Glossary

Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.

16 results found in disability types.

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…
Cognitive Impairment (Cognitive Disability, Intellectual Disability, Cognitive Decline)
A broad category encompassing conditions that affect cognitive functions such as memory, attention, language, problem-solving, and executive function. Cognitive impairments range from mild (noticeable…
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…
Developmental Disability (DD, Developmental Disabilities)
A group of conditions arising from impairments in physical, learning, language, or behavioral areas that begin during the developmental period, typically before age 22, and are expected to be lifelong…
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 …
Legally Blind (Legal Blindness)
A legal classification of visual impairment used to determine eligibility for government benefits, rehabilitation services, and disability accommodations. In the United States, legal blindness is defi…
Limited Mobility (Reduced Mobility, Mobility Impairment)
A condition where a person has restricted ability to move their body or specific limbs, which may affect walking, reaching, grasping, or fine motor control. Limited mobility encompasses a wide range o…
Lower Limb Impairment (Lower Extremity Impairment, Lower Body Impairment)
Reduced function in one or both legs or feet due to conditions such as amputation, paralysis, muscular disorders, or joint conditions. In VR accessibility, lower limb impairment primarily affects loco…
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 …
Mobility Impairment (Motor Impairment, Physical Disability)
A disability that affects movement, ranging from conditions requiring wheelchair use to limited fine motor control affecting device interaction. Mobility impairments may result from conditions like pa…
Motor Disability (Motor Impairment, Physical Disability, Movement Disorder)
A condition that affects a person's ability to control voluntary muscle movements, impacting mobility, dexterity, coordination, or speech production. Motor disabilities can result from neurological co…
Multiple Disabilities (Co-occurring Disabilities, Comorbid Disabilities)
The presence of two or more disabilities in a single individual, which may include combinations of physical, sensory, cognitive, mental health, and chronic health conditions. People with multiple disa…
Neurodevelopmental Condition (Neurodevelopmental Disorder, Neurodevelopmental Disability)
A group of conditions that arise from differences in brain development and affect how a person processes information, learns, communicates, and interacts with the world. Common neurodevelopmental cond…
Physical Disability (Motor Disability, Physical Impairment)
A condition that affects a person's physical functioning, mobility, dexterity, or stamina. Physical disabilities include conditions such as paralysis, amputation, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, s…
Upper Limb Impairment (Upper Extremity Impairment, Upper Body Impairment)
Reduced function in one or both arms, hands, or fingers due to conditions such as amputation, paralysis, muscular disorders, spasticity, or joint conditions. In VR and technology accessibility, upper …
Wheelchair User
A person who uses a manual or powered wheelchair as their primary means of mobility. In VR accessibility research, wheelchair users face specific challenges including: controllers that require both ha…