Glossary

Accessibility 
The extent that people with the widest range of needs, characteristics and capabilities can use products, services, and facilities to achieve their goals. 
Adaptive gaming 
Gaming set ups that utilize assistive devices for customizable more accessible gaming experiences.  
Adaptive toy 
Toys or devices which have been adapted so that their original switches are redirected to a larger external switch that is easier for the user to interact with. 
Alternate formats 
Alternate formats show information in a different way but they do not change the information. Examples are: 
  • large print 
  • Braille 
  • recorded audio 
  • American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) text 
  • and other electronic formats that are compatible with assistive technology 
Alternative text (text alternative, alt. text) 
Text that is associated with non-text content, such as images, so a screen reader can describe it. We do not use alternative text for images that are purely decorative. 
Assistive device and/or assistive technology (AT) 
Technology that works with user agents, like a web browser, to make content more accessible for persons with disabilities. 
Assistive switch 
Switches are used to create access for users with mobility difficulties for devices such as toys, environmental control units, computers/ tablets, and communication devices. ​ 
Switches may either be simple and mechanical, closing a circuit ​or more complex, containing a sensor to trigger the switch activation. 
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices 
Used by people who have difficulty speaking or writing; AAC devices can be used to generate speech, type text, or use symbols to communicate. 
Barrier 
Anything that hinders the full and equal participation in society of persons with disabilities. 
Closed captions 
Closed captions are a text version of the soundtrack of a television, movie or computer presentation. The soundtrack includes the spoken dialogue and also important background noises and audio cues, like a telephone ringing. 
Disability 
Any impairment or functional limitation that, with a barrier, hinders a person's full and equal participation in society. 
High-tech AT 
More complex and expensive, high-tech AT includes physical items such as power wheelchairs, and hardware- or software-based tools such as screen readers, voice recognition software, and accessibility overlays. 
Inclusive design 
Design that considers the full range of human diversity, including: 
  • ability 
  • language 
  • culture 
  • gender 
  • age, and 
  • other forms of human difference 
Low-tech AT 
Typically inexpensive and easy to use, examples of low-tech AT include large-print books, talking calculators, and wheelchair ramps. 
Web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG) 
Accessibility guidelines established by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) under their Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). WCAG explains how to make web content more accessible to persons with disabilities.