Lester Leung

Constructing an Inclusive Web Design Checklist for Health-Related Sites for Older Adults with Complex Chronic Disease

Health-related sites are not optimally usable by older adults(aged 50 and over) who live with complex chronic disease (CCD) because most sites do not deliver online information with these users in mind. While the current literature explains how to design Web sites for older adults, it lacks guidance in how to design Web sites for older adults with CCD that have diverse abilities. My research examined the Web design features that provide this user population a better Web experience. This research paper started with the synthesis of current checklists that target older adult Web users and findings from an empirical study of the online experiences of older adults living with CCD. The results led to the construction of a checklist of inclusive Web design features that support designers in creating more usable and accessible health-related sites. The final Inclusive Web Design Checklist is comprised of 16 categories and 55 criteria. http://openresearch.ocadu.ca/id/eprint/154/