Functional Cognitive Disability

An approach to categorizing cognitive disabilities based on the functional limitations they produce rather than clinical diagnoses. Categories typically include difficulties with memory, problem-solving, attention, reading and verbal comprehension, math comprehension, and visual comprehension. This framework is more useful for web developers than clinical labels because it maps directly to design decisions — for example, a memory limitation suggests the need for consistent navigation and clear state indicators, regardless of whether the underlying condition is a traumatic brain injury, Down syndrome, or age-related decline.