Cognitive accessibility is often overlooked in the world of digital design. We focus so much on visual or auditory accessibility that we forget that people with cognitive disabilities experience websites and apps in a fundamentally different way.
Cognitive disabilities can range from learning disabilities like dyslexia to more complex conditions such as ADHD, autism, and brain injuries. Designing and developing websites with these users in mind doesn’t just benefit them; it makes websites more intuitive and usable for everyone.
In this guide we’ll explore what is classed as a cognitive disability, examples, and highlight key design principles to help make the web more inclusive.
What is a Cognitive Impairment?
A cognitive impairment is a condition that affects a person’s ability to think, learn, remember, or process information. Unlike sensory disabilities, which affect sight or hearing, it influences mental functions such as memory, attention, problem-solving, and language.
These challenges can range from mild to moderate to severe, and even temporary, depending on the cause.
Symptoms of a Cognitive impairment can include:
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Memory loss
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Trouble concentrating
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Issues understanding, remembering, following instructions, and solving problems
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Changes in mood or behaviour
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Being unaware of surroundings
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Issues with speech and language
Common cognitive disability examples include:
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Learning difficulties like dyslexia
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Neurological conditions like ADHD or autism
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Brain injuries
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Strokes
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Age-related conditions like dementia
These conditions can directly affect how people process, understand, and interact with digital information. Designing for cognitive accessibility means reducing complexity, providing clarity, and offering multiple ways for users to engage with content. Our Insights Dashboard helps teams track and measure these improvements over time.
What is an Important Aspect of Designing for Users with Cognitive Disabilities?
One of the most important aspects of designing for users with cognitive disabilities is reducing cognitive load. Cognitive load refers to the amount of mental effort required to process information and complete a task.
For example, if your website or app is cluttered, inconsistent, or overly complex, it can quickly overwhelm uses who may already face challenges with attention and memory.
To reduce cognitive load and create more inclusive experiences, designers should:
1. Clear and simple language
One of the first steps in designing for cognitive accessibility is ensuring the language is simple and clear. Avoid jargon, complex sentences, and overly technical terms. Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and headers to break up text. The goal is to make information digestible for users who might struggle with processing dense or technical content.
Example:
The UK Government website excels at this by using plain English across its entire site. For instance, it uses “start work” instead of “commence employment” and structures content into short paragraphs with clear subheadings. This approach supports users with dyslexia or processing difficulties and enhances clarity for everyone.
2. Logical structure and navigation
A website with a logical structure helps users make sense of where they are and how to get to where they need to go. For users with cognitive impairments, confusion caused by disorganised navigation can be frustrating and lead to abandonment. A consistent layout, clear headings, and intuitive navigation paths ensure that users can easily predict what to do next.
Example:
BBC Bitesize, an educational resource, organises its content into clearly labelled sections like “Key Facts,” “Activities,” and “Videos,” all linked with breadcrumb navigation. Each page has one clear purpose, which reduces cognitive load and helps neurodivergent users navigate confidently.
3. Predictable and consistent design
Predictability and consistency are key for users with cognitive disabilities. They often rely on consistency in how websites are structured and designed, so they don’t have to relearn how to navigate the same website every time they visit.
arc Tip: Streamline consistency across your interfaces with a design system assessment, ensuring patterns and components remain inclusive at every scale.
Example:
In the Apple iOS Settings app, every screen follows a predictable layout: section headers, toggle switches, and consistent icons. This design is mirrored across Apple’s system apps, allowing users (especially those with ADHD or memory difficulties) to rely on pattern recognition and avoid unnecessary mental effort.
4. Interactive elements and feedback
When designing interactive elements, it’s crucial to provide feedback that indicates when an action has been successful or needs attention. For example, forms should validate inputs in real-time with clear error messages. This helps users with cognitive impairments know what is expected and provides confidence that their actions are being understood.
Example:
Booking.com provides instant feedback when users fill out a booking form. If a field is missing or filled incorrectly, a red warning and helpful message appear (e.g., “Please enter a valid email address”), along with visual cues like green ticks or red crosses. This reduces anxiety and confusion, supporting users who might otherwise find form-filling tasks overwhelming.
5. Support for multimodal interaction
Cognitive accessibility can also benefit from the use of multiple modes of communication. Offering options like text-to-speech, simple language translation, or even visual cues alongside written instructions can support diverse cognitive needs. This multimodal approach not only benefits users with cognitive disabilities but also enhances the experience for anyone who prefers different ways of interacting with content.
Example:
Microsoft Immersive Reader, available in tools like Microsoft Word and Edge, allows users to adjust font size, spacing, background colour, and line focus. It also provides text-to-speech and grammar support like syllable highlighting. This is a game-changer for users with dyslexia, visual stress, or processing disorders, offering greater control over how they consume content.
How Do you Approach Designing for Accessibility?
Designing for accessibility means creating digital products that everyone can use, regardless of their abilities. The best approach is to integrate accessibility from the very beginning of the design process, rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Here at arc inclusion, we recommend taking the following approach to accessible design:
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Follow recognised guidelines – Standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide clear principles for making content perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.
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Understand your users – Consider a wide range of needs, including visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive disabilities.
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Keep it simple – Use plain language, clear layouts, and intuitive navigation to reduce cognitive load for all users.
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Test with diverse users – Involve people with different abilities in inclusive user testing. Real feedback is valuable and uncovers barriers that automated tools may miss.
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Use accessibility technology and tools – Always check that your content works with assistive technologies, such as screen readers and text-to-speech.
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Iterate and improve – Accessibility isn’t a one-and-done thing; it is ongoing. Regularly review and update your designs to keep up with new standards and user needs.
Final Thoughts
By designing websites that prioritise cognitive accessibility, we not only make our websites more inclusive for those with cognitive disabilities but also improve usability for all users. Cognitive accessibility is about creating a website that feels intuitive, easy to navigate, and capable of catering to a wide range of needs.
Real-world examples, from GOV.UK’s plain language to Microsoft’s Immersive Reader, show that accessibility and good design go hand in hand. When in doubt, always remember: the simpler and clearer you make the experience, the better it will be for everyone.
To learn more about these principles in action, check out our Digital Inclusion Lab experience.