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Web accessibility glossary
Web accessibility is the inclusive practice of ensuring that people with disabilities do not face barriers that prevent interaction or access to websites on the World Wide Web.
A11Y
“A11Y” stands for "accessibility." It is a numeronym, with “11” representing the number of letters between “A” and “Y,” the
Accessibility audit
An accessibility audit is a systematic evaluation of digital platforms to determine how accessible they are to users with disabilities.
Accessibility Conformance Report
The Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) is a formal document that evaluates how well a product or service adheres to established
Accessibility remediation
Accessibility remediation is the process of making digital content more accessible to people with disabilities. This may entail making changes
Accessibility statement
An accessibility statement declares that a website has been designed and developed to be accessible to people with disabilities. It
Accessibility testing
Accessibility testing is a type of usability testing that focuses on people with disabilities. The goal of accessibility testing is
Accessible design
Accessible design is a user-centric approach that prioritizes the creation of products, services, and environments tailored to be usable by
ARIA
ARIA, short for Accessible Rich Internet Applications, is a set of HTML roles and attributes developed by the World Wide
Assistive learning device
An assistive listening device (ALD) is a type of technology designed to improve sound accessibility for individuals with hearing impairments.
Assistive technology
Assistive technology (AT) refers to any device or technology which increases the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. Assistive technology
Audio accessibility
Audio accessibility is the practice of ensuring that audio content, whether standalone or accompanying visual media, is accessible and comprehensible
Blindness
Blindness is a condition that affects a person’s ability to see, perceive, and consume visual information. Various factors, including genetic
Braille
Braille is an honored system of communication that consists of tactile symbols, enabling those with vision impairments and blindness to
Closed captions
Closed captions are a textual representation of the audio within a video, specifically designed to enhance accessibility. This feature is
Cochlear implant
Cochlear implants are medical devices designed to provide a sense of sound to individuals with profound deafness or severe hearing
Cognitive accessibility
Cognitive accessibility is an area of web accessibility that pertains to website visitors who have cognitive impairments (i.e., website visitors
Color blindness
Color blindness is a condition in which individuals perceive colors differently than most people do. This usually results in difficulty
Conformance level
A WCAG conformance level refers to the level at which a website or web-based application conforms to the Web Content
Deaf culture
Deaf Culture represents a distinct social and cultural community among people who are deaf or hard of hearing. It's characterized
Deaf vs. deaf
The distinction between 'Deaf' with a capital 'D' and 'deaf' with a lowercase 'd' is significant, representing different aspects of
Deafness
Deafness is defined as a significant hearing loss that is profound enough to impact the processing of linguistic information through
Digital accessibility
Digital accessibility is the practice of ensuring that websites, software, documents, videos, and other online content can be accessed and
Disability
A disability is a physical, mental, cognitive, or sensory condition that hinders an individual's ability to perform one or more
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) constitute essential frameworks that govern ethical and legal practices within organizational and societal contexts. Many
Document remediation
1.3 billion people, 16% of the global population, live with a disability, but only 3% of websites follow web accessibility
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)
ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance — three interconnected pillars that evaluate a company's impact on society and the
Hard of hearing
A person who is hard of hearing experiences a range of hearing loss from mild to severe, which is distinct
Hearing aid
A hearing aid is a compact electronic device designed to enhance hearing for individuals who are hard of hearing. It's
Hearing impairment
A hearing impairment, also known as hearing loss, is a condition characterized by a partial or total inability to hear
Inclusive design
Inclusive design is an approach that aims to create products, services, and environments that accommodate the broadest possible audience. Unlike
Inclusivity
Inclusivity is the practice of accepting and valuing people regardless of their differences. While inclusivity typically involves establishing a sense
Input assistance
Input assistance is an essential aspect of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), focusing on helping users avoid and correct
Input device
An input device is a vital piece of hardware designed to interface directly with a computer or digital system. It
Invisible disability
Chronic illnesses are conditions that require long-term medical attention and often cause discomfort, pain, and physical limitations in daily life.
JAWS
JAWS (Job Access With Speech) is a screen reader that enables people with blindness or other vision impairments (e.g., low
Keyboard navigation
Keyboard navigation is a method of controlling a computer interface through the use of keyboard keys, bypassing the need for
Lip reading
Lip-reading, also known as speechreading, is a complex skill that involves interpreting speech by observing the movements of the lips,
Low vision
Low vision is a term that describes a significant loss of vision that isn’t correctable with standard eyeglasses, contact lenses,
Motor impairment
Motor impairment is a condition that encompasses a broad range of physical limitations and disabilities affecting a person's ability to
NVDA
NVDA stands for NonVisual Desktop Access and is a free, open-source screen reader used for Microsoft Windows
Person with disability
A person with disability, more commonly referred to as a person with a disability, is an individual who has a
Photosensitivity
Photosensitivity refers to a condition in which an individual exhibits abnormal sensitivity or reaction to light. People with photosensitivity may
Public accommodation
A public accommodation is a private or government-owned organization, facility, or business that provides services or goods to the public.
Readability
Readability refers to the ease with which text can be read and comprehended by users. It's a fundamental aspect of
Reasonable accommodation
Job restructuring is a process by which employees with disabilities are permitted to modify their job duties or work environment
Reasonable adjustment
Reasonable adjustments take many forms, depending on the job and situation. Some examples include:
Screen reader
A screen reader is a software application designed to assist people with vision impairments by converting digital text into spoken words
Sign language
Sign language is a comprehensive and expressive means of communication that goes beyond mere spoken words. It primarily operates in
Speech recognition
Speech recognition is a technology that converts spoken language into text. It uses sophisticated algorithms and computational techniques to interpret
Usability
Usability is fundamentally about the ease of use and learnability associated with a system, product, or interface. It is a
User testing
User testing, often referred to as usability testing, is a methodological approach where real users interact with a product, service,
Video accessibility
Video accessibility refers to the practice of making video content usable and comprehensible for all viewers, including those with disabilities.
Vision impairment
Vision impairment describes a reduced ability to see that cannot be corrected through conventional means, like glasses or contact lenses,
Visual alerting device
A visual alerting device is a specialized tool designed for attracting attention and conveying critical information through visual means, such
Voice user input
Voice user input is a transformative technology that allows devices to receive and interpret spoken commands from users, marking a
VPAT
VPAT, which stands for Voluntary Product Accessibility Template, is a document that explains how information and communication technology (ICT) conforms
W3C
The World Wide Web Consortium, commonly called W3C, is an international organization that sets standards for the development and design
WCAG
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, commonly known as WCAG, are a set of guidelines designed to make web content more
Web accessibility
Web accessibility is a broad term that applies to transforming websites and web-based applications so that they are accessible to
Web accessibility compliance
Web accessibility compliance is the act of achieving compliance with specific laws that apply to web accessibility. Prominent laws applying
Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)
The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) is a critical project spearheaded by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) with the overarching
Web accessibility principles
The web accessibility principles are what the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are based on. Created by the World Wide