Using Inclusive Design for People with Cognitive Limitations to Develop Online Training in the Workplace

Abstract

Whether it's downloading applications, doing research, using communication tools, shopping online, filling out a form or finding directions, having good digital competencies is essential in our contemporary society. But what about people with cognitive limitations (PCLs)? It appears that more than 31% of PCLs do not have the basic competencies to face this new digital reality and thus function harmoniously in society. To enable them to become autonomous in activities requiring the use of the Internet via a tablet, a research and development project is underway to create TAQ-TIC, an online digital literacy learning environment adapted to their needs. Using an inclusive design approach that puts the learner at the heart of the creation process, we validated the design, usability, and pedagogical readability of TAQ-TIC with PCLs. Findings emerged that allowed us to make recommendations for online training intended for PCLs, notably the addition of navigation indicators and contextual aids, the cleaning up of screen pages both graphically and textually, and the predominant use of video-based content.