Overview:

This project involved a comprehensive accessibility evaluation of the telebirr Super App, a widely used mobile payment platform. The audit focused on WCAG 2.1 AA compliance and platform-specific best practices for Android and iOS. The findings revealed systemic failures in the app’s foundational design system, severely impacting usability for individuals with disabilities.

Key Findings:

1. Critical Input Barrier: Editable fields failed to respond to standard screen reader gestures, violating WCAG 2.5.2 and blocking basic user interactions.
2. Contrast Issues: Text and icons consistently failed minimum contrast ratios (as low as 1.10:1), rendering content unreadable for low-vision users.
3. Touch Target Violations: Interactive elements were undersized (often below 48dp), creating barriers for users with motor impairments.
4. Screen Reader & Text Scaling Failures: Missing labels, ambiguous navigation, and improper text sizing (using dip instead of sp) disrupted accessibility services and prevented font scaling.

Remediation Strategy:

1. A prioritized action plan was proposed, including:
2. Refactoring UI components to support standard gestures and scalable text
3. Enforcing minimum touch target sizes
4. Redesigning the color palette to meet contrast standards
5. Implementing strict labeling policies for all interactive elements

Impact:

This audit prompted a temporary suspension of feature development and initiated a full-scale remediation effort. The report serves as a blueprint for inclusive design and highlights the importance of accessibility in fintech applications.

Tools & Methods Used:

This audit was conducted using a combination of automated and manual testing approaches:

• Google Accessibility Scanner

To identify common accessibility issues in the Android environment, including missing labels, low contrast, and touch target violations.

• Manual Testing:

As a visually impaired individual, I personally navigated the app using screen reader gestures and accessibility settings. This firsthand experience allowed me to uncover usability barriers that automated tools often miss, such as gesture inconsistencies, poor focus management, and inaccessible navigation flows.

This dual approach ensured a thorough and empathetic evaluation of the app’s accessibility, grounded in both technical standards and lived experience.

You can read the report
here