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WCUS2022.pdf

 WCUS2022.pdf

Embracing Minds of All Kinds: Making Digital Content Usable for People with Cognitive Disabilities

Christina Deemer

September 07, 2022
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  1. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Embracing Minds
    of All Kinds
    Making Digital Content Usable for People
    with Cognitive Disabilities
    WordCamp US 2022

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  2. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    https://speakerdeck.com/cahdeemer/wcus2022
    2

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  3. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Objectives
    & Agenda
    3

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  4. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Explore ways to gain
    buy-in for accessibility
    work
    Objectives
    Identify digital access
    barriers that people
    with cognitive
    disabilities experience
    online
    Recognize 12 practical
    solutions for making
    content usable by
    people with cognitive
    disabilities
    4

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  5. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Agenda
    ● Terminology & Language
    ● Barriers
    ● 12 Solutions
    ● Getting Buy In
    ● Questions
    5

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  6. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Agenda
    ⁕ Terminology & Language
    ● Barriers
    ● 12 Solutions
    ● Getting Buy In
    ● Questions
    6

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  7. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Disability is not a
    dirty or shameful
    word
    7

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  8. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS 8

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  9. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Definition of Cognitive Disabilities
    “neurodiversity as well as neurological
    disorders and mental and behavioral disorders
    that may or may not be neurological.”
    -W3C
    https://www.w3.org/WAI
    9

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  10. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Examples of Cognitive Disabilities
    ● ADHD
    ● Anxiety
    ● Aphasia
    ● Autism
    ● Dementia
    ● Depression
    ● Down syndrome
    ● Dysgraphia
    ● Dyscalculia
    ● Dyspraxia
    ● Epilepsy
    ● OCD
    ● PTSD
    ● TBI
    ● Tourette syndrome
    10

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  11. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    ADHD
    Dementia
    Traumatic brain injury
    Struggles with focus
    Has memory impairments
    Difficulty concentrating
    Diagnostic labels Functional terms
    11

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  12. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Functional vs. Diagnostic Labels
    We use functional terms over clinical terms because:
    ● Not everyone with a cognitive disability has a clinical diagnosis.
    12

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  13. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Functional vs. Diagnostic Labels
    We use functional terms over clinical terms because:
    ● Not everyone with a cognitive disability has a clinical diagnosis.
    ● Not everyone with a cognitive disability has only one diagnosis.
    13

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  14. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Functional vs. Diagnostic Labels
    We use functional terms over clinical terms because:
    ● Not everyone with a cognitive disability has a clinical diagnosis.
    ● Not everyone with a cognitive disability has only one diagnosis.
    ● Not everyone with the same disability experiences it the same way.
    14

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  15. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Cognitive Skills That Affect Online Behaviors
    ● Memory
    ● Problem solving
    ● Decision making
    ● Attention & focus
    ● Time Management
    ● Processing speed
    ● Math comprehension
    ● Reading comprehension
    ● Language comprehension
    ● Impulse Control
    15

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  16. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Executive function
    “mental processes that enable us to plan, focus
    attention, remember instructions, and juggle
    multiple tasks successfully.”
    Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University
    https://developingchild.harvard.edu/
    16

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  17. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Agenda
    ● Terminology & Language
    ⁕ Barriers
    ● 12 Solutions
    ● Getting Buy In
    ● Questions
    17

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  18. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Digital barriers
    ● Sites with complex or overwhelming interfaces
    ● Sites with complex or unusual words
    ● Long passages of text or visual walls of text
    ● Animations or media that autoplay
    ● Blinking, flashing, flickering, or moving content
    ● Lack of help
    18

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  19. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS 19

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  20. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS 20

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  21. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Flesch Reading Ease Score
    Reading Ease Score Readability Level Flesch-Kincaid Reading Level (US Grade)
    90 — 100 Very Easy 5th
    80 — 89 Easy 6th
    70 — 79 Fairly Easy 7th
    60 — 69 Standard 8th — 9th
    50 — 59 Fairly Difficult 10th — 12th
    30 — 49 Difficult College
    < 30 Very Difficult College Grad / Professional
    21

