Web Accessibility Design Using Color Psychology for Visual Impairments and Neurodivergent Conditions

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6463-823-3_87How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Color psychology; Web accessibility; Visual impairments; Neurodivergent conditions; Inclusive design

Abstract

This study explores the impact of color psychology on web accessibility, focusing on individuals with visual impairments and neurodivergent conditions. By evaluating how different color choices influence readability, navigation, and cognitive load, the research seeks to identify design strategies that enhance both usability and inclusivity. Due to experimental constraints, a survey-based approach was employed, where participants assessed two website prototypes: one designed with accessible color principles (e.g., high contrast, structured visual hierarchy, alternative visual cues, and sensory-friendly colors) and the other with poor accessibility features (e.g., low contrast, inconsistent layouts, and color-dependent cues). Over 100 participants were recruited, including individuals with color blindness, low vision, autism, Attention Deficit and / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and dyslexia, as well as general users for comparison. Quantitative analysis, including paired t-tests and regression models, revealed that the accessible design significantly improved readability (87% positive ratings), reduced cognitive strain (65% reporting low cognitive load), and increased navigation efficiency by 40%. The findings suggest that specific accessibility features benefit different conditions: for example, high contrast aids low-vision users, while sensory-friendly colors help autistic individuals by reducing sensory overload. These results advocate for the integration of color psychology principles into web design, ensuring accessibility beyond mere compliance with standards. By offering practical, data-driven recommendations, this research contributes to the development of more inclusive digital experiences.

Copyright

© 2025 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Zhiyuan Huang
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/08/31
TI  - Web Accessibility Design Using Color Psychology for Visual Impairments and Neurodivergent Conditions
BT  - Proceedings of the 2025 3rd International Conference on Image, Algorithms, and Artificial Intelligence (ICIAAI 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 879
EP  - 888
SN  - 2352-538X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-823-3_87
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6463-823-3_87
ID  - Huang2025
ER  -