Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
87 results found in disability.
- 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 …
- 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…
- 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…
- Acquired Disability (Adventitious Disability, Late-onset Disability)
- A disability that develops after birth, typically due to illness, injury, or aging, as opposed to congenital disabilities present from birth. Common causes include stroke, traumatic brain injury, spin…
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig's Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, MND)
- A progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis, and eventually respiratory failure. ALS typically progresses over 2…
- Ataxia (Cerebellar Ataxia)
- A neurological condition characterized by impaired coordination and control of voluntary movements, typically caused by damage to the cerebellum or its connections. People with ataxia may experience u…
- Augmented Communicator (AC, AAC User, Aided Communicator)
- A person who uses augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology to express themselves, typically because a disability affects their ability to produce speech. Augmented communicators use…
- Autism (Autism Spectrum Disorder, ASD, Autism Spectrum Condition)
- A neurodevelopmental condition characterized by differences in social communication, sensory processing, and patterns of behavior and interests. Autism exists on a spectrum with wide variation in how …
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD, Autism, Autism spectrum)
- A neurodevelopmental condition characterized by differences in social communication, interaction patterns, and restricted or repetitive behaviors, with wide variation in how it manifests across indivi…
- Blind and Low Vision (BLV, Vision Impairment, Visual Impairment)
- A broad term encompassing the spectrum of vision loss from partial sight (low vision) to complete blindness. People who are blind or have low vision experience varying degrees of visual function, and …
- Blindness (Total Blindness, Visual Blindness)
- A condition of having no functional vision or light perception, requiring entirely non-visual means of accessing information and navigating the environment. Blind users typically rely on screen reader…
- Brain Injury (Acquired Brain Injury, ABI)
- Damage to the brain that occurs after birth, resulting from trauma, stroke, infection, tumour, or other causes. Brain injuries can affect physical, cognitive, emotional, and social functioning, potent…
- Caregiver Interdependence (Care Dependency, Caregiver Reliance)
- The mutual reliance between a disabled person and their caregivers, encompassing physical assistance, emotional support, and technological mediation. In accessibility contexts, caregiver interdependen…
- Central Vision Loss (Central Scotoma, Macular Vision Loss)
- Loss of vision in the central part of the visual field, typically caused by conditions affecting the macula such as macular degeneration or Stargardt disease. Central vision is responsible for detaile…
- Cerebral Palsy (CP)
- A group of permanent movement disorders that appear in early childhood, caused by abnormal development or damage to the parts of the brain that control movement, balance, and posture. Cerebral palsy a…
- Cerebral Palsy (CP)
- A group of permanent movement disorders caused by abnormal development or damage to the parts of the brain that control movement, balance, and posture. Cerebral palsy affects approximately 1 in 345 ch…
- Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI, Cortical Visual Impairment, Brain-Based Visual Impairment)
- A form of visual impairment caused by damage to or dysfunction in the brain's visual processing centres, rather than problems with the eyes themselves. CVI is the leading cause of childhood vision imp…
- Chronic Condition (Chronic Health Condition, Long-Term Condition)
- A health condition that persists over time, typically lasting a year or more and requiring ongoing medical attention or limiting activities of daily living. Chronic conditions include both chronic ill…
- Chronic Disease (Chronic Condition, Long-term Condition)
- A chronic disease is a health condition that persists for a year or more, requires ongoing medical attention, and limits daily activities. Examples include diabetes, heart disease, asthma, hypertensio…
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD, Emphysema, Chronic Bronchitis)
- A group of progressive lung diseases — including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and non-reversible asthma — characterized by increasing breathlessness, cough, and reduced exercise tolerance. COPD affe…