A11y Personas

Library of accessibility personas for understanding diverse user needs.

Auto-Initialize

Before reading any persona files, check if the repo/ folder exists in this skill directory. If it doesn't exist, run the setup script:

cd .cursor/skills/a11y-personas && ./setup.sh

This clones the a11y-personas repository. Only needs to run once.

Updating Content

To pull the latest personas:

cd .cursor/skills/a11y-personas/repo && git pull

Data Source

All personas are in repo/data/personas/ as markdown files. Each contains:

• id: Unique identifier
• title: Descriptive name
• profile: Key characteristics
• interaction_style: Input/output methods and limitations
• key_needs: Accessibility requirements
• cross_functional_considerations: Guidance for customer care, development, design, and testing
• biography: Narrative description with quote

Finding Personas

Search repo/data/personas/ for relevant personas by category:

Vision

File	Persona
blindness-screen-reader-nvda.md	NVDA screen reader user (Windows)
blindness-screen-reader-voiceover.md	VoiceOver user (Apple)
blindness-braille-user.md	Braille display user
blindness-light-perception.md	Light perception only
blindness-low-vision-progressive.md	Progressive vision loss
low-vision.md	General low vision
color-vision-deficiency.md	Color blindness
vision-contrast-sensitivity.md	Contrast sensitivity
visual-processing-disorder.md	Visual processing differences

Hearing

File	Persona
deafness-sign-language-user.md	Sign language primary
deafness-hard-of-hearing.md	Hard of hearing
deafness-late-deafened.md	Late-deafened adult
deafness-oral-communicator.md	Oral/lipreading
deaf-blind.md	Deaf-blind
hearing-loss-age-related.md	Age-related hearing loss
tinnitus-audio-sensitivity.md	Tinnitus

Motor/Physical

File	Persona
paraplegia-wheelchair.md	Wheelchair user
parkinson-tremor.md	Parkinson's/tremor
mobility-one-handed-limb-difference.md	One-handed use
mobility-chronic-pain.md	Chronic pain
mobility-repetitive-stress-injury.md	RSI
multiple-sclerosis-fluctuating.md	MS fluctuating symptoms
arthritis-rheumatoid.md	Rheumatoid arthritis

Cognitive/Neurological

File	Persona
cognitive-memory-loss.md	Memory loss
cognitive-aphasia-language.md	Aphasia
dyslexia-reading.md	Dyslexia
dyscalculia-number-processing.md	Dyscalculia
intellectual-disability-mild.md	Intellectual disability
adhd-attention.md	ADHD
epilepsy-seizure-risk.md	Epilepsy/seizures

Autism Spectrum

File	Persona
autistic.md	General autistic needs
autistic-sensory-sensitive.md	Sensory sensitivities
autistic-communication-differences.md	Communication differences
autistic-executive-function.md	Executive function
autistic-visual-thinker.md	Visual thinking
autistic-rule-oriented.md	Rule-oriented
autistic-non-speaking.md	Non-speaking

Mental Health

File	Persona
anxiety-mental-health.md	Anxiety
depression-major.md	Depression
ptsd-trauma.md	PTSD/trauma

Speech

File	Persona
speech-impairment-communication.md	Speech impairment
motor-impaired-non-speaking.md	Non-speaking motor impaired

Temporary/Situational

File	Persona
temp-broken-dominant-arm.md	Broken arm
temp-concussion-cognitive-fatigue.md	Concussion
temp-eye-patch-temporary-vision.md	Eye patch
temp-holding-child-one-handed.md	Holding child
temp-laryngitis-temporary-voice-loss.md	Voice loss
temp-migraine-light-sensitivity.md	Migraine
temp-noisy-environment-limited-audio.md	Noisy environment
temp-public-place-privacy-concern.md	Public privacy concerns
temp-crisis-situation.md	Crisis/stress

Usage

Get a specific persona

Read the relevant file from repo/data/personas/ to understand:

• How the person interacts with technology
• What barriers they face
• What accessibility features they need
• Considerations for different teams

Compare personas

Read multiple personas to understand overlapping and distinct needs.

Design review

Use personas to evaluate if a design meets the needs of specific user groups.

Generate test scenarios

Use the cross_functional_considerations.testing section for test case ideas.

Persona Structure

Each persona follows this format:

---
id: unique-identifier
title: Display Name
profile:
  - Key characteristic 1
  - Key characteristic 2
interaction_style:
  input: [methods used]
  output: [feedback needed]
  no_reliance_on: [inaccessible patterns]
key_needs:
  - Requirement 1
  - Requirement 2
cross_functional_considerations:
  customer_care: [support guidance]
  development: [implementation guidance]
  design_ux: [design guidance]
  testing: [testing guidance]
---

## Biography
Narrative description with representative quote.

Quick Lookup by Assistive Technology

Technology	Relevant Personas
Screen reader (NVDA)	blindness-screen-reader-nvda.md
Screen reader (VoiceOver)	blindness-screen-reader-voiceover.md
Braille display	blindness-braille-user.md
Screen magnifier	low-vision.md, blindness-low-vision-progressive.md
Keyboard only	Multiple motor personas
Switch device	motor-impaired-non-speaking.md
Voice control	mobility-repetitive-stress-injury.md
Captions	All hearing personas
Sign language	deafness-sign-language-user.md