Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
46 results found in Health.
- Amblyopia (Lazy eye)
- A neurodevelopmental vision disorder in which one eye has reduced visual acuity that cannot be fully corrected with glasses or contact lenses, caused by abnormal visual development in early childhood.…
- Anxiety (Anxiety Disorder)
- An emotional and physiological state characterised by apprehension about future threats, accompanied by heightened autonomic arousal (elevated heart rate, muscle tension, shallow breathing), attention…
- COM-B Model (COM-B, Capability Opportunity Motivation Behaviour Model)
- A behaviour-change framework proposed by Michie, van Stralen, and West (2011) that identifies three necessary conditions for behaviour to occur: Capability (physical and psychological ability, includi…
- 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 …
- Diaphragmatic Breathing (Belly Breathing, Abdominal Breathing)
- A breathing technique that emphasises movement of the abdominal wall and diaphragm during inspiration rather than the accessory muscles of the neck and shoulders. By engaging the diaphragm more fully,…
- Emotional regulation (Emotion regulation, Affect regulation, Self-regulation)
- The ability to monitor, evaluate, and modify emotional responses to meet situational demands and personal goals. Emotional regulation is often challenging for people with ADHD, autism, anxiety, and ot…
- Executive function (Executive functioning, Cognitive control)
- A set of higher-order cognitive processes that enable goal-directed behaviour, including planning, working memory, attention control, task switching, inhibition of inappropriate responses, and flexibl…
- Glaucoma
- A group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, usually caused by abnormally high intraocular pressure. It is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide, affecting over 80 mill…
- HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
- A 1996 United States federal law that establishes national standards for the protection of certain health information. HIPAA's Privacy Rule governs who may access protected health information (PHI), w…
- Hyperacusis (Decreased sound tolerance)
- A hearing condition in which everyday sounds are perceived as uncomfortably or painfully loud, even at volume levels that are tolerable for most people. Hyperacusis involves a reduced tolerance for th…
- Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)
- Complex everyday tasks that require higher-level cognitive and physical skills than basic self-care activities. IADLs include managing finances, shopping, meal preparation, housekeeping, laundry, usin…
- Internalized Ageism (Self-Directed Ageism)
- The process by which older adults absorb and accept negative societal stereotypes about aging, applying these beliefs to themselves and their peers. Internalized ageism can lead older adults to undere…
- Kinesiology (Human kinetics, Movement science)
- The scientific study of human body movement, encompassing biomechanics, anatomy, physiology, psychology, and neuroscience as they relate to physical activity. In accessibility contexts, kinesiology pr…
- Loneliness (Perceived Social Isolation)
- The subjective feeling of being alone or disconnected from others, regardless of the actual quantity of social contacts a person has. Loneliness differs from social isolation in that it reflects perce…
- Low vision (Partial sight, Visual impairment)
- A level of visual impairment that cannot be fully corrected with standard glasses, contact lenses, medication, or surgery, but retains some usable vision — distinguishing it from total blindness. Low …
- Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS, LSNS-6)
- A validated screening instrument used to assess social isolation risk in older adults by measuring the size and closeness of their social networks. The abbreviated LSNS-6 version contains six items co…
- Macular degeneration (AMD, Age-related macular degeneration, ARMD)
- A progressive eye disease that damages the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. It is the leading cause of vision loss in people over 50, affecting central vi…
- Meltdown (Sensory meltdown)
- An intense, involuntary response to overwhelming sensory, emotional, or cognitive overload, commonly experienced by autistic and other neurodivergent individuals. Unlike a tantrum, a meltdown is not a…
- Mindfulness (Mindfulness Meditation, Mindfulness-Based Practice)
- The practice of directing non-judgmental attention to present-moment experience — bodily sensations, breath, thoughts, and emotions — typically cultivated through structured meditation, body-scan exer…
- Misophonia (Selective sound sensitivity syndrome)
- A neurological condition characterised by strong negative emotional and physiological reactions — such as anger, anxiety, disgust, or fight-or-flight responses — to specific trigger sounds, often repe…