Cognitive Accessibility Guide: improving understanding for everyone

Designing accessible digital content means making information clear and easily understandable for everyone, including users with cognitive or learning difficulties.

Clear and direct texts

• Use simple and common words.
• Write short and straightforward sentences, avoiding acronyms and technical jargon.
• Use clear and descriptive headings to guide reading.
• Break content into short paragraphs and bullet lists.

Intuitive navigation

• Structure information in a logical and consistent way.
• Use symbols and supporting images alongside important content.
• Make sure each icon has a clear and unique meaning.

Support for understanding

• Provide step-by-step instructions and additional content to explain complex concepts.
• Offer visual and textual alternatives: charts, explanatory videos, flow diagrams, and popups with explanations.
• Use summaries for long documents and alternatives for numerical content.

Accessible design improves the experience for all users!

Supplementary Guidelines to WCAG 2, from W3C

The Cognitive Accessibility Guidance provides general objectives and practical design patterns, with guidance and examples on how to improve accessibility.

The full document Making Content Usable for People with Cognitive and Learning Disabilities explores the topic in depth and includes a glossary.