The concept of Cognitive, Language and Learning Disabilities is very broad, and not always well defined. When a person is called "cognitively disabled", it is a general understanding that that individual faces challenges in performing one or more types of cerebral tasks. Since this can result in different types of functional abilities, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to ensure communication access for individuals who may fall within this population.
In terms of web accessibility, classifying cognitive disabilities with respect to functional abilities is more useful as it focuses on abilities and challenges while ignoring medical and behavioral causes of disability. Some very common deficits of functional abilities are - Memory, Problem Solving, Attention, Reading, Linguistic, Math, Visual and Verbal comprehension.
Key documents on cognitive, language, and learning disabilities accessibility strategies
- MasterList of Accessibility Strategies - filter by Cognitive Disabilities
- Cognitive Disabilities - WebAim
- Cognitive Disabilities and the Web: Where usability and accessibility meet? - The National Center on Disability and Access to Education
- Cognitive Disabilities at W3C
- Cognitive Accessibility Issue Papers - W3C
Standards related to cognitive, language, and learning disabilities
- ISO/DIS 21801 - General guidelines on Cognitive Disabilities
- ETSI - EG 203 350 v1.1.1 - Human Factors(HF) Guidelines for design of mobile ICT devices and their related applications for people with cognitive disabilities
- ETSI - TR 103 349 v1.1.1 - Human Factors (HF); Functional needs of people with cognitive disabilities when using mobile ICT devices for an improved user experience in mobile ICT devices
- RESNA CA-1:2018 - Cognitive Accessibility – Volume 1: Universal Criteria for Reporting the Cognitive Accessibility of Products and Technologies
- ISO 21802/2019 - Assistive Products - Guidelines on Cognitive Accessibility - Daily time management
- Drafting standards on Cognitive Accessibility: a global collaboration
Key Organizations focusing on cognitive, language, and learning disabilities
- The Arc | For People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- America Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- Specialist Task Force (STF) 488 of the European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI) is working on the accessibility of and to mobile devices for persons with cognitive disabilities
- National Center for Learning Disabilities
- Learning Disabilities Association of America
Other Key Resources
- Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Aging with Developmental Disabilities (RRTCADD)
- The Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities
- Intellectual and Developmental Disability Research Centers (IDDRC)
- International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities (IASSID)
- The International Dyslexia Association
- Learning Disabilities Worldwide
This QuickSheet was prepared by Gregg Vanderheiden and Pavithra Ramasamy at the Trace R&D Center, University of Maryland, College Park