less effective. The largest percentage stated “None” at 47.6%, so there are users that are potentially not impacted or have not had issues with tools.

However, do note that around half of the respondents (100) that stated “None” also stated that they do not use any specific tools or features. This question may have needed a “Not applicable” type option or hid this question and subsequent experience ones from those that stated “None” to avoid skewed results.

The lowest percentage features show signs that there are features in the tools that are generally not as problematic, such as “Grayscale mode” and “Adjust the link underline”.

Note that individuals called out additional features as having issues in the “Other” category, such as “auto generated alt text” and “adding screen reader labels… generally useless”. Additionally, a majority of the other responses note conflicts with technology or the tools do not work for them. Others also noted simply not using them and blocking them so they do not have issues.

Has an overlay ever conflicted with your technology?

456 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Yes 251 respondents 55%
  • No 205 respondents 45%

Follow up question for those that selected “Yes”:

What impact did the overlay have on your technology setup?

Summary of Findings

Similar to the prior question, this may have benefited with a “Not Applicable” for those that do not use the overlay features. However, there are signs of valuable insights from including these users in this question.

Interestingly, 100 users out of the 180 that stated they do not use the features of overlays answered “Yes” to this question. This likely points to lack of use because there are conflicts with the technology.

The follow up question data is important to review in the excel or table on the data page, since 122 individuals explained how the overlays conflicted with their technology.

Example conflicts written up by participants:
  • “I always have my browser zoomed in and so overlay buttons themselves block items or cannot function on top of a zoomed in site. They create more problems then they solve.”
  • “Amplified the low-light effect too much so I couldn’t read the screen anymore.”
  • “Crashed my browser”
  • “Some selection controls stopped working correctly and the layout of info with headings changed. From memory. It patched some issues but created new ones.”
  • “It caused parts of the website that I could normally read to disappear or be invisible to NVDA.”
  • “Interfered with spoken feedback, grabbed focus and shifted context without my interaction. Broke headings apart into individually focusable words causing severe cognitive load when trying to navigate due to all of the focus targets created by poor website adaptation. Interfered with user controls, mislabelled inputs, improperly labelled elements that should not receive aria-label attributes, inability to navigate cleanly through websites that nag to turn the options on. Overlays track and store my accessibility data without my consent. Fundamentally easy to navigate sections of sites become broken when the overlays attempt to correct things when no issue is present to correct, like navigating tables, images, lists of links, etc.”

Have you reached and interacted with a CAPTCHA security question?

1286 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Yes 1266 respondents 98.4%
  • No 20 respondents 1.6%

Summary of Findings

It is not surprising to see 98.4% of users interacting with some form of CAPTCHA. It is a fairly ubiquitous practice for site owners to try and reduce spam and “bots”. However, it is also a potential accessibility barrier, which has been even noted by the W3C in a Group Draft Note.


Which CAPTCHA types do you commonly reach?

1266 out of 1286 people answered this question (with multiple choice)

  • Image-Based 1191 respondents 94.1%
  • Text-Based 801 respondents 63.3%
  • Puzzles 696 respondents 55%
  • Mathematical 356 respondents 28.1%
  • Social Media Sign-in 355 respondents 28%
  • Audio 313 respondents 24.7%
  • Other 22 respondents 1.7%

Summary of Findings

The most commonly selected option of respondents is “Image-Based” followed by “Text-Based”, which aligns with the larger names in the industry over the years, such as Google’s reCAPTCHA. Interestingly, audio was the lowest selected option even though those are included in reCAPTCHA and others as alternatives. This is more of a sign that even though the audio alternatives exist, they may not be as commonly used depending on the user type.

Individuals that chose “Other” noted the reCAPTCHA checkbox and the concept of it determining you are human by tracked behavior. There were instances noting difficulty, such as “I cannot complete CAPTCHA by myself due to my motor disorder, but my caregiver does it for me.”

How often do you fail a CAPTCHA security request?

1266 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Sometimes – A few times a week 48 respondents 32.2%
  • Occasionally – A few times a month 388 respondents 30.6%
  • Rarely – A few times a year 281 respondents 22.2%
  • Often – Every day 145 respondents 11.5%
  • Never 44 respondents 3.5%

Summary of Findings

As noted at the start of this section, CAPTCHA Turing type puzzles and problem solving tools are in some way inaccessible. For instance, an image text with a fall back audio test may pass compliance under WCAG, it would not be usable by someone who is deaf and blind.