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  22. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Flesch Reading Ease Score
    Saturn
    page
    Reading Ease Score Readability Level Flesch-Kincaid Reading Level (US Grade)
    90 — 100 Very Easy 5th
    80 — 89 Easy 6th
    70 — 79 Fairly Easy 7th
    60 — 69 Standard 8th — 9th
    50 — 59 Fairly Difficult 10th — 12th
    30 — 49 Difficult College
    < 30 Very Difficult College Grad / Professional
    22

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  23. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Flesch Reading Ease Score
    Reading Ease Score Readability Level Flesch-Kincaid Reading Level (US Grade)
    90 — 100 Very Easy 5th
    80 — 89 Easy 6th
    70 — 79 Fairly Easy 7th
    60 — 69 Standard 8th — 9th
    50 — 59 Fairly Difficult 10th — 12th
    30 — 49 Difficult College
    < 30 Very Difficult College Grad / Professional
    Most
    Adults
    23

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  24. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Flesch Reading Ease Score
    Reading Ease Score Readability Level Flesch-Kincaid Reading Level (US Grade)
    90 — 100 Very Easy 5th
    80 — 89 Easy 6th
    70 — 79 Fairly Easy 7th
    60 — 69 Standard 8th — 9th
    50 — 59 Fairly Difficult 10th — 12th
    30 — 49 Difficult College
    < 30 Very Difficult College Grad / Professional
    Folks with
    concentration,
    language, or
    reading
    impairments
    24

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  25. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    What price are
    disabled users
    paying for
    inaccessible sites?
    25

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  26. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    🥄🥄🥄🥄🥄
    26

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  27. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Spoon Theory
    🥄 Developed by Christine Miserandino to explain what it’s like to live with a
    chronic illness or disability
    🥄 Every task in a day takes energy; every task in a day takes spoons
    🥄 When spoons run out, there is no energy left for tasks
    27

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  28. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Agenda
    ● Terminology & Language
    ● Barriers
    ⁕ 12 Solutions
    ● Getting Buy In
    ● Questions
    28

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  29. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    About the 12 Solutions
    ● Based on the W3C’s April 2021 Working Group Note
    ● There are many more solutions in the Working Group Note
    ● Cannot be identified or remediated with automated tools
    29

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  30. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Make it easy to
    find the most
    important tasks
    1
    30

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  31. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Why does this matter?
    Users with impaired executive function and
    memory may have difficulty determining what
    they can do on a site with a lot of noise and
    distractions
    31

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  32. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Identifying the most important tasks
    Identifying your product’s most
    important tasks can be tricky and
    may involve user testing, focus
    groups, or usage data
    32

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  33. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Provide a
    friendly search
    2
    33

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  34. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Why does this matter?
    Users with short-term memory impairments,
    who get distracted easily, or struggle with
    executive function may rely on search more than
    menus, categories, or browsing
    34

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  35. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Search Tip #1
    Search is most useful when it
    corrects spelling errors and
    suggests auto-corrected versions of
    search terms
    acessibil
    accessibility definition
    accessibility synonym
    accessibility meaning
    accessibility checker
    35

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  36. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Search Tip #2
    Prioritize search accessibility on
    large and complex sites, where
    search is a more important
    navigation tool
    36

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  37. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Use clear and
    understandable
    content
    3
    37

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  38. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Why does this matter?
    Users with impaired language skills may not be able
    to understand complex language.
    38

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  39. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Why does this matter?
    Users with memory impairments may not be able to
    be learn new words.
    39

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  40. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Why does this matter?
    Users who struggle with non-literal language may
    not understand jokes and metaphors.
    40

