Neuroinclusive Design: Building Accessible Tech for All Brains
Learn how designing for neurodivergent users creates better experiences for everyone—moving beyond accommodation to proactive inclusion.
Explore Design PrinciplesWatch the Neuroinclusive Design Video
A powerful, bite-sized video recap of neuroinclusive design principles in action.
Listen to the Neuroinclusive Design Episode
Discover how designing for all brains creates better experiences for everyone, from the margins to the mainstream.
THE MINDSET SHIFT
The key to neuroinclusive design is moving from the reactive accommodation model to the proactive social contextual model.
Old Model: Accommodation
- Reactive approach
- Fixing people, not systems
- One-off exceptions
- After-the-fact adjustments
- Individual-focused solutions
New Model: Social Contextual
- Proactive approach
- Fixing environments, not people
- Universal design from start
- Built-in accessibility
- System-focused solutions
FOUR CORE PRINCIPLES
These principles guide the creation of digital spaces that work for all brains, not just some.
Multiple Access Points
Offer information in multiple formats to accommodate different learning styles and processing preferences.
Key Points:
- Visual, written, and audio content options
- Diverse learning style accommodation
- Expanded reach and impact
Practical Example:
Provide both video tutorials and written documentation for the same feature.
Clear Structure
Create predictable, consistent navigation patterns that reduce cognitive load.
Key Points:
- Consistent navigation patterns
- Predictable interface behavior
- Reduced mental effort
Practical Example:
Use consistent heading hierarchies (H1 → H2 → H3) and logical tab order.
Flexible Interaction
Offer different ways to engage and complete tasks based on user preferences.
Key Points:
- Varied input methods
- Alternative task completion
- User choice and autonomy
Practical Example:
Allow users to complete forms via keyboard, mouse, or voice input.
Explicit Communication
Use clear, concrete language that eliminates ambiguity and reduces confusion.
Key Points:
- Simple, direct language
- Avoid jargon and complexity
- Clarity over cleverness
Practical Example:
Replace "Click here to proceed" with "Click Submit to save your changes."
FIVE-MINUTE ACCESSIBILITY CHECK
Start making your digital spaces more inclusive with this quick assessment you can do right now.
1. Color Contrast
Check if text is easily readable. Aim for WCAG 2.1 AA compliance (4.5:1 ratio).
2. Zoom Test
Zoom to 200%. Does the page remain usable and readable?
3. Keyboard Navigation
Put away your mouse. Can you navigate everything with just the Tab key?
4. Alt Text
Do meaningful images have descriptive alt text? Decorative images should have empty alt attributes.
5. Heading Structure
Are headings in logical order? One H1 per page, followed by H2, then H3.
Bonus: Screen Reader
Test with NVDA (Windows) or VoiceOver (Mac) to experience your site as others do.
WEEKLY DEEP DIVES
Each week we explored different aspects of neuroinclusive design, with practical resources and real-world examples.
Week 1: Understanding Neuroinclusive Design
Discover how neuroinclusive design principles create better digital experiences for everyone, moving from accommodation to social contextual models.
Week 2: Context is Everything
Building neurocomplex, conscious Slack channels and digital spaces that work for diverse thinking styles.
Week 3: Building Sustainable Systems
Building accessible systems that don't burn you out—maintenance schedules, forever topics, and graceful degradation.
WHY THIS MATTERS
People are neurodivergent—this isn't a niche issue
Benefit when we design for the margins
Of teams achieve high trust with AI—context matters
✨ Last updated: August 2025 ✨