Quick Learn: How Check Vestibular Accessibility in Canva
Designers focus on the physical when it comes to accessibility. Screen reader access and alt text are the most common focuses on design. Going deeper, things like ARIA labels and keyboard navigation.
The focus on color contrast is on passing WCAG standards. Which is important, but only the basic start to digital access.
But vestibular accessibility is often overlooked.
Many don’t realize that Covid-19 can cause vestibular disorders or make it worse. Since there is a large number of people that have dealt with Covid – Vestibular Safety Online matters more than ever!
Read more on Long COVID and Dizziness
Here are practical steps to take to make your digital content vestibular safe.
Fixing the Color Saturation
The most physically stimulating colors can be the most dangerous for users with vestibular differences.
Colors like pure red and deep blue with saturation levels over 80% can be primary triggers.
The 80% Rule:
Keep your saturation at or under 80%
High-saturation red (#FF0000) often appears to advance toward the viewer, creating a false sense of movement.
Read more on Understanding Color Saturation and how it can apply to every part of your life.
Visual Vibration:
Switch to a deeper red or pair it with another color.
When saturated reds and blues are placed together, the eyes struggle to focus on both, causing the edges to “vibrate” or “bloom”.
Learn more about preventing Vibrating Color Combinations
Chromostereopsis:
Watch for this in your designs! Adjust your color hue, work with transparency or reevaluate your color palette.
Neon and Brights:
Avoid neon yellows and high-chroma pinks as a primary color.
Neon colors cause the brain to use more neural processing to stabilize the image on the screen.
Luminance and Cognitive Focus
Luminance is how we perceive brightness and contrast. While high contrast is necessary for legibility, maximum contrast can be an issue for vestibular disorders.
Follow WCAG Standards:
Always meet the minimum contrast requirements for readability.
Avoid “MAX” Contrast:
Pure white text on a pure black background can cause extreme eye strain for some users.
Go more in depth on Color Contrast for Branding
Font Color Safety:
Avoid using bright reds, blues, or pinks as font colors, as they are difficult for the eye to track and can trigger vestibular migraines.
Preserve Cognitive Resources:
People with vestibular disorders experience cognitive issues like brain fog. Designs that cause eye strain deplete the mental energy needed to navigate your site.
Vestibular Safety is a Priority
No matter the type of content you produce online, make it safe. As life progresses there will be more people with vestibular disorders.
Don’t alienate your audience before they have a chance to see your content.
Quick Learn: How Check for Vestibular Accessibility in Canva
Time needed: 10 minutes
Here are two steps you can use to make vestibular safety online using Canva.
- Use the Automated Accessibility Checker (5 Mins)
How to access: Go to File > Accessibility > Check design accessibility.
What it does: A sidebar will appear flagging Color Contrast issues.
The Fix: If it flags an element, it will suggest “High Contrast” alternatives. One click will apply the fix to your design - Check for “Bloom” & Saturation (5 Mins)
The automated tool doesn’t always flag “vibrating” colors if the contrast is technically high enough. You must manually check the Saturation levels.
The Action: Look at your design and squint your eyes slightly.
What to look for: If the red seems to physically “jump” off the page while the blue recedes, or if the edges where they meet seem to shake/vibrate, you have a vestibular trigger.
The Fix: In Canva, select one of the elements and add a Border (Style > Border weight). Choose a neutral color like white or a very light gray. This “grounds” the colors and stops the vibration instantly.
FAQs
Saturated colors can “bleed” past digital borders, creating a vibrating edge. This forces the eyes to strain constantly to find a focal point, which can trigger the trigeminal nerve and lead to intense vestibular migraines.
It manifests as difficulty concentrating, slowed information processing, and mental exhaustion. This happens because the brain is using all its energy trying to stabilize “vibrating” or “advancing” visual elements, leaving no resources for reading or decision-making.