How Wider Web brought autistic voices into accessible digital design
2025 WINNER · Diversity, equity and inclusion
Cluttered pages, unexpected movement and unpredictable layouts can make browsing difficult. The University of Birmingham Dubai and e& UAE’s Wider Web initiative addressed that experience by involving autistic people in the design and evaluation of an accessibility tool.
What they did
The browser extension brought nine accessibility features together, helping users adjust online content and make pages more structured and predictable. Its design drew on established accessibility guidance for autistic users.
An in-person trial involved autistic adolescents and young adults alongside parents, practitioners and researchers. Hosted by e& and supported by Special Olympics UAE, it connected product development with the UAE autism community. An autistic researcher also participated in the university’s evaluation team.
What the entry shows
The submission described an evaluation involving 160 autistic adults, using a structured questionnaire about perceived usefulness and ease of use. Participants valued the tool’s accessibility and its support for learning and communication.
The findings informed refinements and further investment, including a mobile version. The entry reported downloads in more than 30 countries. The evaluation describes users’ experience of the technology; it should not be presented as a clinical trial of mental health treatment.
What others can learn
Accessible design improves when the people who encounter barriers help define the problem and test the response. Research can then inform concrete product changes.
Wider Web demonstrates that inclusion is also about everyday digital environments and the choices users have within them.
Based on the original 2025 mentl awards submission. Figures and observations are those reported in the entry.
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