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  41. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Help users understand your content by using
    ● easy to understand words
    ● short sentences
    ● simple tense
    41

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  42. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Help users understand your content by using
    ● easy to understand words
    ● short sentences
    ● simple tense
    ● short blocks of text
    ● concrete content & examples
    ● generous white space
    42

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  43. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Use clear
    formatting and
    punctuation
    4
    43

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  44. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Why does this matter?
    Users with communication difficulties may use
    screen readers to understand content. When
    content is formatted incorrectly, the user may
    not able to understand it.
    44

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  45. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Punctuation and Formatting Tips
    ● Write out the month in dates
    ● Avoid using Roman numerals
    ● Use language-appropriate
    separators for long numbers
    👍 Do this 👎 Avoid
    Nov. 8, 2019 11/08/2019
    Chapter 4 Chapter IV
    1,234 visitors 1234 visitors
    45

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  46. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Use clear
    step-by-step
    instructions
    5
    46

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  47. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Why does this matter?
    Clear and easy-to-understand instructions help
    a variety of disabled folks. Without
    instructions, users may make multiple
    mistakes, use their spoons , and abandon their
    task.
    47

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  48. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Where to position instructions
    ● Provide clear instructions at
    the start of a process, not just
    when there are errors.
    ● Place instructions before, or
    next to, the field or activity
    ● Instructions can be hidden
    behind a familiar icon
    Member ID
    Your Member ID is a 9-digit
    number found in your welcome
    email
    48

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  49. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Make short
    critical paths
    6
    49

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  50. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Why does this matter?
    Streamlining processes reduces fatigue,
    distractions, and mistakes and increases the
    chances that users with cognitive disabilities
    will successfully complete a task.
    50

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  51. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Critical Path Tips
    ● Provide short navigation to key
    features
    ● Only require necessary steps
    51

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  52. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Solutions 1 - 6 Recap
    1. Make it easy to find the most important tasks
    2. Provide a friendly search
    3. Use clear and understandable content
    4. Use clear formatting and punctuation
    5. Use clear step-by-step instructions
    6. Make short critical paths
    52

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  53. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Provide a login
    that doesn’t
    rely on memory
    7
    53

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  54. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Why does this matter?
    People with any impairment that affects
    memory or language can find it difficult or
    impossible to overcome memory barriers
    when logging in.
    54

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  55. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Login methods that don’t rely on memory
    ● Single Sign-on (SSO)
    ● Magic links
    ● Quick Response Codes (QR
    Code)
    55

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  56. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Don’t ask users
    to memorize or
    calculate data
    8
    56

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  57. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Why does this matter?
    Users with impaired working memory can’t
    remember a lot of details at the same time.
    Users with impaired executive function may
    struggle to remember instructions.
    57

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  58. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Building processes that don’t rely on memory
    Each step in a process should
    contain the information necessary
    to allow a user to proceed.
    Provide a summary of information
    from previous steps
    Current Plan
    New Plan Plus
    New Plan Pro
    58

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  59. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Provide Alternative
    Content for
    Complex Tasks and
    Information
    9
    59

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  60. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Why does this matter?
    People with cognitive disabilities may struggle
    to make sense of complex information and
    data formats, but may understand when
    supplementary content is included.
    60

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  61. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Alternative Content Tips
    ● Use charts and graphs to
    support text
    ● Add video clips to support
    instructions
    ● Include a flow chart to visualize
    a process
    ● Link keywords to a glossary
    61

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  62. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Provide human
    help
    10
    62

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  63. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Why does this matter?
    When a user gets stuck or confused for any
    reason, getting help from a real person is
    usually the most effective solution.
    63

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  64. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    How to provide help
    ● Phone number
    ● Text
    ● Email address
    ● Live chat
    64

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  65. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Let Users Control
    When Content
    Changes
    11
    65

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  66. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Why does this matter?
    Unexpected changes in content can result in
    loss of focus, anxiety, or confusion for a variety
    of disabled users
    66

