Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
26 results found in accessibility fundamentals.
- Ability-Based Design (ABD)
- A design philosophy that focuses on what users can do rather than what they cannot, adapting systems to leverage each individual's specific abilities. Instead of designing for a "typical" user and the…
- Access Barriers (Barriers to Access)
- Obstacles that prevent or impede disabled people from fully participating in activities, accessing services, or using technologies. Access barriers can be physical (inaccessible buildings), digital (w…
- Access Conflict (Accessibility Conflict, Competing Access Needs)
- A situation in which the accessibility requirements of one person conflict with or undermine the accessibility requirements of another person. For example, a student prone to migraines may need low li…
- Accessible Design Methods (Inclusive Design Methods)
- Design research methodologies that have been adapted or created to enable participation by people with disabilities, ensuring they can contribute as active co-creators rather than passive subjects. Tr…
- Accessible Prototyping (Inclusive Prototyping)
- The practice of adapting prototyping methods and materials to enable participation by people with disabilities, particularly in early-stage design activities. Accessible prototyping goes beyond simply…
- Accommodations (Reasonable Accommodations, Workplace Accommodations)
- Modifications or adjustments to environments, processes, or practices that enable disabled people to participate equally. In employment contexts, reasonable accommodations may include flexible schedul…
- Age-Related Decline (Age-Related Impairment, Age-Related Changes)
- The gradual reduction in physical, sensory, and cognitive abilities that occurs as part of the natural aging process. Age-related declines that affect technology use include reduced visual acuity (dif…
- Assistive Technology (AT, Adaptive Technology)
- Any device, software, equipment, or system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of people with disabilities. Assistive technology spans a broad range from low-tec…
- BLV Users (Blind and Low Vision Users, BLV People)
- People who are blind or have low vision, encompassing a spectrum of visual impairments from total blindness to varying degrees of remaining vision (light perception, tunnel vision, blurred vision, etc…
- Complex Needs (Complex Access Needs, Complex Support Needs)
- Complex needs refers to the situation where an individual requires support across multiple areas of functioning due to a combination of physical, sensory, cognitive, communication, or behavioral facto…
- Confirmation Dialogue (Confirmation Dialog, Verification Prompt)
- An interaction pattern where a system summarizes a proposed action and asks the user to confirm before executing it. In accessible calendar design and voice assistant interactions, confirmation dialog…
- Cross-Platform Consistency (Platform Consistency, Multi-Platform Accessibility)
- The quality of providing a consistent, reliable user experience across different devices, operating systems, and application versions. For blind and low vision users, cross-platform consistency is a f…
- Daily Form (Daily Functioning Level)
- The concept that a person's physical and cognitive capabilities can vary significantly from day to day due to chronic conditions, pain levels, fatigue, medication effects, sleep quality, and other fac…
- Error Recovery (Error Correction, Error Handling)
- The process and mechanisms by which users can identify, understand, and correct errors that occur during interaction with a system. In accessibility contexts, error recovery is particularly important …
- Fatigue (Disability-Related Fatigue, Physical Fatigue)
- A common symptom across many disabilities and chronic conditions characterized by persistent exhaustion that is disproportionate to activity level and not fully relieved by rest. In technology and VR …
- High-Stakes Scenarios (Safety-Critical Scenarios)
- Situations where errors in AI-generated information could lead to significant safety, health, financial, or social consequences. In the context of visual access technology for BLV users, high-stakes s…
- Hybrid Interaction (Multimodal Hybrid Approach)
- An interaction design approach that combines multiple input and output modalities, allowing users to switch between them based on task requirements, context, and personal preferences. In accessibility…
- K-12 Education (K-12, Primary and Secondary Education, K through 12)
- The span of publicly supported education from kindergarten through 12th grade (approximately ages 5-18), encompassing primary and secondary schooling. In accessibility contexts, K-12 education is a cr…
- Multimodal Interaction (Multimodal Interface)
- An interaction approach that combines multiple input and output modalities—such as voice, touch, keyboard, gestures, and visual/audio feedback—to support flexible, accessible user experiences. In acce…
- Multimorbidity (Multiple Long-term Conditions, Co-occurring Conditions)
- Multimorbidity is the presence of two or more chronic health conditions or long-term impairments in a single individual. It is especially prevalent among older adults and is a major factor in the comp…