The E-mail Link to Access:
Making E-mail Accessible for Individuals with Cognitive Disabilities

E-mail, perhaps one of the greatest communication inventions of the era, has opened a world of communication possibilities that allows people all over the world, people of all social classes, and people of all abilities to communicate with one another when previous forms of pen and paper communications were not possible or not reliable. Nearly every Internet search engine and Internet service provider provides some sort of email option for its users. This has opened the doors for all people, young and old, (and nearly every other contrast) to learn and socialize in ways never previously possible. But, as with all things, it is important to remember that not all people access the Internet and information technology (or anything for that matter) in the same way, and those with various abilities and disabilities need consideration in the creation and use of these tools.

Think-and-Link, a project by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, promotes universal access to electronic communication and encourages those with cognitive disabilities to use technology, and specifically email, to stay connected to friends and relatives. But if the individual has trouble with using or understanding the e-mail format, it could become a barrier to a number possibilities and opportunities. Because of this, Think-and-Link has developed a scope of work to include a "cyber-evaluation" to identify what is needed for someone with a cognitive disability to engage in e-mail; to develop software e-mail tools that can be fully adapted to meet the needs of any user; and create a virtual clinic for rehabilitation professionals to utilize materials and link clients with appropriate e-mail tools.

Although there are a range of cognitive disabilities, from autism and Alzheimer's to mental retardation and brain injury, each individual will have his or her own individual needs to make communication the most effective. Yet, for most, email is the choice mode of communication and for many, it is the only way to experience and interact with the world outside of the home. It is easy to forget that simple accessibility considerations can change and open the world to many individuals. Think-and-Link has created the below list to assist individuals with memory problems in creating email as well as a list in creating the most user-friendly emails. Remember, although this list is geared at individuals with memory loss and cognitive disabilities, these tips can help in making communication with children, the elderly, and those with multiple tasks at hand much easier and coherent.

Tips To Assist People with Cognitive Disabilities to Use Electronic Communication

Ideas to Help People Compose Email When They Have Memory Problems

• Write down the computer procedures in a simple step by step format and post the cue card near the computer.
  
• Provide lots of practice with email steps.
  
• Identify any "problem keys" and mark them with a colored sticker (e.g., if the person has difficulty remembering how to delete, mark the backspace key with a red "delete" sticker)
  
• Plan an email. Help the person generate a few ideas for an email message and then put the idea prompts on a card where they can see it when they compose their message.
  
• If a person is replying to an email, make a hard copy printout available for easy reference.
  
• Write the email together. Have the person dictate the message to you.
  
• Boot up the computer and get to the email page so all the person must do is "type" their message.
  
• Timing can be everything. Suggest writing an email when the person is feeling alert and appears to want to do an activity.
  
• Make sure the environment is quiet and conducive to concentrating (i.e., television and radio are off; there are no visitors etc.)
  
• Sometimes mailboxes become full of "junk mail". It might be beneficial to go through the in box and clean out unwanted emails.
  
• Safety first. If you think your family member is at risk for giving personal information to someone with ill intentions on the Web (e.g., chat rooms where they could be a target for money fraud or a sexual predator), then make sure you supervise their electronic communication.

• Simplify your sentences to reduce the load on memory. Use simple subject-verb-object sentences. (e.g., Instead of "Although it was busy and hectic, we had so much fun running around with you during our visit last week." You could write, "We loved visiting you.")
  
• Simplify vocabulary.
  
• Write short messages.
  
• Do not use pronouns (e.g., "he"; "it"; "she"); always name who or what you are referring to. (e.g., write "Mary went to the coast" instead of "She went to the coast.")
  
• Make your message about the here and now; do not put demands on them recalling a past experience.
  
• When you are making the message simpler, try not to make it "childlike." A message can still be interesting and relevant if it is said clearly and concisely.
  
• Avoid humor or teasing sarcasm. Email can be difficult to interpret without cognitive disability. It is better not to risk misunderstanding and save the joking for when there are additional cues from facial expression and tone of voice.