Inclusive digital platforms: Designing for and with users with mild intellectual disabilities or low literacy skills
There are diverse general guidelines about improving the accessibility of digital platforms. Literature is scarce on the specific elements that make digital platforms accessible and inclusive for individuals with mild intellectual disability (MID) or low literacy (LL). This study investigated key de...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Computers in Human Behavior Reports |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451958825000326 |
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| author | Julia F.E. van Calis Jenneken Naaldenberg Anneke W.C. van der Cruijsen Monique C.J. Koks-Leensen Geraline L. Leusink Kirsten E. Bevelander |
| author_facet | Julia F.E. van Calis Jenneken Naaldenberg Anneke W.C. van der Cruijsen Monique C.J. Koks-Leensen Geraline L. Leusink Kirsten E. Bevelander |
| author_sort | Julia F.E. van Calis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | There are diverse general guidelines about improving the accessibility of digital platforms. Literature is scarce on the specific elements that make digital platforms accessible and inclusive for individuals with mild intellectual disability (MID) or low literacy (LL). This study investigated key design elements crucial for individuals with MID or LL that enable their access to and participation in digital platforms. We applied a user-sensitive inclusive research approach to re-design and implement the digital research platform ‘I co-research’ for individuals with MID or LL. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and usability tests. Apart from general design characteristics such as clarity, readability, comprehensibility, and intuitive design our results showed specific elements for creating an inclusive digital environment. Crucial design elements for an inclusive digital environment included the use of recognizable and suitable well-designed visuals that align with and reflect the diversity in society, and comprehensible naming of the platform to enhance the findability. The importance of an accessible onboarding process and intuitive navigation features including read-aloud and read-along functionalities also emerged. In conclusion, employing a user-sensitive inclusive research approach for the re-design of a digital research platform enabled the identification of design characteristics and elements specifically important for people with MID or LL to enhance accessibility and usability. By integrating participatory methodologies and incorporating these key design elements, digital platforms can be tailored to meet the diverse needs of individuals with MID or LL facilitating greater inclusion and participation in digital research. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-137060ad99eb4b6ebcc8d5f64438d260 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2451-9588 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Computers in Human Behavior Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-137060ad99eb4b6ebcc8d5f64438d2602025-02-09T05:00:44ZengElsevierComputers in Human Behavior Reports2451-95882025-03-0117100617Inclusive digital platforms: Designing for and with users with mild intellectual disabilities or low literacy skillsJulia F.E. van Calis0Jenneken Naaldenberg1Anneke W.C. van der Cruijsen2Monique C.J. Koks-Leensen3Geraline L. Leusink4Kirsten E. Bevelander5Corresponding author. Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud university and medical center, P.O. Box 9101, Nijmegen, 6500 HB, the Netherlands.; Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud University and Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the NetherlandsDepartment of Primary and Community Care, Radboud University and Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the NetherlandsDepartment of Primary and Community Care, Radboud University and Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the NetherlandsDepartment of Primary and Community Care, Radboud University and Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the NetherlandsDepartment of Primary and Community Care, Radboud University and Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the NetherlandsDepartment of Primary and Community Care, Radboud University and Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the NetherlandsThere are diverse general guidelines about improving the accessibility of digital platforms. Literature is scarce on the specific elements that make digital platforms accessible and inclusive for individuals with mild intellectual disability (MID) or low literacy (LL). This study investigated key design elements crucial for individuals with MID or LL that enable their access to and participation in digital platforms. We applied a user-sensitive inclusive research approach to re-design and implement the digital research platform ‘I co-research’ for individuals with MID or LL. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and usability tests. Apart from general design characteristics such as clarity, readability, comprehensibility, and intuitive design our results showed specific elements for creating an inclusive digital environment. Crucial design elements for an inclusive digital environment included the use of recognizable and suitable well-designed visuals that align with and reflect the diversity in society, and comprehensible naming of the platform to enhance the findability. The importance of an accessible onboarding process and intuitive navigation features including read-aloud and read-along functionalities also emerged. In conclusion, employing a user-sensitive inclusive research approach for the re-design of a digital research platform enabled the identification of design characteristics and elements specifically important for people with MID or LL to enhance accessibility and usability. By integrating participatory methodologies and incorporating these key design elements, digital platforms can be tailored to meet the diverse needs of individuals with MID or LL facilitating greater inclusion and participation in digital research.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451958825000326Digital platformsAccessible technologyMild intellectual disabilitiesLow literacyInclusive designPublic health |
| spellingShingle | Julia F.E. van Calis Jenneken Naaldenberg Anneke W.C. van der Cruijsen Monique C.J. Koks-Leensen Geraline L. Leusink Kirsten E. Bevelander Inclusive digital platforms: Designing for and with users with mild intellectual disabilities or low literacy skills Computers in Human Behavior Reports Digital platforms Accessible technology Mild intellectual disabilities Low literacy Inclusive design Public health |
| title | Inclusive digital platforms: Designing for and with users with mild intellectual disabilities or low literacy skills |
| title_full | Inclusive digital platforms: Designing for and with users with mild intellectual disabilities or low literacy skills |
| title_fullStr | Inclusive digital platforms: Designing for and with users with mild intellectual disabilities or low literacy skills |
| title_full_unstemmed | Inclusive digital platforms: Designing for and with users with mild intellectual disabilities or low literacy skills |
| title_short | Inclusive digital platforms: Designing for and with users with mild intellectual disabilities or low literacy skills |
| title_sort | inclusive digital platforms designing for and with users with mild intellectual disabilities or low literacy skills |
| topic | Digital platforms Accessible technology Mild intellectual disabilities Low literacy Inclusive design Public health |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451958825000326 |
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