A
- A11Y “A11Y” stands for "accessibility." It is a numeronym, with “11” representing the number of letters between “A” and “Y,” the first and last letters of the word
- Accessibility remediation Accessibility remediation is the process of making digital content more accessible to people with disabilities
- Assistive technology Assistive technology (AT) refers to any device or technology which increases the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities
- Accessibility statement An accessibility statement declares that a website has been designed and developed to be accessible to people with disabilities. It states that the website meets certain standards for usability, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
- Accessibility testing Accessibility testing is a type of usability testing that focuses on people 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 standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
- Accessibility audit An accessibility audit is a systematic evaluation of digital platforms to determine how accessible they are to users with disabilities
- ARIA ARIA, short for Accessible Rich Internet Applications, is a set of HTML roles and attributes developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). It aims to enhance the accessibility of web content and web-based applications for members of the disability community.
- Audio accessibility Audio accessibility is the practice of ensuring that audio content, whether standalone or accompanying visual media, is accessible and comprehensible to all individuals, including those with hearing impairments or other disabilities
- Assistive learning device An assistive listening device (ALD) is a type of technology designed to improve sound accessibility for individuals with hearing impairments
- Accessible design Accessible design is a user-centric approach that prioritizes the creation of products, services, and environments tailored to be usable by everyone, including individuals with disabilities
B
- Blindness Blindness is a condition that affects a person’s ability to see, perceive, and consume visual information. Various factors, including genetic conditions, injuries, diseases, or other medical conditions can cause blindness during different periods of a person’s life.
- Braille Braille is an honored system of communication that consists of tactile symbols, enabling those with vision impairments and blindness to read and write in over 133 languages, including English, Spanish, Arabic, and Chinese
C
- Cognitive accessibility Cognitive accessibility is an area of web accessibility that pertains to website visitors who have cognitive impairments
- Conformance level A WCAG conformance level refers to the level at which a website or web-based application conforms to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
- Color blindness Color blindness is a condition in which individuals perceive colors differently than most people do. This usually results in difficulty distinguishing between certain colors.
- Cochlear implant Cochlear implants are medical devices designed to provide a sense of sound to individuals with profound deafness or severe hearing loss
- Closed captions Closed captions are a textual representation of the audio within a video, specifically designed to enhance accessibility
D
- Document remediation Document remediation is the process of taking an organization’s existing documents and ensuring that they meet the required standards for accessibility
- Deafness Deafness is defined as a significant hearing loss that is profound enough to impact the processing of linguistic information through hearing, with or without amplification
- Disability A disability is a physical, mental, cognitive, or sensory condition that hinders an individual's ability to perform one or more major life activities, either temporarily or permanently
- Deaf culture Deaf Culture represents a distinct social and cultural community among people who are deaf or hard of hearing
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) constitute essential frameworks that govern ethical and legal practices within organizational and societal contexts
- Digital accessibility Digital accessibility is the practice of ensuring that websites, software, documents, videos, and other online content can be accessed and used by members of the disability community
- Deaf vs. deaf The distinction between 'Deaf' with a capital 'D' and 'deaf' with a lowercase 'd' is significant, representing different aspects of the experience of hearing loss
H
- Hearing impairment A hearing impairment, also known as hearing loss, is a condition characterized by a partial or total inability to hear sounds
- Hearing aid A hearing aid is a compact electronic device designed to enhance hearing for individuals who are hard of hearing
- Hard of hearing A person who is hard of hearing experiences a range of hearing loss from mild to severe, which is distinct from complete deafness
I
- Inclusivity Inclusivity is the practice of accepting and valuing people regardless of their differences
- Invisible disability An invisible disability is a disability that is not immediately evident to an external observer. Notable invisible disabilities include chronic pain, mental illness, a learning disability, or a hearing or vision impairment.
- Inclusive design Inclusive design is an approach that aims to create products, services, and environments that accommodate the broadest possible audience
- Input Device An input device is a vital piece of hardware designed to interface directly with a computer or digital system. It facilitates seamless communication between the user and the machine, acting as a conduit for data transfer
- Input assistance Input assistance is an essential aspect of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), focusing on helping users avoid and correct errors during their interaction with web content
L
- Low vision Low vision is a term that describes a significant loss of vision that isn’t correctable with standard eyeglasses, contact lenses, medical treatments, or surgeries
- Lip reading Lip-reading, also known as speechreading, is a complex skill that involves interpreting speech by observing the movements of the lips, face, and tongue, particularly when auditory cues are not available or are unclear
P
- Public accommodation A public accommodation is a private or government-owned organization, facility, or business that provides services or goods to the public
- Person with disability A person with disability, more commonly referred to as a person with a disability, is an individual who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities
- Photosensitivity Photosensitivity refers to a condition in which an individual exhibits abnormal sensitivity or reaction to light
R
- Reasonable accommodation Reasonable accommodation is the process of making modifications to an environment, policies, or practices so that people with disabilities have equal access and full inclusion in a program, service, or activity
- Reasonable adjustment Reasonable adjustments are practical changes an employer makes to ensure that employees with disabilities can properly perform their job
- Readability Readability refers to the ease with which text can be read and comprehended by users. It's a fundamental aspect of written content, determining how effectively a message is conveyed to its audience.
S
- Speech recognition Speech recognition is a technology that converts spoken language into text. It uses sophisticated algorithms and computational techniques to interpret and transcribe human speech into a machine-readable format.
- Sign language Sign language is a comprehensive and expressive means of communication that goes beyond mere spoken words. It primarily operates in a visual-manual realm, incorporating hand gestures, facial expressions, and body language to convey messages.
- Screen reader A screen reader is a software application designed to assist people with vision impairments by converting digital text into spoken words or braille output
U
- User testing User testing, often referred to as usability testing, is a methodological approach where real users interact with a product, service, or website under controlled conditions
- Usability Usability is fundamentally about the ease of use and learnability associated with a system, product, or interface. It is a measure of how intuitive and user-friendly a design is, ensuring that users can achieve their objectives efficiently and without needless complications.
V
- VPAT A VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) documents how a product meets standards like Section 508, WCAG, or EN 301 549. It is often required for compliance and becomes an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) once published.
- Vision impairment Vision impairment describes a reduced ability to see that cannot be corrected through conventional means, like glasses or contact lenses, to achieve 20/20 acuity or “normal” vision
- Voice user input Voice user input is a transformative technology that allows devices to receive and interpret spoken commands from users, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of web accessibility
- Video accessibility Video accessibility refers to the practice of making video content usable and comprehensible for all viewers, including those with disabilities
- Visual alerting device A visual alerting device is a specialized tool designed for attracting attention and conveying critical information through visual means, such as lights or symbols, in situations where auditory alerts may not be effective
W
- Web accessibility Web accessibility is a broad term that applies to transforming websites and web-based applications so that they are accessible to people with disabilities
- Web accessibility compliance Web accessibility compliance is the act of achieving compliance with specific laws that apply to web accessibility
- Web accessibility principles The web accessibility principles are what the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are based on
- W3C The World Wide Web Consortium, commonly called W3C, is an international organization that sets standards for the development and design of the internet
- What is alt text? Alternative text, commonly referred to as alt text, is a textual description of an image appearing within a web page. This text is part of the page’s HTML code, included as an alt attribute, which is a special tag that tells the browser what to display if the image cannot be loaded.
- WCAG The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, commonly known as WCAG, are a set of guidelines designed to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities
- Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) is a critical project spearheaded by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) with the overarching goal of making the internet universally accessible
