Web Accessibility for People with Cognitive Disabilities: A Systematic Literature Review from 2015 to 2021

Abstract

Web accessibility refers to the extent to which websites can be consumed by people with disabilities, elderly people, as well as people living in rural areas and developing countries. To make sure that everyone is included and has an equal user experience, developers need to create highly accessible websites. Cognitive disability, which can take various forms, represents an umbrella term that is used when a person has certain limitations in mental functioning and skills such as communication, self-help, and social skills. To determine the degree to which web accessibility for people with cognitive disabilities has been examined in the period from 2015 to 2021, we have carried out a systematic literature review. Reported findings indicate that accessibility of the majority of current websites is very poor but can be improved with a simple design of user interface elements, by providing relevant information in various forms and on the top of the website, and by avoiding distractors of any kind. We also discovered that studies in which people with cognitive disabilities actively participate in the development and evaluation of software solutions meant for enhancing their web experience are rather rare. Drawing on reported findings, limitations of current studies and future work directions are presented and discussed.