Cognitive Web Accessibility: Readability 2007

Accessible Information for People with Intellectual Disabilities: Do Symbols Really Help?
Two versions of a simplified manifesto were produced: one text-based and the other symbol-based (with text). Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: one received the text-based information, and the other the symbol-based information (with text). Participants were asked a series of questions about the material, both immediately (time 1) and a short time afterwards (time 2), to assess understanding (the material was in front of them throughout). Both versions produced relatively low levels of understanding.
Grammar-guided writing for AAC users
"Article describes the use of software called Grammar-Guided Writing (GGW) to guide augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) users through creation of sentences in e-mail construction."
Enabling Resource Selection Based on Written English and Intellectual Competencies
"The problem of accessibility to English texts is significant simply because of the number of people involved. The problems for second language English readers are similar to those for many dyslexic first language readers. We propose a descriptive model that supports adaptability of texts for the benefit of such people based on FRBR and AccessForAll standards."
The Verneri chat – The real time communication service for people with intellectual or developmental disability: From Usability towards user participation
"... commissioned by The Finnish Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities" "The easy-to-use chat is aimed at persons who can read and write but have intellectual and developmental disabilities." Written in Finnish. ( Referring source = http://www.webaim.org/forums/viewtopic.php?id=108 ) ( Author = http://fi.linkedin.com/in/soile )
The Impact of Moving Around and Zooming of Objects on Users’ Performance in Web Pages: A Cross-Generation Study
"Some common guidelines for Web content or page designs make it difficult or impossible for people with certain cognitive or visual disabilities to read moving text quickly enough." "With this in mind, experiments were conducted on 24 people in their twenties and thirties in Yokosuka-shi, Japan and on 18 elderly people in Beijing, China."
Curb Cut » Icons, Symbols and Cognitive Disabilities
Describes "... project/ideas that are exploring the use of symbols ...".
WebAIM: Writing Clearly and Simply
"... the suggestions ..." "... benefit writers of web content ..." and "... serve as general guidelines for writing clear and simple English ...".
Accessible Website Content Guidelines for Users with Intellectual Disabilities
"The usability of two versions of a website (a non-adapted site and a site that was adapted on the basis of easy-to-read guidelines) was tested with two groups of 20 participants. One group had intellectual disabilities but could read, the other group had no identified intellectual disabilities. In a 2 × 2 experimental design, it was investigated whether the easy-to-read website was indeed better accessible and usable for the participants with intellectual disabilities.Results The adaptation of the website worked well for participants with intellectual disabilities. Users without identified intellectual disabilities were as effective with the adapted site as they were with the non-adapted site.Conclusion The results form an empirical basis for recommendations about applying guidelines for easy-to-read text on websites for people with intellectual disabilities."