Cognitive Web Accessibility: Research 2007

Web accessibility for individuals with cognitive deficits: A comparative study between an existing commercial Web and its cognitively accessible equivalent
"This article explains an alternative Web that has been constructed and tested on a sample of participants with cognitive disabilities (N = 20) with positive results encouraging us to dedicate more effort to fine tune their requirements regarding specific cognitive deficits and automating the process of creating and testing cognitively accessible web content."
Improving the outcomes of students with cognitive and learning disabilities: phase I development for a web accessibility tool
"The authors will present empirically-derived draft technical specifications for a suite of tools to evaluate the cognitive load of a Web page. By adding this suite to the existing open-source WAVE (Web Accessibility Versatile Evaluator), it will be possible to increase the awareness of Web developers to the needs of users with cognitive disabilities."
Cognitive and learning difficulties and how they affect access to IT systems
"In October 2005, the IBM Human Ability and Accessibility Center and T.J. Watson Research Center hosted a symposium on 'cognitive and learning difficulties and how they affect access to IT systems'. ... This paper summarises the discussions and findings of the symposium."
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."
Personalization of user interface for the cognitively disabled: how to test cognitive functions and ICT skills (PDF)
"The work-in-progress paper addresses some issues related to personalization of the user interface of different digital devices to meet needs of people with cognitive disabilities" and " .... presents and discusses a framework for developing profile indicators." Norwegian Computing Center
Personalization of user interface for the cognitively disabled: how to test cognitive functions and ICT skills
"The work-in-progress paper addresses some issues related to personalization of the user interface of different digital devices to meet needs of people with cognitive disabilities" and " .... presents and discusses a framework for developing profile indicators." Norwegian Computing Center
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."
Internet use and interest among individuals with traumatic brain injury: A consumer survey
"The authors examined experiences among individuals in the USA with traumatic brain injury (TBI) regarding their access to and use of the Internet, problems encountered, and desire for improved Internet access and skills."
Cognitive difficulties and access to information systems: an interaction design perspective
"In the paper, the design and evaluation of three information systems are reported. These systems go some way towards overcoming cognitive barriers, allowing access to the advantages of computers for people with dyslexia, and for older users with no background in computer use who were able to access both email and the World Wide Web through specially designed interfaces."
Enabling Accessibility and Enhancing Web Experience: Ordering Search Results According to User Needs
"This paper presents the results of an exploratory study, which aimed to devise a means of improving web accessibility for users with impairments. It looks at how web pages can be rated for accessibility using specific algorithms ..." that analyze and select web pages according to user preferences ...". "The paper also demonstrates the work ..."which aims to improve accessibility to web based information by re-ordering search results according to user needs."
Web Navigation for Individuals with Dyslexia: An Exploratory Study
"In this paper, we present an exploratory study of the web navigation experiences of dyslexic users. Findings indicate that dyslexics exhibit distinctive web navigation behaviour and preferences. We believe that the outcomes of this study add to our understanding of the particular needs of this web user population and have implications for the design of effective navigation structures."
Establishing Design Best Practices for Users with Cognitive and Learning Difficulties
"A simple review of almost any general UA or Assistive Technology conference proceedings will typically show a strong bias towards sensory (vision and hearing) impairment ...". ... "This paper discusses the reasons why such a disparity exists and summarizes the outcome of an International Symposium, hosted by the IBM Human Ability and Accessibility Center, to establish the state-of-the-art in research and best practices for supporting access for users with cognitive difficulties and learning impairments."
Cognitive and learning difficulties and how they affect access to IT systems
"In October 2005, the IBM Human Ability and Accessibility Center and T.J. Watson Research Center hosted a symposium on 'cognitive and learning difficulties and how they affect access to IT systems." ... "This paper summarizes the discussions and findings of the symposium. "
Simplicity in cognitive assistive technology: a framework and agenda for research
"This paper analyzes the idea of simplicity, and suggests (a) that simplicity in a user interface is not a unified concept, but rather has distinguishable facets, and (b) that simplicity must be defined in terms of the cognitive capabilities of a user, so that what is “simpler” for one user may be “more complex” for another."
RFID Cards: A New Deal for Elderly Accessibility
Many elderly adults "... suffer from physical or cognitive disabilities, which inhibit computer use." They "... are less likely to access the Internet, and this lack of accessibility denies them increased social contact and access to information. This paper presents the design of a tangible user interface (TUI) for an email client that is suited to the physical, neurological, and cognitive needs of elderly users."
User Profiles for Adapting Speech Support in the Opera Web Browser to Disabled Users
"In this paper we describe results from our work on adapting speech support in the Opera web browser to disabled users, through using available gross categories of equipment feature (screen presentation and program control) to categorize user and usage characteristics in user profiles."
Accessibility Works: Enhancing Web Accessibility in Firefox
"This paper reviews several techniques we have discovered while trying to extend the Firefox browser to support people with visual, motor, reading, and cognitive disabilities. Our goal throughout has been to find ways to make on-the-fly transformations of Web content ...".
Cognitive Ability Measures for Accessible Web Content
"... far less attention has been paid to designing for users with cognitive deficits. In order to address this, we present an orthogonal set of cognitive ability dimensions based in modern neuroscience, the SCEMA model, which designers may use to characterize an individual user and help better inform accessible design ..."
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."
Annotated Bibliography on Cognitive Disabilities and Web Accessibility (DRAFT)
Paul R. Bohman
Web Accessibility for Cognitive and Learning Disabilities: A Review of Research-Based Evidence in the Literature
A review of 7 studies that "... 1) directly observed people with cognitive disabilities, and 2) addressed cognitive disability access from a web content design perspective ...". Paul R. Bohman
Web accessibility design recommendations for people with cognitive disabilities
"Twenty existing Web design guidelines from Web accessibility experts, government and advocacy organizations were identified in an extensive literature review for subsequent analysis. Criteria for inclusion in this analysis were that each guideline addressed some type of cognitive disability and included specific design recommendations."
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."