W3C

– DRAFT –
Cognitive Accessibility Research Modules: Voice Systems, Wayfinding, Safety (Algorithms and Data), and Supported Decision-Making

25 March 2026

Attendees

Present
julierawe, LenB, TiffanyBurtin
Regrets
-
Chair
Eric Hind, Julie Rawe, Lisa Seeman-Horwitz
Scribe
Eric_hind, lisa

Meeting minutes

<thelounge> Can someone let me into the zoom meeting plz.

<julierawe> Code of conduct: https://www.w3.org/policies/code-of-conduct/

Lisa: Propose First half recorded, q&A not recorded. Assume everyone OK with it

Lisa: Reminder of Code of Conduct https://www.w3.org/policies/code-of-conduct/

Lisa: Agenda, background, research modules, questions and feedback, wrap-up and next steps- modules include voice systems, Wayfinding, Online safety and Supported Decision Making

Lisa: Looking to improve awareness of these new modules, get feedback on content, understand concerns and to know who we could or should be working with

julierawe: COGA fits into w3c - work with APA and AG (parents). COGA Community and Global Inclusion group are contirubting groups

<TiffanyBurtin> There is a question of if the recording has started.

julierawe: What COGA covers slide includes examples of conditions, and functional needs (ADHD, Attention, etc)

julierawe: Notes that Cognitive Accessibility is needed everywhere - digital experiences are increasing part of everyones life

lisa: The four modules were published in February 2026 - each module includes discussion of cognitive accessibility chalenges, user needs and possible solutions

<Rashmi> Hi Julie. Just a reminder, I don't see any recording overlay on zoom , is it recording on?

lisa: useful for groups in W3C but useful for researchers, policy makers, designers, content creators

eric: Voice - examples of what it included. they are ment to be comvienient, but can be insermountable barrier

example challand: remembering phrases or digits, which people cant remember while processing what they are trying to do

this becomes a memory test to access a service or help

user needs: i need to complete the tsk without rembering phrases or numbers. carful constuction of phrase can reduce memory requirments

also learning new jargon is not achivable by everyone

and not everyone has typical speach, and so many people can not use it if their speach patterns

solutions included standard way to reach a person

universal eskap hatch

such as pressing 0

2. prompt design that reduces cognitive load

u3. useful chunks that people can handle better

links in the slideds to places that may use it

Beccua - wayfing though buildings

such as train station or hospital

Becca_Monteleone: Based on a literature review recently updated and looking for missed items and presenation

has litary review update

Becca_Monteleone: Challenges include constructing a mental map, needing additional landmark.

Becca_Monteleone: Needs incldue review proposed route multiple times, reorienteing multiple time if route updated, present in multiple ways, and uncluttered interface

Becca_Monteleone: Memory, executive function, knowledge aquisition, etc are part of the research

Becca_Monteleone: Notes that solutions include physical wayfinding aids, options for directions in smallest steps possible, provide multiple methods and allowing personalization of terms

Becca_Monteleone: Slide include links to WCAG 3 and other W3c project

Rashmi: Online Safety and Wellbeing

Rashmi: Includes cybercrime, mental health, privacy, algorithms

Rashmi: Challenge social media and mental health - engagement sometimes includes anxiety and reduced well being.

Rashmi: Needs include help avoiding apps and content that may increase anxiety, need for privacy and data protection options presented clearly and accessibily and the need to extra support to be safe and secure when using a web site, especially if providing information or communicating with others

Rashmi: Solutions include, Review and constantlyimprove algorithms, establish a standard process for reviewing safety and well being in vulnerable groups, and test privacy and data terms with different groups of users requiring cognitive accessibilty to confirm that they understand what data may be collected, how used and who might access

Rashmi: Please feel free to review and make suggestions on this modules

Lenb: Supported decision making (SDM) online - model based on autonomy

Lenb: This includes definition, differentiation from guardianship, roles and responsibilites of supporters, risks with SDM in online settings, and suggested strategies for implementing SDM in online settings

Lenb: For autonomy, we have user needs related to supporting SDN that affect financial or physical well being, the need for the system to help me stay safe from bad actors and tools to help regulard my emotions to avoid making irrational decisions

Lenb: Solutions include Confirming Understanding before irreversible actions, Settings that allow more thought if a risk is detected, and Helper fole definitions with audit trails so there's accountability for what helpers do (as established in user settings)

Lisa: Looking for feedback in Q&A section. What's missing, practical solutions, opportuniies for collaboration and other feedback and questions.

Question on the use of the term "module" - as in how dependent or independent. Lisa clarifies that they should be taken independently.

<Rashmi> GitHub Issue shared by Charles Hall w3c/coga#384

Question on the deadline for feedback. Lisa clarifies that we prefer hearing by mid-April but welcome feedback after that as well.

Lisa notes that these papers are the source documents that go into actual guidance. They shouldn't be considered mature guidance

<julierawe> Link to the deck presented today: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1hy0iPkqWKxN_8xI5UIAWPk7We9nk44DDb618pzDQzOw/edit?slide=id.g3d1c83e5cba_5_0#slide=id.g3d1c83e5cba_5_0

Lisa: Suggestion, as a potential solution for understand the well being of users (especially when different groups respond differently)... we suggest a process to analyze the effect on well being through diverse group checks. Is there a paradigm or process we aren't aware of?

julierawe: also we are looking to collaborate... please do connect with us for that or general feedback, format, missing needs, etc.

<julierawe> Lisa shared an example of people who might be missing from user data, such as older people who have trouble using a parking app

Minutes manually created (not a transcript), formatted by scribe.perl version 248 (Mon Oct 27 20:04:16 2025 UTC).

Diagnostics

Maybe present: Becca_Monteleone, eric, Lisa, Rashmi

All speakers: Becca_Monteleone, eric, julierawe, Lenb, Lisa, Rashmi

Active on IRC: breakout-bot, Eric_hind, julierawe, LenB, Lisa, Rashmi, thelounge, TiffanyBurtin