Quick Exit Feature

The Product team was working on a Quick Exit feature, in response to findings from the Engagement team’s Gender Based Analysis report.

  • A Quick Exit feature lets users leave a website with one click that redirects them to an unrelated webpage

  • This is a safety feature for users who wish to protect their privacy

  • It is also a support feature for users who may become overwhelmed

My question

Quick Exit features rely on high visibility and manual dexterity for people to use them, so how do we provide an equivalent experience for assistive technology users?

My Approach

Alignment

MVP requirements include equivalent experience for assistive technology users.

Competitor Analysis

How do Quick Exit features on other sites work with assistive technology?

Analyzed Quick Exit features on 3 other sites, using NVDA and keyboard avigation.

User Interviews

What navigation shortcuts are available to assistive tech users?

3 Fable interviews: 2 screen reader users, 1 single switch nav user.

Delivered!

•The Quick Exit feature was placed at the top of the Document Object Model to ensure screen reader and alt nav users can reach it quickly using a shortcut key

•A detailed HTML label was added to the button so screen reader users will be informed about the function of the button and the change of context that will occur if they select it

Screenshot of the Wellness Together Canada homepage, showing the Quick Exit button on the lower left side.
Code snippet showing the Quick Exit button element located at the top of the DOM, with an aria label that says, "Quick Exit button. Select to leave this page and open Google in a new tab."