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Re: Design Principles for Cognitive Disabilities

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From: Robinson, Norman B - Washington, DC
Date: Nov 8, 2006 9:00AM

Mr. Bohman,

I believe I'll have to disagree with you on your view of design
for cognitive disabilities. I think anyone can design and be qualified.
I've seen the progress with Section 508 issues and developers and see no
reason for it to differ when involving cognitive disabilities. I do
agree there is a lack of attempts to address the issues and obtain a
consensus, as evidenced by Section 508's lack of technical standards for
this area (although certainly not to blame, just a reality of the
difficulty in reaching consensus).

I think you might benefit from considering Universal Design when
building your list. Research into this area might also provide you with
a fresh perspective that you might find enjoyable. Besides the general
web search for Universal Design,
http://www.cast.org/research/udl/index.html might be of particular
interest to you. I've personally found Universal Principles of Design:
100 Ways to Enhance Usability, Influence Perception, Increase Appeal,
Make Better Design Decisions, and Teach Through Design, ISBN: 1592530079
to be wonderfully crafted and useful to consider when trying to build
models for discussions such as the one you offer in your email.

Please take these comments in the spirit for which they were
intended; focus on the positive and plan for how things fail, for the
betterment of others.

Regards,


Norman B. Robinson
Section 508 Program Manager, USPS