In this context, it may apply to the ability of people with disabilities to reach a certain building, access quality educational or professional opportunities.

Children who experience brain injuries at birth may sustain some brain damage. Thus, these individuals may later on in life have to deal with limited accessibility because of their cognitive impairments.

Environmental Barriers

People who experience a brain injury at birth or during their childhood may have accessibility problems stemming from various environmental barriers.

Some of these barriers include an inability to drive or use public transportation to reach medical appointments or carrying out a normal life, inability to get a job due to prejudices and societal presumptions and even inability to experience entertainment or a social life available to other individuals.

Web Accessibility

People take many aspects of their life for granted. People that experience cognitive problems like individuals who have sustained a traumatic brain injury may find themselves incapable of doing simple things like accessing websites.

People that have learning and cognitive disabilities face many challenges when it comes to using web technologies.

People with cognitive disabilities have reported that they experience problems with online communication (the use of email or chat programs), information access, entertainment opportunities and the sharing of information. Access to critical information may also be limited.

Because of such problems, the Cognitive and Learning Disabilities Accessibility Task Force (COGA) has been set up. The aim of COGA is to maximize web information and communication accessibility for individuals that have cognitive or learning disabilities.

Some of the solutions proposed by COGA include adaptive text that can potentially become simpler, other adaptive web components (like multimedia, for example), adaptive forms that are easier to fill out the use of symbols and voice-overs and the use of labels for cognitive function.

Artificial Intelligence: New Accessibility Opportunities?

While people that suffer from cognitive impairments still face problems with many aspects of life, new technologies could potentially offer reliable solutions.

Could artificial intelligence be the solution? Some researchers believe so.

Smart cognitive systems could potentially engage with users on a tailored, highly personalized level. Here’s a simple example that sounds futuristic but may be a reality in a relatively short time. Independent driving systems and automated vehicles could provide amazing opportunities for people who can’t drive or use public transportation because of a disability. Such vehicles will simply have to be pre-programmed with routes or given voice commands to take an individual from point A to point B.

Smart homes that have sensors could also be a great solution for people that may otherwise find it difficult to maintain a comfortable and optimal living environment. Such a smart home could also inform caregivers about an emergency. While giving people with cognitive disabilities a lot more independence, such technologies could also be vital in terms of providing support when it’s needed.

All of these are possible because of specialized computer science niche called accessibility research. Professionals in this field “train” cognitive technologies to recognize the needs of the user and to provide a reliable solution that will maximize accessibility under the circumstances.

If you infant has suffered a brain injury at birth, there is hope for their future.