Types of Disabilities: Cognitive and Intellectual Disabilities

Question 1

Cognitive Disabilities

Answer 1

Can affect one or more mental functions by varying degrees.

Question 2

Causes of Cognitive Disabilities

Answer 2

Congenital conditions, developmental conditions, traumatic injury, infections, chemical imbalances, or other conditions.

Question 3

Intellectual Disabilities

Answer 3

Categorized by significant limitations in intellectual functioning (reasoning, learning, problem solving) and in adaptive behavior. Typically, a person with such a disability has an IQ below 70-75. Also called learning disabilities.

Question 4

Reading and Dyslexia

Answer 4

Affecting a person’s ability to read.

Question 5

Math and Computation

Answer 5

Affecting a person’s ability to learn and communicate math.

Question 6

ADHD

Answer 6

Characterized by inattention/distraction and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity.

Question 7

Inattention/distraction ADHD criteria

Answer 7

1. Diminished attention to detail
2. Trouble with attention span
3. Easily distracted
4. Difficulty with starting, organizing, and finishing tasks
5. Being forgetful or losing items

Question 8

Hyperactive/impulsive ADHD criteria

Answer 8

1. Being restless or fidgety
2. Having difficulty remaining seated
3. Talking excessively
4. Having difficulty waiting one’s turn

Question 9

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Answer 9

A diverse group of conditions related to brain development which include difficulty with communicating and social interaction, as well as unusual patterns of activities and behaviors.

Question 10

2 main criteria for diagnosing ASD

Answer 10

1. Difficulty with social communication and interaction, present in different contexts
2. Repetitive behaviors, eg. routines or movements.

Question 11

Non-Verbal Learning Disability (NLD)

Answer 11

Commonly considered a milder form of Asperger’s Syndrome. People with NLD have normal intelligence and brain development but struggle with social skills, sensory input, and making transitions.

Question 12

3 main criteria to diagnose an intellectual disability

Answer 12

1. Deficits in intellectual function.
2. Impairments in adaptive behavior (social and communication skills, skills used to manage work or school).
3. These impairments manifest during childhood.

Question 13

Things to consider for cognitive and intellectual disability web accessiblity

Answer 13

1. Limited comprehension
2. Low tolerance for cognitive overload
3. Limited problem-solving skills (eg. CAPTCHAs)
4. Short term memory loss
5. Attention deficit

Question 14

ICT Challenge: May find complex designs and tasks in digital format overwhelming.

Answer 14

Solution: Create simple, predictable, organized designs and simplify user interface components.

Question 15

ICT Challenge: May have difficulty solving technical problems or finding errors.

Answer 15

Solution: Ensure users are alerted to errors and provide clear solutions to fix errors.

Question 16

General Challenge: May have difficulty processing information, especially text-based information that uses complex language.

Answer 16

Solutions:
1. Supplement text-based information with images and other visuals to reinforce understanding.
2. Use simple, easy-to-understand language when presenting text-based information.