The results align with the known limitations of CAPTCHA, with the largest number of respondents stating they fail CAPTCHA a few times a week or a few times a month. 145 respondents even noted that they fail every day.

There are alternatives to traditional CAPTCHA methods to try and reduce “bots”. For instance, sites can use honeypots, timing rejections (i.e., submitting too quickly or too many times in succession), and two-factor authentication.

How often have you left a website or an app due to an accessibility issue?

1286 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Rarely – A few times a year 389 respondents 30.2%
  • Occasionally – A few times a month 375 respondents 29.2%
  • Sometimes – A few times a week 279 respondents 21.7%
  • Never 131 respondents 10.2%
  • Often – Every day 112 respondents 8.7%

Summary of Findings

As site owners it is an important consideration how accessibility concerns can impact bottom line. Though “Often” was the lowest at 8.7%, “Never” was one of the lower responses, as well, at only 10.2%. Rarely and Occasionally were both around 30%, so a larger percentage may leave sites from a few times a year to a few times a month.

Keep in mind that even a small percentage of users leaving e-commerce sites due to accessibility can impact revenue.

How would you rate the accessibility of the web content in the past year?

1286 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Web content accessibility has not changed 620 respondents 48.2%
  • Web content has become more accessible 353 respondents 27.4%
  • Web content has become less accessible 313 respondents 24.3%

Summary of Findings

This question was for pairing with WebAIM’s similar question from their survey. With 620 respondents stating that web content accessibility has not changed, this seems to be a consistent perspective with other surveys.

Keep in mind that the Reddit blackout happened during the survey running, so sentiment from the communities could have also felt less positive in progress. There were some respondents with choice words in responses due to the timing.

Hopefully, further sharing and growth in knowledge across all industries can help improve the current gaps in the web.

How would you rate the accessibility of mobile apps in the past year?

1269 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • App accessibility has not changed 673 respondents 53%
  • Apps have become less accessible 331 respondents 26.1%
  • Apps have become more accessible 265 respondents 20.9%

Summary of Findings

Similar to the web content question, there is a general sentiment of not seeing improvement. Half of the responses stated accessibility has not changed and 26.1% stated that they have become less accessible.

How would you rate the accessibility of social media platforms in the past year?

1286 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Social media accessibility has not changed 548 respondents 42.6%
  • Social media has become less accessible 520 respondents 40.4%
  • Social media has become more accessible 218 respondents 17%

Summary of Findings

Unlike the prior questions on rating accessibility, 40.4% of the respondents noted social media has become less accessible. This is not surprising with a major amount of submissions coming from Reddit communities while the blackout occurred. Many moderators and community members left the platform for good when the API changes prevented accessible apps from being available.

Reddit has since spent efforts to improve and fix their platform accessibility, so we will have to see the influence and sentiment over time.

Which of the following do you believe has advanced more in digital accessibility?

1286 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • Better assistive technology 639 respondents 49.7%
  • Both have been improving 373 respondents 29%
  • Better (more accessible) websites 274 respondents 21.3%

Summary of Findings

This question responses indicate that technology is helping improve experiences for people with disabilities. So there are some positive signs within the communities, since around half of the responses noted better assistive technology.

In time this could benefit from a follow up open text answer on what types of technology changes are improving the participants’ lives. With the growth of AI, there may be a larger conversation on the experience and sentiment of disability communities towards the space.

As an accessibility professional, what do you believe is the main reason many websites are not developed to be accessible?

235 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • All the above 109 respondents 46.4%
  • Lack of expertise or understanding in web accessibility 88 respondents 37.4%
  • Insufficient budget or resources to implement accessibility 18 respondents 7.7%
  • Concerns that implementing accessibility will negatively impact the visual design, user experience, or functionality. 14 respondents 6%
  • Other 6 respondents 2.6%

Summary of Findings

This question was displayed if users answered “Yes” to the early on question “Would you consider yourself a professional in the web accessibility industry?”

The highest selection was “All the above”. Combined with the second largest selection “Lack of expertise or understanding in web accessibility” there is a strong consensus that missing knowledge is the biggest culprit.

