ADHD

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) affects attention, impulse control, and executive function. It's not one thing: some people struggle mainly with focus, others with hyperactivity, and many with both. It often shows up alongside dyslexia, autism, or anxiety.

Stefan, a student in the W3C's Stories of Web Users, has ADHD and dyslexia. Dense text, multi-step tasks, and cluttered pages make it hard for him to stay on track. An animated ad mid-article can derail him completely. He uses browser reading mode, text-to-speech, and a pop-up blocker to help, though they don't always work. Mobile apps are often easier because there's less noise on screen.

Clean layouts, short sections with real headings, no autoplay, and a search that handles typos go a long way. Giving users control over fonts, spacing, and distractions matters more than any single feature.