What usability considerations are needed for MS?

I came up with a question for Chat GPT: “what are some considerations UX designers can plan for to help people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) have an easier time with websites? What do users with MS need, in terms of accessible design?”

In the video below, I talk through the various considerations that were listed.

16 minute video recording – starts at :40 second mark

Designing websites with accessibility considerations for individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) involves addressing a range of potential symptoms that could affect their interaction with digital interfaces. MS can cause issues like motor difficulties, visual impairments, cognitive challenges, and fatigue. Here’s an outline of accessibility considerations:

  1. Motor Difficulties
    • Keyboard accessibility
    • Large clickable areas
    • Voice control
    • Sticky keys
  2. Visual Impairments
    • High contrast modes
    • Scalable text
    • Colorblind-friendly design
    • Accessible images
  3. Cognitive Challenges
    • Simplified navigation
    • Plain language
    • Content chunking
    • Consistent layout
    • Error prevention
  4. Fatigue Management
    • Task simplification
    • Save progress
    • Time extensions
    • Auto-save
  5. General Usability
    • Responsive design
    • Minimal use of moving or flashing content
    • Accessible multimedia (videos and audio)
  6. Feedback and Confirmation
    • Clear feedback
    • Confirmation messages

I’ve learned over the years that UX designers tend to say that if we make a digital product more accessible, it improves general usability for everyone.