Understanding How People with Cognitive Disabilities Use the Web

In this talk, Catherine covers six functional categories of cognitive disabilities, and offers advice for designing inclusively with them in mind.

Transcript

1. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine Understanding How People with Cognitive Disabilities Use the Web Catherine Meade Developer at Sparkbox
2. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine
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5. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine Cognitive Disabilities
6. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine "In loose terms, a person with a cognitive disability has greater difficulty with one or more types of mental tasks than the average person." WebAim WHAT IS A COGNITIVE DISABILITY?
7. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine Clinical vs. Functional
8. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine ▸ Memory ▸ Problem-solving ▸ Attention ▸ Reading, linguistic, and verbal comprehension ▸ Math comprehension ▸ Visual comprehension WHAT IS A COGNITIVE DISABILITY? Types of Cognitive Disabilities
9. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine WHAT IS A COGNITIVE DISABILITY? webaim.org/ articles/ cognitive
10. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine Memory The ability to recall what is learned over time.
11. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine Memory Interactions are as simple as possible Different tasks on different pages Constant reminders of context
12. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine MEMORY Shopify
13. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine Problem-solving The process of finding solutions to difficult issues.
14. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine Problem-solving High tolerance for mistakes Clear error messaging Predictable functionality Warnings before permanent actions or context changes
15. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine PROBLEM-SOLVING
16. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine Attention Taking notice of someone or something, or focusing on a task.
17. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine Attention Limit distractions Create visual hierarchy Clearly identify important actions on the page
18. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine Reading, Linguistic, and Verbal Comprehension Understanding text or language
19. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine "an estimated 15-20% of the population […] has some sort of language or text comprehension difficulty." WebAim READING, LINGUISTIC, AND VERBAL COMPREHENSION
20. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine Reading, linguistic, and verbal comprehension Supplemental media Use recognized structure Clear, simple sentences Avoid non-literal or inferred text
21. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine READING, LINGUISTIC, AND VERBAL COMPREHENSION seesparkbox.com/ foundry/ dyslexia_web_design_accessibility
22. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine Math Comprehension Understanding numbers and equations
23. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine Math Comprehension Avoid unnecessary math Provide conceptual explanations Perform computations automatically
24. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine Visual Comprehension Understanding visual and graphical information
25. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine "…they may not realize that a photograph of a person is a representation of a person, though they can plainly see the photograph itself (as an object) on the web page." WebAim READING, LINGUISTIC, AND VERBAL COMPREHENSION
26. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine Visual Comprehension Multiple formats of information
27. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine ▸ Memory ▸ Problem-solving ▸ Attention ▸ Reading, linguistic, and verbal comprehension ▸ Math comprehension ▸ Visual comprehension WHAT IS A COGNITIVE DISABILITY? Types of Cognitive Disabilities
28. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine INCLUSIVE DESIGN Inclusive Design is a process Accessibility is a result
29. #SparkboxUnConf @catheraaine Thank you! Catherine Meade @catheraaine