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  67. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Let Users Control When the Content Changes
    Changes include
    ● Launching pop-ups
    automatically
    ● Submitting forms through a
    mechanism other than a
    submit button
    ● Opening of new content
    Autoplay
    toggle
    67

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  68. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Enable APIs and
    Extensions
    12
    68

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  69. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Overlays & Widgets
    ● Do not provide legal coverage
    ● Do not make your site WCAG
    compliant
    ● Do not help disabled people
    69
    Overlays

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  70. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    overlayfactsheet.com
    70

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  71. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Why does this matter?
    When add-ons and extensions are blocked or
    not supported, disabled users with may not be
    able to use a site at all.
    71

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  72. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    APIs and Extension Tips
    Avoid code and designs that stop
    browser extensions and other
    personalization tools from working
    Logo
    72

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  73. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Solutions 7 - 12 Recap
    7. Provide a login that doesn’t rely on memory
    8. Don’t ask users to memorize or calculate data
    9. Provide alternative content for complex tasks and information
    10. Provide human help
    11. Let users control when content changes
    12. Enable APIs and extensions
    73

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  74. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Agenda
    ● Terminology & Language
    ● Barriers
    ● 12 Solutions
    ⁕ Getting Buy In
    ● Questions
    74

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  75. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Balancing Accessibility Needs with Business Goals
    Test
    Conduct A/B testing
    or get feedback
    from users
    Prioritize
    Identify high-impact
    changes and do
    those first
    Research
    Collect data to
    understand
    long-term impact of
    decisions
    75

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  76. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    🥄🥄🥄
    Save the
    SPOONS
    76

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  77. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Agenda
    ● Terminology & Language
    ● Barriers
    ● 12 Solutions
    ● Getting Buy In
    ⁕ Questions
    77

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  78. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Terminology & Language
    National Center on Disability and Journalism’s Language
    Guide
    https://ncdj.org/style-guide/
    “Special needs” is an ineffective euphemism https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PM
    C5256467/
    W3C’s definition of cognitive disabilities https://www.w3.org/WAI/people-use-web/abili
    ties-barriers/#cognitive
    Penn State Social Science Institute: Privilege plays a
    huge role in getting an ADHD diagnosis
    https://ssri.psu.edu/news/privilege-plays-huge
    -role-getting-adhd-diagnosis
    Resources Guide
    78

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  79. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Terminology & Language
    Journal of the American Academy of Child and
    Adolescent Psychiatry: Race Differences in the Age at
    Diagnosis Among Medicaid-Eligible Children With
    Autism
    https://www.jaacap.org/article/S0890-8567(09)
    60739-5/fulltext
    Executive Function and Self-Regulation https://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/k
    ey-concepts/executive-function/
    Resources Guide
    79

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  80. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Barriers
    Flesch Reading Ease Score https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flesch%E2%80%
    93Kincaid_readability_tests
    Readability of Wikipedia Pages https://www.readabilityofwikipedia.com/
    Spoon Theory by Christine Miserandino https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/writte
    n-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/
    Spoon Theory - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_theory
    Resources Guide
    80

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  81. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Solutions
    Screenshot 1: Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Search
    Page
    https://philamuseum.org/search
    Screenshot 2: New York TImes Newsletters https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters
    Screenshot 3: AirBnb Login https://www.airbnb.com/login
    Screenshot 4: MeUndies Contact Us https://help.meundies.com/hc/en-us
    Resources Guide
    81

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  82. @cahdeemer
    @alleyco
    #WCUS
    Solutions
    Screenshot 5: YouTube Autoplay Toggle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY8gpP2K
    tUc
    Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/
    Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2 Editor’s Draft https://w3c.github.io/wcag/guidelines/22/
    Overlay Fact Sheet https://overlayfactsheet.com/
    Cool jobs with the Alley Group https://alley.co/careers/
    Resources Guide
    82

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