Facing the Fade – a Digital Tool for Parkinson’s & Stroke Recovery

“To develop a complete mind: Study the science of art. Study the art of science. Develop your senses — especially learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.” – Leonardo Da Vinci

Time and health. They are the two things we take for granted until they start to slip away. For me, the pandemic wasn't just about a virus; it was the moment I watched my grandfather—a man who had always been healthy—begin to deteriorate. A stroke followed, and suddenly, the fear of the unknown became a daily reality.

Watching a loved one lose their motor skills and their independence is the ultimate "Fear of Helplessness." I realized that the world isn't designed for people with tremors or cognitive fog. So, I decided to build a bridge. I created a dedicated health platform designed specifically for the unique challenges of Parkinson’s and Stroke recovery. This wasn't just a website; it was a way to reclaim control from a terrifying diagnosis.

1. A computer
2. And Willingness

Before writing a single line of code, I had to understand the enemy: Parkinson's and Stroke symptoms.

I spent weeks researching how these conditions affect digital interaction. I identified three major "Fears" that users face when trying to find help online:

1. The Fear of Complexity: Traditional websites have tiny links and "hover" menus that are impossible to use with hand tremors.
2. The Fear of Information Overload: After a stroke, "cognitive load" is a real issue. Too much text leads to exhaustion and retreat.
3. The Fear of Isolation: Not knowing where to find local support or medication trackers makes the world feel smaller.

My Design Goals:

1. Accessibility First: I looked at WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) to ensure my high-contrast colours and font sizes were medical-grade.
2. Targeting Tremors: I planned a UI that used "Fitts's Law"—making targets (buttons) large and spaced out to account for accidental clicks or shakes.

Research & Discovery – Understanding the "User of Fear"

I had to understand the specific barriers faced by people living with Parkinson’s and stroke survivors. My research was grounded in three areas:

1. Identifying Motor Barriers (Tremors & Dexterity)

I researched how motor symptoms like Resting Tremors and Bradykinesia (slowness of movement) impact digital use.

1. The Findings: Small, crowded buttons are a source of "Fear of Failure" for Parkinson's users. One accidental click on the wrong menu can lead to total frustration.
2. The Strategy: I needed to implement Fitts’s Law, which states that larger, closer targets are easier to hit. My design would require massive clickable areas and generous "dead zones" (white space) between links to prevent misclicks.
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2. Addressing Cognitive & Vision Challenges

Post-stroke recovery often involves Aphasia (language difficulty) and Cognitive Fog.

1. The Findings: Traditional web layouts are too "loud." Dense text and complex navigation cause sensory overload.
2. The Strategy: I researched WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) for high-contrast ratios. My "Make" would use a 2026-standard high-contrast palette (Deep Purples and Soft Pinks) to aid those with reduced visual clarity (p. 1).
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3. The "Hope Gap" – Competitive Analysis

I looked at existing 2026 health resources from organizations like Parkinson’s UK and the NINDS.

1. The Findings: Most sites are purely clinical and "cold." They focus on the disease rather than the person.
2. The Strategy: My research showed that patients need "Hope Intelligence"—combining scary symptoms with immediate, high-tech solutions (like 2026 laser-cueing shoes) to reduce the "Fear of the Unknown"

My "Design & Make" goal was to create a 2026-standard resource that bridges the gap between high-level molecular research and the daily reality of a patient.

1. The Problem: Parkinson’s is the fastest-growing neurological condition globally in 2026.
2. The Vision: A world where a diagnosis is no longer a sentence of limitation, but a call to action supported by the best technology.

2. Digital Architecture & Trust Signals

To establish immediate credibility, I chose a .org domain strategy.

1. Why .org? It is the international "Trust Signal" for non-profit and community-driven work.
2. Sustainability: I researched the 2026 registration costs (approx. £10–£15/year) to ensure the initiative could remain a permanent resource for the community.

3. The Legal Path (The UK Charity Framework)

To move beyond a "personal project" and into a "charitable organization," I mapped out the legal requirements for the UK:

1. Small Charity Status: Recognizing that under HMRC rules, an organization can operate as a "charity in law" for tax purposes and Gift Aid even before hitting the £5,000 Charity Commission registration threshold.
2. Governance: I aligned the mission with the World Health Organization's 2022-2031 Global Action Plan to ensure our programs meet international standards for neurological care.

I would also like to Say that the registration with the Government is still undergoing prcedure and is still not complete to see the Char

With the research into Fitts’s Law complete, I moved into the "Make" phase. I developed the frontend using a modular approach, separating the content (HTML) from the accessible styling (CSS).

1. The "Tremor-Proof" CSS Architecture

The core challenge was ensuring that a user with hand tremors could navigate without frustration. I implemented WCAG 2.5.8 (Target Size) standards, which became legally required in many regions as of June 2025.

Key CSS Strategies:

1. Massive Hit Areas: I set all interactive buttons to a minimum of 44x44 CSS pixels. Even if the icon is small, the invisible "clickable" area is large enough to forgive a shaky hand.
2. Generous Gutter Spacing: I used gap and margin properties to ensure at least 24px of white space between all buttons. This prevents "accidental activation" of the wrong link.
3. High-Contrast Palette: I utilized a 4.5:1 contrast ratio for normal text and 3:1 for large text, meeting Level AA standards.

css

2. Semantic HTML for Cognitive Clarity

To help those with post-stroke "Cognitive Fog," the HTML structure must be ultra-predictable.

1. Sticky Navigation: I used position: sticky on the header so the "Home" anchor is always in the same place, reducing the fear of getting lost (p. 2).
2. Aria Labels: Every icon has a hidden aria-label for screen readers, ensuring the site is "Robust" and "Understandable".

3. Responsive "Reflow" Logic

I designed the site to be Responsive so it works on tablets (which are often easier for Parkinson's patients to use than mice).

1. One-Column Layout: When zoomed to 400%, the content reflows into a single column to prevent horizontal scrolling, which is difficult for those with limited dexterity.

I have put all the code in a concise PDF below enter the code into separate HTML files to be able to access the prototype website.

"Because when the world starts to shake, the only thing that should stay steady is the support we build for each other. This project isn't just about code or high-contrast buttons; it's about reclaiming the dignity that a diagnosis tries to steal away. My grandfather’s strength inspired the vision, but my goal is to ensure that for every person facing the 'fade' of their own health, there is a digital bridge built with enough care to hold them up when their own hands cannot."- The HOPE For Parkinson's community