Re: Final call for concensenses - replacing the phrases " cognitive and learning disabilities and mental health impairments"

+1 thank you for sharing this final call for consensus and working through
this!
[image: Google logo written with braille dots and ASL hands]
Rain Breaw Michaels
Design Lead, Products for All UX
rainb@google.com



On Tue, Apr 8, 2025 at 7:53 AM Lisa Seeman <lisa1seeman@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Folks
>
> On yesterday's call we agreed on replacing the long phrases "cognitive and
> learning disabilities and mental health impairments"   to refer to our
> users in making content useable.
> You can object to the wording before the 12 April 2025 at 6pm Boston time.
> If we do not hear objections by then we will assume everyone is OK with
> this.
>
> The  consensus is:
> 1: The new title is cognitive accessibility guidance
>
> 2: We have a sub title along the lines of :
>
> Making content usable for people with  cognitive,  intellectual,
> developmental, learning and specific learning disabilities,
>  neurodivergence, mental health impairments and temporary impairments that
> affect cognitive function.
>
>  (We can agree on the exact wording of the  subtitle later - but we agree
> on the direction )
>
> 3. We explain who is included in both the abstract and the introduction.
>
> 4. We replace the phrase "people with learning and cognitive disabilities"
> in the document so that the intent is not changed, but it is easier to read
> and follow.
>
> This would involve  using different phrases depending on what fits.  (We
> leave it to the editors' discretion to draft it). Included phrases are:
>
>
>    - The phrase "cognitive accessibility guidance" where it fits. It
>    would have a pop up glossary item with what the phrase means and  a full
>    list of who is included
>    - The phrase " Our user groups" - also with a pop up explaining who is
>    included.
>    - Sometimes an extra sentence may be added such as: "users with
>    disabilities that impact cognitive accessibility".   We may sometimes use
>    that sentence where it is helpful and easier to understand
>
>
> Caveats
> Caveat 1. a certain amount of feedback could be gathered from the first
> working draft to see if people feel included and find these phrases easy to
> understand so that it is clear who is included
>
> Cavert 2. We ask Shawn and W3C staff about  using metadata to support SEO
> and how to make sure we are found by the user groups who need us.
>
> --
> All the best
>
> Lisa Seeman-Horwitz
>
> LinkedIn <http://il.linkedin.com/in/lisaseeman/>, Twitter
> <https://twitter.com/SeemanLisa>
>