Preparing your App for VoiceOver: Hiding Elements from the Accessible Interface

Preparing an app for VoiceOver is not limited to ensuring that every component of the interface is readable by the assistive API. What developers need to focus on is not just achieving a simple one-to-one translation of the interface into accessible elements but also optimizing the Accessible User Interface (AUI) by removing unnecessary elements. This optimization allows users to navigate efficiently, avoiding the need to listen to VoiceOver reading unhelpful descriptions, creating a robust Accessibility User Interface.

Hide elements from the AUI helps developer to join the following guidelines from the WACG:

Guideline 1.1.1: Decoration, Formatting, Invisible If non-text content is pure decoration, is used only for visual formatting, or is not presented to users, then it is implemented in a way that it can be ignored by assistive technology.

Guideline 1.4 Distinguishable "Make it easier for users to see and hear content including separating foreground from background."

Guideline 2.4 Navigable Provide ways to help users navigate, find content, and determine where they are.