Section 1G - May 30 Draft

May 30 Draft > Working Copy of Provision 1.G

• Subcommittee: General
• Section: 1 - Functional Performance Criteria

Current Draft (for reference only)

At least one mode shall be provided that accommodates cognitive, language or learning impairments, directly or with users' AT.

Comments or suggested edits

How exactly do we know whether this provision has been met? What AT exists for folks with cognitive impairments? I fear we collectively don't have sufficient understanding of what it means to "accommodate cognitive, language or learning impairments" to make this text workable. Finally, as written (with the "or" instead of "and"), have I met the provision if I have accommodated a learning impairment but not a language or cognitive one? Korn

Tombrett
Based on the information that I remember from the February presentations and the research that I have done addressing a cognitive disabilities involves the actual content of the work and not a specific AT device. This means that sites need to be written in plain language. The presentation by Dr. Redish on May 18 addressed a significant number of ways to improve the usability and, as a result, the accessibility of documents. Putting the main idea first, writing in shorter sentences and paragraphs and using bulleted points improve the readability of the content.

I am not sure how we can mandate that an agency write in plain language. Even if we could I do not see how the results could be tested. This provision may best be handled by asking the Access Board to perform more research on this subject and incorporate the findings into the standards once it has been finished.

DECISION From June 18 meeting: Add following note to current draft item on cognitive: "This provision is here as a placeholder. The general group identified the following issues and questions in trying to move this forward.

1. Should we have an FPC when we dont have very many technical provisions saying to this would be done?
2. The range and variety of cognitive, language and learnign disabilities is so wide that the question arises , could any product meet this FPC for the full range of people with CLL disabilities.

Updated version for June 30

With Cognitive, Language or Learning Limitations

At least one mode shall be provided that accommodates cognitive, language or learning impairments, directly or with users' AT. (as of June 18)

Discussion or Rationale

To cover cognitive, language and learning aspects

• Source: {255}1193.41(i)
• Subcommittee: General Interface Accessibility
• Impact: This is one of the largest or the largest group of people with disabilities in the government. The cost in increased productivity can be great. Even simplification act has talked about using plain language. And GSA reports that there is some guidance there to use plain language. The cost to learn to write plainly though is not known or other aspects of this. The benefits are believed to outweigh costs in the end however so a net decrease in cost is believed.
• External Reference:
• Testability
• Metadata
  • Disabilities: Cognitive language/learning
  • User Activities: All
  • Product Characteristics: All
  • Product Types: All