Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
840 results found in assistive technology.
- Assistive Music Technology (AMT, Adaptive Music Technology)
- Hardware and software tools specifically designed or adapted to enable people with disabilities to create, perform, compose, or enjoy music. Examples include screen reader-compatible digital audio wor…
- Assistive Robot (Personal Assistive Robot, Socially Assistive Robot, Caregiving Robot)
- A robot designed to assist people with disabilities, older adults, or those with chronic conditions in performing daily activities or maintaining independence. Assistive robots may provide physical as…
- Assistive Robotics (Rehabilitation Robotics, Assistive Robots)
- Robotic systems designed to assist people with disabilities in performing daily tasks, enhancing independence, and improving quality of life. Assistive robotics includes robotic arms for manipulation,…
- Assistive Services (Crowdsourced Assistive Services, Human-powered Accessibility Services)
- On-demand services that pair people with disabilities with remote human helpers, often via crowdsourcing or a dedicated responder network, to answer accessibility questions or perform small assistive …
- Assistive Strategy (Access Strategy)
- Any approach, technique, or workaround that a disabled person develops to navigate inaccessibility and meet their needs. Unlike formal assistive technologies, assistive strategies may be informal, imp…
- Assistive Technology (AT)
- Any item, piece of equipment, software, or product system used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of people with disabilities. Assistive technology ranges from low-tech solu…
- Assistive Technology Abandonment (AT Abandonment, AT Non-Use, Device Abandonment)
- The phenomenon where people with disabilities stop using or choose not to use assistive technology devices that have been provided to them. Abandonment can result from multiple factors including poor …
- Assistive Technology Act (AT Act, Tech Act)
- United States federal legislation that provides funding to states for assistive technology programs, including device demonstrations, lending libraries, and reutilization services. First enacted in 19…
- Assistive Technology Information Gap (AT Information Gap)
- The significant disparity in access to accurate, comprehensive, and contextually relevant information about assistive technology products, services, and best practices, particularly affecting people w…
- Assistive Technology Lending Library (AT Lending Library, AT Library)
- A service, often operated by state agencies or nonprofits, that allows individuals with disabilities to borrow assistive technology devices for trial periods before purchasing them or as a long-term r…
- Assistive Technology for Cognition (ATC, Cognitive Assistive Technology, Cognitive Prosthetics)
- Technology designed to support cognitive functions such as memory, attention, planning, and problem-solving for people with cognitive impairments. This includes reminder apps, task prompting systems, …
- Assistive device customization (AT personalization, Custom assistive technology)
- The process of tailoring assistive technology devices to match an individual's specific physical dimensions, functional abilities, preferences, and activity requirements. Traditional AT customization …
- Assistive technology (AT)
- Any device, software, or equipment that helps people with disabilities perform tasks that would otherwise be difficult or impossible. In digital accessibility, this includes screen readers, screen mag…
- AssistiveTouch
- An iOS accessibility feature that provides an on-screen menu of customizable touch-based shortcuts, allowing users to perform gestures and actions that might otherwise require physical buttons or comp…
- Audible Pedestrian Signal (APS, Accessible Pedestrian Signal)
- A device attached to a pedestrian crossing traffic signal that conveys the WALK and DON'T WALK phases through non-visual cues — typically beeps, chirps, speech messages, or a vibrating tactile arrow i…
- Audio Beacon (Auditory Beacon, Sound Beacon)
- A spatial audio cue, typically a repeating tone or beep, attached to a specific location or object to help users with visual impairments navigate toward or identify points of interest in physical or v…
- Audio Cue (Auditory Cue, Sound Cue, Earcon)
- A non-speech sound used to convey information in an interface. In accessible programming environments, audio cues represent code structures, syntax errors, or navigation landmarks—for example, a door-…
- Audio Description (AD, Descriptive Audio, Audio Narration)
- A narration track that describes visual elements of media, exhibitions, performances, or environments for people who are blind or have low vision. In museums, audio descriptions provide verbal account…
- Audio Description Customization (Personalized Audio Description, Adaptive AD)
- The ability for users to adjust the content and presentation of audio descriptions for video media based on their individual preferences. Customization dimensions may include detail level, emphasis on…
- Audio Formatting (Audio Rendering)
- The process of converting structured electronic documents into audio output that conveys not just textual content but also the logical structure and formatting of the original document. Audio formatti…