While hearing and sight disabilities are the most widely discussed regarding website accessibility, the National Center on Disability and Access to Education reports that cognitive disabilities account for more computer users with disabilities. With this in mind, why are mental disabilities not more widely recognized? Because these disabilities include a wide range of nuanced conditions and an even more comprehensive range of severity, it's challenging to present a complete set of standards to which web developers should adhere. Furthermore, web developers believe it is preferable to consider cognitive disorders solely from a functional standpoint to focus on obstacles rather than the diagnosis. As a result, by thinking about presenting solutions like using technologies, such as accessibility overlay tools, web owners can improve users' experiences.
What Exactly Is a Cognitive Disability?
Cognitive Disabilities are any conditions or impairments
that interfere with a person's mental procedure. The variations in severity and
type are too numerous to list here, but many of these conditions are seen and
experienced daily.
Functional Cognitive Disorders vs. Clinical
Cognitive Disorders
Cognitive disorders have two types: functional and
clinical. Functional disorders are more concerned with a person's abilities and
the difficulties they face in their daily lives. Here are some examples of
functional disabilities:
·
Memory
·
Attention
·
Comprehension
Clinical disorders vary significantly in severity and
impact an individual's ability to function. Clinical conditions include the
following:
·
Autism
·
Traumatic
Brain Injury (TBI)
·
Dyslexia
Suggestions for Cognitive Web Accessibility
Web designers can improve the user experience for many
people with cognitive disorders simply by following good design, content, and
coding practices. While they must continue to consider these techniques,
assessing what appears on the screen is also vital.
When it comes to content organization and visual styles,
designers can improve the user experience by doing the following:
·
Using
appropriate headings and lists
·
Increasing
the amount of white space in a site's design.
·
"Chunking"
content into smaller, more manageable sizes
·
Dividing
forms into multiple, sequential steps.
·
Establishing
a logical reading order
·
Consistency
in fonts, colors, and page element placement
·
Providing
keyboard access
·
Consider
providing content in various formats.
Though some of these improvements can be achieved by
installing an accessibility overlay tool on a site, other changes require
thoughtful considerations on the web developer's behalf.
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