Cognitive accessibility patterns

Cognitive accessibility addresses how people process and understand information. Users with cognitive disabilities, learning differences, or those experiencing stress and distraction all benefit from clear, predictable interfaces. This includes people with ADHD, dyslexia, autism, anxiety disorders, and age-related cognitive changes, plus anyone multitasking or making decisions under pressure.

Here are some best practices when designing for cognitive accessibility :

• Provide clear content hierarchy and use familiar design conventions
• Break down complex tasks into smaller steps and offer multiple ways to complete actions
• Avoid time limits where possible, or make them adjustable
• Use plain language and define technical terms
• Provide clear error messages that explain what went wrong and how to fix it^[1]
• Use visual cues and icons to support text content without replacing it entirely
• Make sure buttons, navigation, and interactions work the same way throughout your product
• Use progressive disclosure to show only essential information initially, revealing more as needed
• Enable confirmation steps for critical actions to prevent costly mistakes

These patterns don't just help users with cognitive disabilities but make products easier for everyone, especially during stressful moments when cognitive resources are limited.