New interesting investigation about cognitive accessibility in digital interfaces
How much does the research community know about cognitive accessibility online? What gaps are there in current regulations for web accessibility when it comes to meeting the needs of people with cognitive impairments? Together with the consulting firm ICF, Funka has been asked by the European Commission to investigate cognitive accessibility on the web.
The regulations that are in place for web accessibility in the EU at this moment are mostly focused on the needs of people with physical disabilities. But many of the problems that users experience on the web have to do with the ability to understand and absorb information, that is, cognitive functions.
The groups with greater needs for cognitive accessibility are both large and broad, and so far there has been no overall picture of what the needs are and what solutions exist today.
The inquiry will collect and analyze existing studies to produce a comprehensive knowledge base on cognitive accessibility on the web. The goal is to make way for concrete proposals on how accessibility can be improved, based on conclusions from the research results.
The investigation includes mapping and analysis of literature in the field, as well as public consultation in the form of surveys and interviews. Two digital workshops will also be organized for stakeholders from different sectors. The final report will be delivered during the first quarter of 2022, and it will be available to the public.
Project update
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Study on cognitive accessibility in digital interfaces
Many web pages can be difficult to understand and use, especially for people with cognitive disabilities. What are the main barriers and what are the solutions? Together with the consultancy company ICF, Funka has assessed the state of the art in online cognitive accessibility on behalf of the European Commission.
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About the study
The aim of this study was to provide the European Commission with a comprehensive and evidence-based overview of existing research/studies on accessibility of persons with cognitive disabilities and identify gaps in research and web accessibility for persons with cognitive disabilities.
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Research results
The final report and executive summary present the evidence gathered during the study and propose clear policy recommendations. The final report was published in March 2022.
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Study workshops
During the study, interactive workshops with various stakeholders were carried out. The workshops were recorded and are freely available.