The Impact of Cognitive Accessibility on Mental Health

20% of all adults worldwide live with a mental health disorder. Neurological, mental health, and behavioral disorders, such as depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), can affect a person’s executive function. Executive function issues are symptomatic of a variety neurological, mental health, and behavioral disorders.
For example, depression may affect certain executive functions, such as memory, attention, and control of inhibitions. Alzheimer’s can sometimes severely impair executive function, and a person may no longer be able to drive, get dressed, or behave appropriately in social situations.
Executive function is a broad group of mental skills that enable people to complete tasks and interact with others. An executive function disorder can impair a person’s ability to organize themselves and control their behavior, as well as range of skills, such as:

  • planning and organization
  • concentrating and controlling mental focus
  • analyzing and processing information
  • controlling emotions and behavior
  • remembering details
  • managing time
  • multitasking
  • problem-solving

Human Computer Interaction (HCI) design and digital accessibility barriers can trigger mental health disorders. Conversely, accessible, and well informed HCI can provide greater access and usability to individuals living with a mental health diagnosis. This session invites researchers and developers who are engaged in neuropsychology, behavioral health,  human computer interaction methodologies, and digital accessibility practices, to share their insight on the impact of ICT design choices on mental health disorders.

This session is organised by Helix Opportunity Institute.


Chairs


  • David Fazio, helixopportunity

  • Rain Breaw Michaels, Senior Interaction Designer at Google

Contributions to a STS have to be submitted using the standard submission procedures of ICCHP-AAATE.
When submitting your contribution please make sure to select the right STS from the drop-down list "Special Thematic Session". Contributions to a STS are evaluated by the Programme Committee of ICCHP-AAATE and by the chair(s) of the STS. Please get in contact with the STS chair(s) for discussing your contribution and potential involvement in the session. Submission Deadlines for Contributions to STSs: February, 6, 2022 for publishing in Springer Lecture Notes in Computer Science, March 3, 2022 for publishing in the Open Access Compendium.