Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
221 results found in Cognitive Accessibility.
- Monotropism
- A cognitive theory of autism, developed by Dinah Murray, Mike Lesser, and Wenn Lawson, that describes autistic attention as tending to be pulled strongly into a narrow focus (one "attention tunnel") r…
- Multi-Layered Interface (ML Interface, Layered Interface, Training Wheels Interface)
- An interface design approach where novice users start with a reduced-functionality layer containing only basic features, then progress to more complex layers as they become comfortable. This technique…
- Multimodal Summarization (Multimodal Summary, MMS)
- A technique for presenting information through multiple complementary formats — typically combining pictures, simplified text, and structural diagrams — to improve comprehension of complex content. Mu…
- Multisensory Integration
- The neural and perceptual process by which the brain combines information from different sensory modalities — sight, hearing, touch, proprioception — into a unified percept. Integration relies on temp…
- Multisensory Stimulation (MSS)
- A therapeutic and design approach that intentionally coordinates multiple sensory modalities — visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, and kinetic — to support affective well-being, cognitive engagement…
- Neurodivergence (Neurodiversity, Neurodivergent)
- The natural variation in human neurological development and functioning that includes conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety disorders, intellectual disabilities, and other neurological di…
- Neurofeedback (EEG Biofeedback, Neurotherapy)
- Neurofeedback is a type of biofeedback that uses real-time monitoring of brain electrical activity (typically via EEG) to teach individuals to self-regulate their brain function. Users receive feedbac…
- Neuroinclusive Design (Neurodiverse Design, Neurodiversity-Affirming Design)
- A design approach that explicitly accounts for the varied cognitive, sensory, and communication needs of neurodivergent individuals alongside neurotypical users. Neuroinclusive design goes beyond gene…
- Neurotypical Norms (Neurotypical Standards, Normative Expectations)
- Social, behavioural, and professional expectations that are based on neurotypical patterns of cognition, communication, and functioning, often embedded unconsciously in technology, workplace culture, …
- Non-Visual Mental Model (Non-Visual Representation, Tactile Mental Model)
- A cognitive representation of concepts, objects, or systems built through non-visual sensory channels — primarily touch, hearing, and proprioception — rather than through sight. People who are blind d…
- Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NVLD, Nonverbal Learning Disability, NLD)
- A neurodevelopmental condition characterized by difficulties with visual-spatial processing, motor coordination, and social skills, while verbal abilities are typically a relative strength. People wit…
- Number Sense (Numeracy Intuition, Numerical Cognition)
- The intuitive understanding of numbers, their magnitude, relationships, and how they are affected by operations. Number sense includes the ability to estimate quantities, understand relative size, rec…
- On Input (WCAG 3.2.2)
- WCAG 2.1 success criterion 3.2.2 (Level A) requires that changing the setting of any user interface component does not automatically cause a change of context (e.g., submitting a form, navigating to a…
- Order-Irrelevance Principle
- The counting principle that the order in which objects are counted does not affect the total — counting the same set of objects in any sequence will yield the same number. This concept, while intuitiv…
- Pacing Aid (Pacing System, Time Management Aid)
- An assistive technology that helps individuals with cognitive impairments manage the timing and sequence of activities in daily routines. Pacing aids provide cues — visual, auditory, or tactile — to i…
- Pattern Glare
- A visual perceptual phenomenon where repeated striped or lined patterns cause discomfort, headaches, eyestrain, or visual distortions such as flickering, shimmering, or apparent movement. Pattern glar…
- People with Dementia (PwD)
- A person-first term used in accessibility and dementia research to refer to individuals living with dementia — an umbrella term covering progressive neurological conditions (such as Alzheimer's diseas…
- Perceptual Bandwidth (Sensory Bandwidth, Information Bandwidth)
- Perceptual bandwidth refers to the rate at which a sensory channel can transmit information to the brain. In accessibility contexts, the concept highlights the fundamental asymmetry between vision and…
- Perceptual Guidance
- An instructional technique that directs a user’s attention to specific perceptual features of a target — most commonly color and on-screen location — to help them detect or disambiguate it. In accessi…
- Perseveration (Perseverative Behavior)
- The uncontrolled repetition of a response, word, phrase, or action that persists beyond the appropriate context. In people with cognitive impairments such as dementia, brain injury, or certain develop…