Inclusive digital platforms: Designing for and with users with mild intellectual disabilities or low literacy skills

There are diverse general guidelines about improving the accessibility of digital platforms. Literature is scarce on the specific elements that make digital platforms accessible and inclusive for individuals with mild intellectual disability (MID) or low literacy (LL). This study investigated key design elements crucial for individuals with MID or LL that enable their access to and participation in digital platforms. We applied a user-sensitive inclusive research approach to re-design and implement the digital research platform ‘I co-research’ for individuals with MID or LL. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and usability tests. Apart from general design characteristics such as clarity, readability, comprehensibility, and intuitive design our results showed specific elements for creating an inclusive digital environment. Crucial design elements for an inclusive digital environment included the use of recognizable and suitable well-designed visuals that align with and reflect the diversity in society, and comprehensible naming of the platform to enhance the findability. The importance of an accessible onboarding process and intuitive navigation features including read-aloud and read-along functionalities also emerged. In conclusion, employing a user-sensitive inclusive research approach for the re-design of a digital research platform enabled the identification of design characteristics and elements specifically important for people with MID or LL to enhance accessibility and usability. By integrating participatory methodologies and incorporating these key design elements, digital platforms can be tailored to meet the diverse needs of individuals with MID or LL facilitating greater inclusion and participation in digital research. • We investigated key design characteristics and elements for digital (research) platforms crucial for individuals with MID or LL skills. • Key elements include visuals aligningin with the diversity in society, comprehensible naming, accessible onboarding and intuitive navigation. • Adopting user-centered design and incorporating key design elements helps to tailor digital platforms to the needs of individuals with MID or LL.