How People with Disabilities use Digital Technology.
Cognitive and Learning Disabilities.
Cognitive and learning disabilities
affect how people process, understand and remember information.
They cover a wide range of cognitive differences and disabilities,
and many of them do not affect overall intelligence.
For example, many people have varying degrees of dyslexia.
Dyslexia affects the ability to recognise and sound out written words
which impact spelling and reading comprehension.
Websites and apps with sufficient white space and headings to separate the content
make it easier for people to read.
Clear navigation with distinct section headers
also make it easier for people to navigate through the content.
Websites and apps also need to work with reading tools,
including tools that adjust how the text is presented,
read the text aloud, and help with spelling and grammar.
Similarly, some people have varying degrees of dyscalculia.
Dyscalculia affects the ability to process
and work with numbers in mathematical concepts.
Websites and apps that provide alternatives to
mathematical abstractions, are easier to use for people with dyscalculia.
This could include showing a progress bar instead of or
in addition to showing a percentage.
Websites and apps can also provide visual aids
and text descriptions for things like schedules and temperatures.
People have varying degrees of memory
abilities, including short-term and working memory.
Reduced short-term memory effects, the ability to remember new things
such as passwords or where in a process someone might be,
especially in stressful situations.
Websites and apps with clear navigation and layout, prominent
and unique page titles and distinct instructions and cues
can make it easier for people to remember where they are in the content.
Websites and apps can also help people remember information
they have previously added, such as addresses and telephone numbers.
People might have different levels of attention and focus.
This includes people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD,
brain trauma, age related forgetfulness and dementia.
These cognitive differences affect the ability to focus and to resume a task
after the user is distracted.
In addition to
breaking up longer passages of text and using headings, websites and apps
without pop up windows and automatically playing videos, sounds or animations
make it easier for people to focus and follow the content.
Some people experience difficulty orienting themselves
in layouts and visual designs that are new to them.
It may also be difficult for them
to learn new keystrokes or gestures needed for interaction.
Websites and apps with consistent and predictable designs
and with clear and distinct instructions make it easier
for people to know where they are and complete tasks.
You can help make technology accessible.
To me.
Accessibility.
It's about people.
For more information
from the Web Accessibility Initiative
on How People with Disabilities
Use Digital Technology, visit
w3.org/WAI/people