Mobile streaming applications for ADHD: Barriers, features, and design principles for neurodivergent accessibility

When discussing accessibility, neurodivergent individuals, such as people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), are often not considered. Existing research suggests that the needs of users with ADHD differ from those of neurotypical users. However, research in this field is sparse, and often results in design implications that are not thoroughly validated with users. This research aims to find accessibility barriers faced by adults with ADHD when using mobile applications, and which design elements can help mitigate these barriers. To answer these questions, an exploratory approach was chosen, including structured interviews, the development of a prototype, and testing the prototype. The results of this research show that adults with ADHD are hindered by various barriers such as nested layouts, too much irrelevant content, features that require too much effort from the user, navigation issues, and lack of user control. These barriers can be minimized by reducing the number of animations and videos, utilizing more colours, and incorporating minimalist design principles when designing a mobile application.