Web and Software: Cognitive recommendations
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Recommendations from Dr. Clayton Lewis at the February 7, 2007 TEITAC meeting
Alternatives to speeded responses
- We have this for both Web and software now.
Compatibility with assistive technology
- Word lookup, or compatibility with word lookup tools
- Text reading, or compatibility with text reading tools
- Spelling correction for spelling-sensitive interactions
Summary of discussion on compatibility with assistive technology
- Discussed the recommendations from Dr. Lewis' presentation at the February TEITAC. [1] The following three could possibly be met with tools or assistive technologies for people with cognitive disabilities. See Andi's post February 23, 2007.
- Concerns with the language "displaying or authoring text". See Peter's poston February 23,2007.
- AT solutions exist that already do the three functions listed above(plus many more).Commonly referred to as Learning Disability or Special Education solutions. So, we can write "... or support for assistive technology that provides the functionality" with confidence that it exists.
- Recommended term to use is "Cognitive, language and learning disabilities". What is referred to as a learning disability in one country is a cognitive in another and vice versa, so separating these from each other is a problem.
- We need to put these into regulatory language (e.g. must or shall) and use the format that was developed for AT support.
- Example: Software for authoring text shall provide the ability to check for spelling errors and correct them, directly or through the users' assistive technology.
- Discussed at February 28, 2007 meeting
Mandatory usability testing which includes representatives of all disability types
Summary of discussion with Nancy Ward at the February 7, 2007 subcommittee meeting
- Medicaid Reference Desk thedesk.info
- specific to the needs of people with cognitive disabilities but should serve the needs of people with other disabilities
- uses pictures: a hammer represents "work", a finger with a bandage represents "health" and a house represents "home"
- people with cognitive disabilities:
- are very hands on and need visual cues.
- need fewer simpler words. Example of an explanation of physical therapy that was 57 words long, 27 had 3 or more syllables. Reduced to 17 words, with only 3 that have 3 or more syllables.
Definition of Cognitive Disabilities
Cognitive, language and learning disabilities
It turns out that what is a learning disability in one country is a cognitive in another and vice versa. So separating these from each other is a problem. But the range of cognitive language and learning disabilities includes (but is not limited to):
- Impairments of Intelligence and Thinking
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- Dementia (deterioration of cognitive functioning)
- Impairments of Memory
- Aphasia (an impairment in the ability to interpret and/or formulate language symbols as a result of brain damage)
- (Specific) Learning Disabilities
- Spoken language: delays, disorders, and deviations in listening and speaking (e.g., developmental aphasia)
- Written language: difficulties with reading, writing, and spelling (e.g., dyslexia)
- Arithmetic: difficulty in performing arithmetic functions or in comprehending basic concepts
- Reasoning: difficulty in organizing and integrating thoughts
- Attention: difficulty in maintaining attention
Proposals
Proposal on cognitive and compatibility with AT
Provision for suppressing unneeded functions
Individualization and WCAG proposals
Best practice proposals
References
- WebAim Resources:
- IBM Research Journal: Semantic triage for increased Web accessibility by Simon Harper and Sean Bechhofer
