Accessibility Guidelines For Neuroinclusive Digital Citizen Science: Results From The Neuro(Minorities)Science Collaboration
Key Points
- The aim is to develop accessibility guidelines that enhance the participation of neurodivergent individuals in digital citizen science.
- Conducted thematic text analysis of 84 working-group contributions and 1,669 survey responses.
- Identified and categorized 91 accessibility features across 11 domains.
- Used a participatory approach with neurodivergent citizen scientists and allies.
- Developed a framework that includes 91 recommended accessibility features.
- Categorized features into onboarding, task presentation, interface customization, moderation, safety, and outreach.
- Highlighted the importance of neuroinclusive practices in enhancing participation and retention in citizen science.
Abstract
This preprint presents the results of the Neuro(Minorities)Science collaboration, an international participatory initiative involving 89 adult neurodivergent citizen scientists and allies. The study offers actionable accessibility guidelines for neuroinclusive digital citizen science (DCS), based on thematic text analysis of two qualitative datasets: 84 working-group contributions and 1,669 de-identified survey responses from a 2024 large-scale study of Zooniverse volunteers. The resulting framework identifies 91 recommended accessibility features organised into 11 functional domains spanning all stages of participation, from onboarding and task presentation to interface customisation, moderation, safety and outreach. The guidelines position neuroinclusive accessibility as a methodological component of DCS, shaping participation, retention and research practice across socio-technical environments. All associated qualitative datasets and the full accessibility framework are openly available via Zenodo at the linked DOIs. This manuscript has been submitted to Citizen Science: Theory and Practice and has not yet undergone peer review. Funding: European Union Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, grant agreement no. 101058677 (IMPETUS project accelerator 2025).
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Institutions
University of Oxford
Adler Planetarium
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