Framework for Neuro-Inclusive Digital Citizen Science: Results From the Neuro(Minorities)Science Collaboration

Journal article

Digital citizen science (DCS) operates as a socio-technical mode of public participation in research. While many DCS participants self-identify as neurodivergent, their perspectives have rarely been treated as a distinct design lens. Drawing on a large-scale 2024 survey of Zooniverse volunteers and a 2025 participatory international collaboration with 89 adult neurodivergent citizen scientists and allies contributing across multiple DCS platforms, this study develops an actionable framework of accessibility guidelines for neuro-inclusive DCS. Thematic text analysis of two qualitative datasets (84 working-group contributions and 1,669 de-identified 2024 survey responses) identified recurring accessibility barriers and organised 91 recommended features into 11 functional domains spanning participation from onboarding and task engagement to interface customisation, moderation, safety, and outreach. The framework positions neuro-inclusive accessibility as a methodological component shaping participation, retention, and research practice. Grounded in neurodivergent lived experience, the guidelines create pathways for more flexible participation across diverse DCS contexts.

Authors: Apreleva, A; de Moraes, HHF; Helk, F; Kress, C; Thomson, I

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Ubiquity Press
• Journal: Citizen Science: Theory and Practice
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 1
• Publication date: 2026-01-01
• DOI: 10.5334/cstp.1004
• EISSN: 2057-4991
• ISSN: 2057-4991
• Language: English
• Keywords: accessibility guidelines; neurodivergence; access barriers; citizen science; online community moderation; participant retention; digital citizen science