Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
20 results found in Physical Disability.
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, Motor Neurone Disease, MND, Lou Gehrig's Disease)
- A progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons controlling voluntary muscle movement, leading to progressive weakness, muscle wasting, and eventually loss of the ability to speak, …
- Body-Powered Prosthesis (Cable-Operated Prosthesis, Mechanical Prosthesis)
- A body-powered prosthesis is a type of prosthetic device that uses the wearer's own body movements to operate a mechanical function, typically through a cable-pull system. In upper-limb devices like t…
- Drop Foot (Foot Drop, Peroneal Nerve Palsy)
- A condition characterized by difficulty lifting the front part of the foot, causing the toes to drag along the ground during walking. Drop foot is not a disease itself but a symptom of an underlying n…
- Hemiplegia (Hemiparesis)
- A condition involving paralysis or severe weakness on one side of the body, most commonly resulting from stroke but also caused by traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, or other neurological conditi…
- Limb Difference (Limb Deficiency, Upper-Limb Difference)
- Limb difference is a term used to describe the absence or malformation of one or more limbs or parts of limbs. It can be congenital (present from birth) or acquired through amputation due to injury, d…
- Manual Dexterity (Fine Motor Skills, Hand Dexterity)
- The ability to use hands and fingers to perform precise, coordinated movements. Reduced manual dexterity can result from conditions such as arthritis, neurological disorders, injuries, or aging, and a…
- Mobility Disability (Mobility Impairment, Physical Mobility Limitation)
- A disability that affects a person's ability to move freely, including walking, climbing stairs, maintaining balance, or using fine motor skills. Mobility disabilities may result from conditions such …
- Oligodactyly
- A congenital condition in which a person is born with fewer than the typical number of fingers or toes. The condition varies widely in presentation — some individuals may have fewer digits on one hand…
- Orthotics (Orthosis, Orthoses, Orthotic Device)
- Externally applied devices used to modify the structural and functional characteristics of the neuromuscular and skeletal systems — including braces, splints, and supports for the spine, limbs, hands,…
- Parkinson's Disease (PD)
- A progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting movement, including tremor, rigidity, slowness of movement, and balance problems. Parkinson's disease can also significantly affect speech (causing q…
- Prosthesis (Prosthetic, Prosthetic Device, Artificial Limb)
- A prosthesis is an artificial device that replaces a missing body part, which may be lost through congenital conditions, injury, or disease. Prostheses range from purely cosmetic devices designed to r…
- Pusher Syndrome (Contraversive Pushing, Lateropulsion)
- A clinical disorder occurring in some stroke survivors in which the patient actively pushes their body weight away from the non-paralyzed (non-hemiparetic) side, leading to a severe loss of postural b…
- Scoliosis
- A structural condition in which the spine develops a sideways curvature, often in an 'S' or 'C' shape. Scoliosis ranges from mild curves requiring only monitoring to severe cases that can affect postu…
- Severe Speech and Physical Impairments (SSPI)
- A classification describing individuals who have significant limitations in both speech production and physical movement, often co-occurring in conditions such as cerebral palsy. People with SSPI may …
- Speech Impairment (Speech Disability, Communication Disability)
- A condition affecting the ability to produce speech sounds or to communicate verbally. Speech impairments range from mild articulation difficulties to complete inability to speak, and may be caused by…
- Spina Bifida (Neural Tube Defect, Myelomeningocele)
- A congenital birth defect in which the embryonic neural tube fails to close completely during development, resulting in an incompletely formed spinal cord. The severity ranges from mild (spina bifida …
- Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
- Damage to the spinal cord that results in temporary or permanent changes in motor function, sensation, or autonomic function below the level of injury. Depending on the location and severity, spinal c…
- Spinal Stenosis (Lumbar Stenosis, Cervical Stenosis)
- A narrowing of the spaces within the spine that can put pressure on the nerves travelling through the spinal column. When spinal stenosis occurs in the cervical (neck) region, it can cause weakness, n…
- Stroke (Cerebrovascular Accident, CVA)
- A medical condition caused by interruption of blood supply to the brain, resulting in brain cell damage that can cause a range of disabilities including paralysis, speech and language impairments (aph…
- Upper-Body Motor Impairment (Upper Extremity Impairment, Upper Limb Impairment)
- Motor impairments affecting the upper extremities — including the arms, hands, fingers, shoulders, and neck — that limit a person's ability to perform tasks requiring fine motor control, gross motor m…