The internet is meant to be the great equaliser – bringing information, services, and cat videos to the masses. But for many neurodivergent folks, particularly those with ADHD, Autism, and Dyslexia, the online world can feel like it was designed by an over-caffeinated octopus. It can be cluttered, overwhelming, and needlessly difficult to navigate. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

The neurodivergent experience online

Each neurodivergent condition comes with its own set of digital frustrations:

  • ADHD: Have you ever tried to fill out an online form only to be distracted by an auto playing ad, a flashing banner, or the sudden existential crisis of forgetting why you were even on the page to begin with? Welcome to ADHD online. Distractions, cluttered interfaces, and complex navigation make staying on task near impossible.
  • Autism: For those on the spectrum, unpredictable layouts, vague instructions, and sensory overload (thanks, aggressive animations) can make online experiences more stressful than they need to be.
  • Dyslexia: If you’ve ever tried reading a wall of text in Comic Sans or deciphering a CAPTCHA that looks like someone sneezed on the keyboard, you get the struggle. Poor contrast, tiny fonts, and chaotic formatting don’t help either.

Practical strategies for more inclusive design

Reduce cognitive load

  • Keep layouts clean and logical. No one should need a treasure map to find a call to action.
  • Ditch the pop-ups and auto-playing. This isn’t Y2K . If people want a soundtrack to their online shopping, they’ll hit play themselves.
  • Break content into bite-sized chunks. Walls of text are not for websites, they are for terms and conditions (and we all know no one reads them).

Make things readable

  • Use friendly, sans-serif fonts like Arial, Verdana. Your content shouldn’t look like a ransom note.
  • Contrast matters. Black text on a dark grey background is not edgy, it’s unreadable.
  • Offer text-to-speech options because sometimes, reading is just too demanding.

Consistency is key

  • Buttons should look like buttons, links should look like links, and navigation should be predictable. No one wants a side quest situation just to find the contact details.
  • Labels should be clear. “Click here” makes users work harder than necessary. Just say what the link does. For example, “Download the report” and “Sign up for updates”. This helps everyone.
  • Give users the option to turn off motion effects and animations. Not everyone enjoys an impromptu light show.

Support different interaction styles

  • Keyboard navigation and voice control should be standard, not an afterthought.
  • Subtitles and transcripts for audio and video content. This is because sometimes users need the extra reinforcement to process information.
  • Provide meaningful error messages and guidance, not just vague notifications, to help users navigate challenges with ease.

Give users control

  • Let people adjust text size, contrast, and backgrounds to suit their needs.
  • Allow pausing, rewinding, and skipping of content. This is because not everyone processes information at the same speed.
  • Minimise time-sensitive tasks. Some people take longer and that’s fine.

The Bottom Line

Making digital spaces accessible to everyone is simply about good design – it’s not as complicated as it might seem. It’s about creating environments where everyone, no matter how they think or process information, can engage with content comfortably. When you design with neurodivergent users in mind, you often find that the experience becomes better for everyone.

So, whether you’re a designer, developer, or anyone involved in shaping a website’s user experience, take a moment to consider: “Is this truly user-friendly or have I unintentionally made it harder to navigate?”.

Not sure where to start? You can get in touch with our Equitable Research & Design team.  

Truly accessible experiences begin with small, thoughtful changes.

And please, for the love of all things good, stop with the autoplay videos.