RE: My comments are rejected

Hi John et al

I agree with your focus on functional limitations as the core thing of concern as it is these that the solutions (e.g. techniques) will directly address. The mapping of functional limitations to different cognitive disabilities is useful when people want to work out which sets of techniques might be most beneficial in relation to each disability.

In our ETSI work our aim is to try to ensure that we get the full set of important functional limitations (that will apply to the broadest possible range of cognitive disabilities) but only give details on those cognitive disabilities that meet three criteria:


-          they are very prevalent in the population;

-          people with this disability are likely to be open to trying a technology solution (if the condition involves oppositional behaviour or paranoia, externally provided support may be strongly resisted);

-          there is a reasonable prospect that some form of technology support for those with this disability can be found.

We’re just about to try applying the above criteria so we are not yet sure how appropriate they will be.

Regarding Mr. Johansson’s challenges, if he does not give a detailed answer, my own belief is that they are based on a simple premise. I think that he is arguing that the user-research document (and in his analysis the dyslexia part) describes the “symptoms” of each cognitive disability. He states that DSM-5 (he mentions 4) is the authoritative document that defines these disabilities – from a medical perspective. Dyslexia (in DSM-5 it is Specific Learning Disorder with impairment in reading) is only diagnosed if four diagnostic criteria are met (one of which says that at least one of six sub-elements is true). I am sure that Mr. Johansson’s point is that these diagnostic criteria are the true “symptoms” of dyslexia. All the many other things that are listed in the user research document are things that may be an issue for many people with dyslexia but these are not what defines dyslexia and they might even be the symptoms of some completely different condition that may also be common amongst dyslexia sufferers.

My proposal for how to provide a quick fix for the “Aging and Dyslexia” topic was to relabel the “Symptoms” heading into “Challenges” (which is a heading that is used in the user-research document). It is not incorrect to say that some people with dyslexia can experience some of the things listed under the challenges section – but these are not all symptoms of dyslexia. I’m still not sure that they should all be listed – but that is another matter.

I hope that this all makes sense – and maybe it can substitute for a detailed answer from Mr. Johansson if we don’t get one.

Best regards

Mike



From: Rochford, John [mailto:john.rochford@umassmed.edu]
Sent: 04 May 2015 19:31
To: lisa.seeman; public-cognitive-a11y-tf
Subject: RE: My comments are rejected

Hi Lisa,

About our user-research document, I just read the “Comments from Stefan Johansson, Stefan.johansson@funkanu.se<mailto:Stefan.johansson@funkanu.se>, consultant at Funka Nu and researcher on cognitive accessibility at KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, CSC – School of Computer Science and Communication. Member of ISO ISO/TC 173.”

The beginning commentary is about not focusing on diagnoses, but instead on functional limitations. I have consistently said I think our approach should be to first address functional commonality across cognitive disabilities / diagnoses, then the functional issues unique to each. You have always responded we will do so, but only after focusing on a list of diagnoses. That approach, as is indicated in our user-research document, is apparently confusing for Mr. Johansson and his colleagues. I suspect it is confusing for a lot of people.

In my opinion, the next version of our user research document should:

•     first address functional limitations across all cognitive disabilities;

•     then address functional limitations unique to each or to subgroups of each; &

•     be significantly shorter

I know we addressed Mr. Johansson’s commentary at our FTF meeting last month. My recollection is that we would ask him to provide references to research that backs up the challenges he and his colleagues made to the Dyslexia section of our user-research document. Has that happened?

John

John Rochford
UMass Medical School/E.K. Shriver Center
Director, INDEX Program
Instructor, Family Medicine & Community Health
http://www.DisabilityInfo.org

Twitter: @ClearHelper
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From: lisa.seeman [mailto:lisa.seeman@zoho.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2015 10:04 AM
To: public-cognitive-a11y-tf
Subject: Fwd: My comments are rejected



============ Forwarded message ============
From : Stefan Johansson<stefan.johansson@funka.com<mailto:stefan.johansson@funka.com>>
To : "lisa.seeman@zoho.com<mailto:lisa.seeman@zoho.com>" <lisa.seeman@zoho.com<mailto:lisa.seeman@zoho.com>>, "Steve Lee (steve@opendirective.com<mailto:steve@opendirective.com>)" <steve@opendirective.com<mailto:steve@opendirective.com>>
Date : Mon, 16 Feb 2015 08:24:37 +0200
Subject : My comments are rejected
============ Forwarded message ============

Hello Lisa and Steve!



I have tried to post comments on Cognitive Accessibility User Research to the address

public-coga-comments@w3.org<mailto:public-coga-comments@w3.org>. But now I have noticed that my mail was rejected.



Comments are from myself and the group of experts and users participating in one of my research projects (The Begripsam project).



Best regards

Stefan Johansson



Stefan Johansson | Ideolog

Direkt: 08 - 555 770 78
Mobil: 0708 - 23 10 64
stefan.johansson@funkanu.se<mailto:stefan.johansson@funkanu.se>

Funka Nu AB
Döbelnsgatan 21
111 40 Stockholm
Växel: 08 - 555 770 60
www.funkanu.se<http://www.funkanu.se>


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