UWP Accessibility - MSDN Community

Welcome to UWP Accessibility

Creating accessible applications ensures that your Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps can be used by everyone, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. Microsoft is committed to building inclusive technology, and UWP provides powerful tools and frameworks to help you achieve this.

This community space is dedicated to sharing knowledge, best practices, and resources for developing accessible UWP applications. Explore the topics below to get started or deepen your understanding.

Key Accessibility Pillars in UWP

Accessible design and development involve several core principles:

Perceivable: Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive. This includes providing text alternatives for non-text content and alternatives for time-based media.
Operable: User interface components and navigation must be operable. This means users can navigate, find content, and perform actions using various input methods (keyboard, voice, etc.).
Understandable: Information and the operation of the user interface must be understandable. This involves making text readable and understandable, and making user interfaces predictable.
Robust: Content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.

Getting Started with UWP Accessibility

UWP offers built-in support for accessibility features. Here are some fundamental areas to focus on:

UI Automation and Accessibility APIs

Leverage the Windows UI Automation framework to make your application controls understandable by assistive technologies like screen readers and magnifiers. Ensure elements have appropriate automation properties:

AutomationProperties.Name: Provides a programmatic name for a control.
AutomationProperties.HelpText: Offers a brief description of a control's purpose.
AutomationProperties.LabeledBy: Associates a control with its label.

For example:

<TextBlock Text="Username:" />
<TextBox AutomationProperties.LabeledBy="{x:Bind UsernameLabel}" />
<TextBlock x:Name="UsernameLabel" Text="Username:" />

Keyboard Navigation and Focus Management

Ensure all interactive elements are accessible via keyboard. UWP handles much of this automatically, but custom controls or complex layouts may require attention. The logical tab order is crucial.

Use TabIndex and IsTabStop properties thoughtfully.
Provide visual focus indicators.

Color Contrast and Readability

High contrast ratios are essential for users with low vision. Use tools to check color combinations for text and background elements to meet WCAG standards.

Screen Reader Support

Write descriptive text for your UI elements so screen readers can convey information effectively to users. Avoid relying solely on visual cues.

Advanced Topics and Best Practices

Custom Controls: Implementing accessibility for custom UI elements.
Touch and Pen Input: Ensuring operability with alternative input methods.
Internationalization and Localization: Supporting users across different languages and regions.
Testing with Assistive Technologies: Regularly testing your app with screen readers, magnifiers, and other tools.
Accessibility Guidelines: Adhering to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and Microsoft's accessibility standards.

Resources and Further Learning

Dive deeper into UWP accessibility with these valuable resources:

Start Building Accessible Apps