Pathways to Awareness
Social Media App for Families Battling PANS
Start
About Pathways to Awareness
Families facing Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) often experience an overwhelming journey filled with uncertainty, isolation, and a lack of clear resources. Our app was created to bridge that gap by providing a safe, supportive, and informative space where parents, siblings, and advocates can connect with others who truly understand their struggles.
The platform empowers families to share their personal stories, celebrate milestones, and exchange practical advice on treatments and coping strategies. It also serves as a hub for reliable educational resources, helping families navigate the complexities of PANS with confidence.
Target Audience
Those seeking support, reliable information, and guidance on diagnosis, treatment options, and day-to-day care.
Families further along in their journey who want to share advice, mentor others, and raise awareness about PANS.
Young family members looking for connection and understanding, as well as tools to process their emotions and experiences.
Parents & Caregivers
Experienced Advocates
Siblings
Though PANS is a relatively unknown illness, it affects 1 in 200 children across the United States. Some experts estimate that PANS may account for 1 in 10 pediatric cases of OCD per year.
App Demo
Search for a specialist in the Physican Directory tab.
Post updates about your PANS journey on the Home page
Explore groups and chat with others in the Community tab.
Search for articles and information in the Resources tab.
Create and manage posts in the Profile tab.
Executive Summary
The purpose of this study was to assess the usability, accessibility, and overall user experience of the Pathways to Awareness app using eye-tracking and usability testing following the think-aloud protocol.
Participants were asked to:
1. Locate the “Managing Stress as a PANS Parent” article
2. Make an appointment with a doctor
3. Join a support group
Overall, participants were able to complete all assigned tasks, demonstrating that the app’s general layout is intuitive and engaging. However, all users experienced minor confusion with certain icons and button hierarchy during navigation, particularly within the Physician Directory tab.
Key Findings:
- Icons representing main features (Physician Directory, Community, and Profile) were frequently misinterpreted.
- The “Get Started” button caused confusion in the Physician Directory tab.
- Participants praised the design’s calming color palette and found the app interesting and informative.
Total Number of Problems Found: 5 usability issues (1 serious, 1 moderate, 3 minor)
Problems Identified
- P1 - Minor - The “three dots” at the top of the Resources tab prompted participant 3 to swipe instead of scroll
- P2 - Serious - The Physician Directory icon resembles a “plus sign,” which users associated with creating posts
- P3 - Moderate - The “Get Started” button in the Physician Directory drew participants’ attention away from the intended appointment process
- P4 - Minor - The “chat bubble” icon for the Community tab did not clearly signify group communication
- P5 - Minor - The Profile icon was mistaken for the Physician Directory by one participant
+ Change Recommendations
Positive Findings
Despite minor usability concerns, participants provided positive feedback on several aspects of the app:
• Intuitive Layout: Participants navigated between main tabs and completed all tasks without major assistance • Visually Appealing Design: Participants praised the app’s color palette • Engagement: Participants were consistently engaged and found the app to be interesting and informative • Joy: Participants expressed joy when successfully locating resources and joining groups
Task Scenarios and Outcomes
Conclusion
Overall, the Pathways to Awareness app demonstrates strong usability and accessibility. Participants completed all assigned tasks successfully and responded positively to the app’s design and purpose.
The main opportunities for improvement involve:
• Clarifying icons to reduce visual misinterpretation
• Adjusting the “Get Started” button placement and label to improve navigation flow
Addressing these design concerns will enhance task efficiency, user confidence, and overall satisfaction, particularly for new users navigating the app for the first time.
Link to Usability Report
https://docs.google.com/document/d/14bVtQoni_qP7QrYLH43qc4c_b5880MyJ/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=112978130502475028121&rtpof=true&sd=true
Change Recommendations
- P1 - Remove or replace the "three dots" with a clearer scroll indicator
- P2 - Replace the "plus sign" icon to clearly represent the Physician Directory tab
- P3 - Reposition or relabel the "Get Started" button to clarify its function
- P4 - Use an icon with multiple bubbles or people to represent community groups
- P5 - Adjust the profile icon design to emphasize personal profile vs. medical functions
Pathways to Awareness
Eric Schandor
Created on October 2, 2025
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Transcript
Pathways to Awareness
Social Media App for Families Battling PANS
Start
About Pathways to Awareness
Families facing Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) often experience an overwhelming journey filled with uncertainty, isolation, and a lack of clear resources. Our app was created to bridge that gap by providing a safe, supportive, and informative space where parents, siblings, and advocates can connect with others who truly understand their struggles. The platform empowers families to share their personal stories, celebrate milestones, and exchange practical advice on treatments and coping strategies. It also serves as a hub for reliable educational resources, helping families navigate the complexities of PANS with confidence.
Target Audience
Those seeking support, reliable information, and guidance on diagnosis, treatment options, and day-to-day care.
Families further along in their journey who want to share advice, mentor others, and raise awareness about PANS.
Young family members looking for connection and understanding, as well as tools to process their emotions and experiences.
Parents & Caregivers
Experienced Advocates
Siblings
Though PANS is a relatively unknown illness, it affects 1 in 200 children across the United States. Some experts estimate that PANS may account for 1 in 10 pediatric cases of OCD per year.
App Demo
Search for a specialist in the Physican Directory tab.
Post updates about your PANS journey on the Home page
Explore groups and chat with others in the Community tab.
Search for articles and information in the Resources tab.
Create and manage posts in the Profile tab.
Executive Summary
The purpose of this study was to assess the usability, accessibility, and overall user experience of the Pathways to Awareness app using eye-tracking and usability testing following the think-aloud protocol. Participants were asked to: 1. Locate the “Managing Stress as a PANS Parent” article 2. Make an appointment with a doctor 3. Join a support group Overall, participants were able to complete all assigned tasks, demonstrating that the app’s general layout is intuitive and engaging. However, all users experienced minor confusion with certain icons and button hierarchy during navigation, particularly within the Physician Directory tab. Key Findings: - Icons representing main features (Physician Directory, Community, and Profile) were frequently misinterpreted. - The “Get Started” button caused confusion in the Physician Directory tab. - Participants praised the design’s calming color palette and found the app interesting and informative. Total Number of Problems Found: 5 usability issues (1 serious, 1 moderate, 3 minor)
Problems Identified
+ Change Recommendations
Positive Findings
Despite minor usability concerns, participants provided positive feedback on several aspects of the app: • Intuitive Layout: Participants navigated between main tabs and completed all tasks without major assistance • Visually Appealing Design: Participants praised the app’s color palette • Engagement: Participants were consistently engaged and found the app to be interesting and informative • Joy: Participants expressed joy when successfully locating resources and joining groups
Task Scenarios and Outcomes
Conclusion
Overall, the Pathways to Awareness app demonstrates strong usability and accessibility. Participants completed all assigned tasks successfully and responded positively to the app’s design and purpose. The main opportunities for improvement involve: • Clarifying icons to reduce visual misinterpretation • Adjusting the “Get Started” button placement and label to improve navigation flow Addressing these design concerns will enhance task efficiency, user confidence, and overall satisfaction, particularly for new users navigating the app for the first time.
Link to Usability Report
https://docs.google.com/document/d/14bVtQoni_qP7QrYLH43qc4c_b5880MyJ/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=112978130502475028121&rtpof=true&sd=true
Change Recommendations