Key Resources

• Guide to understanding and implementing cognitive accessibility
• The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) website

The Problem

• Want to know cognitive access barriers that people experience
• Need to avoid and remove these barriers
• Require a comprehensive guide to accessibility, including cognitive

Emerging Awareness

• Understanding of neural diversity and mental health with digital
• Indentity - "I am an autistic person"
• Increasing use of technology for every-day activities
• Long COVID symptons

Neural Diversity

• Situational, short-term, long-term, permanent
• Learning, communication, reading, writing, math
• Memory, attention, visual processing, language, numerical thinking
• Processing information, acquiring skills, reduced independence

Gaps and Overlaps

• Some user needs not directly addressed by accessibility standards
• Unclear how to test more grey areas
• Information architecture, navigation, user experience / content design
• Personalisation

Cognitive at WAI

• W3C - "lead the World Wide Web to its full potential"
• WAI - "Web for All"
• Accessibility Guidelines Working Group
• Cognitive and Learning Disabilities Task Force
• Work in open (public mailing lists, GitHub etc.)
• Member organisation representatives, team, invited experts, public

WAI Cognitive Accessibility

• Majority of WCAG success criteria support cognitive accessibility
• WCAG 2.2 draft includes new criteria addressing cognitive
• User research and gap analysis
• Making Content Usable for People with Cognitive and Learning Disabilities
• Web Design Guide - coming soon

Content Usable

• A W3C Technical Report note
• Supplemental Guidance to WCAG - not required ("informative")"
• Three main sections: user requirements, personas, the design guide
• Appendixes - mapping of needs, personas and patterns

Design Guide

• Primarily for designers and developers
• Patterns provide practical approaches to achieving accessibility
• Grouped into Objectives, or themes
• Each pattern contains: user need, what to do, how it helps, examples

The Objectives (1 of 2)

• Help users understand what things are and how to use them
• Help users find what they need
• Use clear content (text, images and media)
• Help users avoid mistakes

The Objectives (2 of 2)

• Help users focus
• Ensure processes do not rely on memory
• Provide help and support
• Support adaptation and personalization

A Quick Peek

WAI Website Content Types

• Introductions
• Topical guides
• In-depth articles
• Links to key resources

Suggested starting point is "Introduction to Web Accessibility"
- w3.org/WAI/fundamentals/accessibility-intro

WAI Website Sections

• Accessibility Fundamentals
• Planning and Policies
• Design & Develop
• Test & Evaluate
• Teach & Advocate
• Standards / Guidelines

WAI Example Resources

• How People with Disabilities Use the Web
• Digital Accessibility Foundations - Free Online Course
• Easy Checks — A First Review of Web Accessibility
• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and supporting content