Glossary

Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.

17 results found in Disability.

Blind and Visually Impaired (BVI, Blind and low vision, BLV, Visually impaired)
An umbrella term used in accessibility research and practice to encompass people whose vision is significantly reduced, from partial low vision (for example, reduced acuity, contrast sensitivity, or f…
Caregiving (Carer, Caregiver, Care Partner, Informal Carer)
The unpaid or paid work of supporting another person with daily living, health management, social participation, or emotional needs, often in the context of disability, chronic illness, or ageing. In …
Daily Living Skills (Activities of Daily Living, ADLs, Self-Care Skills)
The fundamental self-care tasks that individuals perform routinely, including personal hygiene (tooth-brushing, hand-washing, bathing), dressing, eating, toileting, and basic household tasks. For indi…
Deafblind (Deaf-Blind, Deafblindness, Dual Sensory Loss)
A condition involving combined hearing and vision loss that significantly affects communication, access to information, and mobility. Deafblindness is not simply the sum of deafness and blindness — it…
Disability Disclosure (Disclosure)
The act of revealing information about one's disability to others, whether voluntarily or through necessity. Disclosure decisions are complex, involving considerations of privacy, safety, accommodatio…
Epilepsy (Seizure Disorder)
A chronic neurological condition characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Epilepsy affects roughly 1% of the population globally and spans a…
Financial Literacy
The knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions about money — including understanding income, expenses, saving, debt, interest, credit, taxes, insurance, and benefits programs. For accessib…
Hearing Loss (Hearing Impairment, Hard of Hearing, Deafness)
A partial or total inability to hear sounds, ranging from mild hearing loss to profound deafness. Hearing loss can be congenital or acquired, and becomes increasingly common with age, affecting approx…
Locked-In Syndrome (LIS, Pseudocoma)
Locked-in syndrome is a rare neurological condition in which a person is fully conscious and cognitively aware but unable to move or speak due to complete paralysis of nearly all voluntary muscles, of…
Minimally Verbal (Minimally Speaking, Non-Speaking, Limited Verbal)
A term describing individuals who use very few or no spoken words as their primary means of communication, despite potentially having communicative intent. This term is commonly used in autism context…
Momentous Depiction
A conceptual framework proposed by Niu, Clements, and Kim (2026) for using generative AI to visualize critical moments that convey the insights and meanings of disability in storytelling videos. The f…
Money Management (Personal Finance Management)
The everyday practices of tracking income and spending, budgeting, paying bills, saving, and making purchasing decisions. For people with cognitive or developmental disabilities, money management is o…
Older Adults (Seniors, Elderly, Aging Population, Senior Citizens)
People typically aged 65 and above who may experience age-related changes in vision, hearing, motor control, and cognition that affect how they interact with technology. Designing for older adults req…
Presbycusis (Age-Related Hearing Loss, Presbyacusis)
A gradual, progressive loss of hearing in both ears that occurs as a natural part of aging, primarily affecting the ability to perceive higher-frequency sounds. Presbycusis is the most common cause of…
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
A U.S. federal program administered by the Social Security Administration that provides cash benefits to people with disabilities, blindness, or age-related needs who have limited income and resources…
Visible Disability (Apparent Disability)
A disability that is readily apparent to outside observers through physical characteristics, mobility aids, or other visible indicators. Examples include amputations, paralysis, use of a wheelchair, o…
Visual Impairment (Vision Impairment, Low Vision, Sight Loss)
A reduction in the ability to see that cannot be fully corrected with standard glasses, contact lenses, or medical treatment. Visual impairments range from low vision (partial sight) to total blindnes…