Accessibility Issues Faced by Visually Impaired Users in Mobile Applications

This study investigated the accessibility challenges encountered by visually impaired users of mobile applications in Adavi Local Government Area, Kogi State, Nigeria. A convergent mixed-method research design was adopted to obtain complementary quantitative and qualitative evidence. Quantitative data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to fourteen purposively selected visually impaired mobile application users drawn from selected communities using a cluster sampling approach. Qualitative data were generated through semi-structured interviews with experienced users to obtain deeper insights into accessibility barriers. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) in SPSS, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. The findings revealed that visually impaired users continue to experience significant accessibility barriers, including unlabeled interface elements, poor navigation structures, inadequate image descriptions, and limited compatibility with screen readers. Although applications such as WhatsApp demonstrated relatively higher compliance with accessibility principles, several commonly used applications still failed to satisfy key requirements of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1). TalkBack and VoiceOver improved access to mobile applications; however, their effectiveness was frequently constrained by deficiencies in application design and implementation. Given the study's small purposive sample, the findings should be interpreted as reflecting participants' experiences rather than representing the wider population of visually impaired mobile users. The study concludes that improving compliance with recognised accessibility standards, adopting universal design principles, and involving visually impaired users throughout the design and testing process are essential for enhancing digital inclusion and the usability of mobile applications.