Web access experiences of people with Down syndrome

Abstract

Social integration is now the norm for many children and adults with Down syndrome. Many persons with Down syndrome are interested in being active members of society. Social isolation is experienced by around 6% of the population with Down syndrome in terms of daily activities but this figure increases to three times when requiring the use of a computer to access the internet. There are therefore, major website accessibility barriers for users with Down syndrome. Trisomy of chromosome 21 causes a series of symptoms that directly affect ones internet browsing capabilities. These include speech disturbances making communication difficult, hearing impairments making understanding of audio also difficult and dexterity problems impairing speed of use. Many of these physical disabilities are further affected by the underlying cognitive disability. After assessing the needs, the benefits of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0), the usability guidelines were analyzed and those useful for persons with Down syndrome were extracted. User tests were carried out to demonstrate the level of effectiveness of these guidelines. Recommendations are made.