An additional common reason provided in the “Other” responses was a lack of empathy or caring. Another reason was the lack of expertise in the accessibility professionals, so not only site owners or developers. This again points to the larger consensus being wide spread lack of knowledge.

How do image descriptions on sites you regularly visit impact your browsing experience?

362 out of 1286 people answered this question (with multiple choice)

  • Positively 142 respondents 39.2%
  • Somewhat Positively 100 respondents 27.6%
  • Indifferent 93 respondents 25.7%
  • Somewhat Negatively 22 respondents 6.1%
  • Negatively 5 respondents 1.4%

Summary of Findings

The final two questions of this category displayed for users that selected “Yes” in the earlier question “Do you use a screen reader?”

This question is aiming to determine if descriptions that are being entered on sites are helpful. We ourselves have anecdotally seen completely incorrect image descriptions that can definitely impact users and a good majority that are fine but lack feeling or great descriptions.

The three highest percentages of responses range from “Indifferent” to “Positive”. The results are a good reminder to site owners and content authors that explaining images can make a positive impact on users. It also points to improving our phrasing of images to be less generic.

What is typically a major blocker when initially reaching a website as a screen-reader user?

362 out of 1286 people answered this question (with multiple choice)

  • Unclear hierarchy or organization of content 270 respondents 74.6%
  • Unlabeled form fields 244 respondents 67.4%
  • Incompatible with assistive technologies 240 respondents 66.3%
  • Lack of alternative text for images 198 respondents 54.7%
  • Poor color contrast 90 respondents 24.9%
  • Other 27 respondents 7.5%

Summary of Findings

The top four responses were close in percentages, showing how even though the question was phrased to select an option, most users selected multiple. This could indicate that major blockers vary depending on the site or it is harder for participants to pick a highest blocker.

Responses for “Other” listed out many different concerns where users felt so many issues were equal blockers. This may reinforce the idea that blockers vary on sites or that there are often many major blockers. In reality, there are so many areas that can go wrong with websites and applications that it is hard to write all causes. The data is still insightful with some users listing large numbers of concerns.

Common responses in “Other” included too many ads/pop-ups that interrupt reading, modal dialogs that do not properly handle focus, unreachable interactive elements, and poorly built CAPTCHA.

There were a few responses that included references to the support staff of websites not being able to help. Trained staff for call centers or customer service teams are essential when users are stuck on a website. This is an area many site owners are likely not considering, since it is a physical accessibility support beyond the website itself.

Another common response included unlabeled links or buttons, which likely warrants grouping buttons, links, and form fields into one option of “Unlabeled interactive elements” in the future. We are considering adjustments to this question, such as including multiple other common concerns so users have fewer to write out.

On a scale of 0 to 5, with 0 being poor and 5 being excellent, how would you rate your experience with this survey?

1286 out of 1286 people answered this question

  • 5 (Excellent) 547 respondents 42.5%
  • 4 out of 5 score 432 respondents 33.6%
  • 3 out of 5 score 220 respondents 17.1%
  • 2 out of 5 score 67 respondents 5.2%
  • 1 out of 5 score 12 respondents 0.9%
  • 0 out of 5 score (Poor) 8 respondents 0.6%

Follow up question:

Is there a question you would like added to future surveys?

Summary of Findings

Like all aspects of web development and surveys, there is always room for improvement. We knew that it is difficult to balance the amount of questions to be insightful but not be exhausting. The survey is longer for individuals that use more assistive technology, since there was a fair amount of sections that can be skipped if they choose “No” for certain assistive technology.

Furthermore, using Typeform for the survey form had a few limitations that were not complete blockers, but did limit some of the question formats. We tested with community moderators and resolved items brought up. However, there were still less ideal aspects like longform answers being a single line input, color mode limitations, and mediocre magnification support.

The completion rate for the survey was 39.7%. It is hard to be certain if it is the length or if there were further complications we were unaware of. With the amount of survey fatigue from disability communities, the length is likely the larger reason. Feedback from the follow up question included notes of needing more clarity, “do not know” options, and more questions to incorporate.

We appreciate everyone that spent time filling out the survey. The survey was created for the online communities with the help of online communities, so it is still good to see a large percentage of responses being positive. Your feedback will be taken into account on future instances.