Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
259 results found in cognitive accessibility.
- ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADD, Attention Deficit Disorder)
- A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with functioning and development. ADHD affects working memory, executiv…
- ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder, ADD)
- A neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that affect executive function, including working memory, task initiation, sustained …
- ADHD Subtype (ADHD Presentation, ADHD Type)
- A classification of ADHD based on the predominant symptom pattern experienced by an individual. The three recognized subtypes are: predominantly inattentive (difficulty sustaining attention, following…
- AI literacy (Artificial intelligence literacy, Algorithm literacy)
- The knowledge, skills, and critical awareness needed to understand, evaluate, and effectively engage with artificial intelligence systems. For people with disabilities, AI literacy is particularly imp…
- Access Labor (Accommodation Labor, Disability Labor)
- The uncompensated work that disabled people must perform to secure, maintain, and manage their own accessibility accommodations within systems not designed for them. Access labor includes navigating b…
- Accessible Authentication (WCAG 3.3.7, Accessible Authentication (Minimum))
- A web accessibility requirement introduced in WCAG 2.2 (Success Criterion 3.3.7) that mandates for each step in an authentication process relying on a cognitive function test — such as remembering a p…
- Accessible eLearning (Accessible Online Learning, Inclusive eLearning)
- Digital learning content and platforms designed to be usable by people with disabilities. For people with intellectual disabilities, accessible eLearning requires step-by-step approaches, visual demon…
- Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
- Brain damage occurring after birth that is not hereditary, congenital, degenerative, or induced by birth trauma. ABI encompasses both traumatic brain injury (TBI) from external forces like falls or ac…
- Active Support
- A person-centred model of support that enables people with intellectual disabilities, including those with severe and profound disabilities, to participate meaningfully in everyday activities and rela…
- Activity Pacing (Pacing, Energy pacing)
- Activity pacing is a self-management strategy used by people with chronic conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome to manage limited energy and prevent symptom…
- Activity schedule (Visual schedule, Picture schedule)
- A visual support tool that breaks down tasks or routines into sequential steps represented by photographs, pictograms, or text, enabling individuals with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabil…
- Adaptive Gameplay (Adaptive Difficulty, Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment)
- A game design approach in which the system automatically adjusts difficulty, pacing, or content based on the player's real-time performance and behaviour. In accessibility and therapeutic contexts, ad…
- Adaptive content complexity (Layered descriptions, Tiered content)
- A design strategy that provides the same information at multiple levels of detail or complexity, allowing users to access content appropriate to their cognitive processing capacity, prior knowledge, o…
- Affective Engagement (Emotional Engagement)
- The emotional connection and investment a user develops with a task, activity, or technology. In accessibility and therapeutic contexts, affective engagement goes beyond usability to encompass motivat…
- Affective Lability (Mood Lability, Emotional Lability)
- A pattern of rapid, unpredictable shifts in emotional state, often involving intense fluctuations between positive and negative moods with minimal external provocation. Affective lability is commonly …
- Anomia (Word-finding difficulty, Anomic aphasia)
- Anomia is a language impairment characterized by difficulty retrieving words during speech, particularly the names of objects, people, or actions. It is the most common symptom across all types of aph…
- Anticipatory Grief (pre-death grief, anticipatory mourning)
- Grief experienced before an expected loss, particularly common among caregivers of individuals with progressive neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. Anticipatory grief encompasses…
- 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, …
- Attention Deficit (Attention Deficit Disorder, ADD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD)
- A cognitive condition characterised by difficulty sustaining focus, filtering distractions, and maintaining concentration on tasks. Attention deficits are common following traumatic brain injuries and…
- Attention Management (Attention Design)
- Design strategies and techniques that help users direct, maintain, and recover attention while interacting with digital content. For users with ADHD, attention management in interface design includes …