https://technical.ly/baltimore/2019/05/28/accessibility-terms-glossary-technology/
Here are 23 terms you should know to better understand accessibility
Audism, multi-modality and Section 508: We built a glossary based on local
experts' suggestions of the terms they think everyone should learn.
By Julie Zeglen<https://technical.ly/baltimore/author/juliezeglen> / staff &
Jonah Freedman<https://technical.ly/baltimore/author/jfreedman>
[https://2h7qju2c3qvcc3s86ekn8n0-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/baltimore/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/05/MDTAP.jpg]
A display from Maryland Technology Assistance Program's Assistive Technology
Library.
(Photo via MDTAP)
The internet should be inclusive of all who want to use it. But that’s not
possible if technologists building it aren’t familiar with accessibility best
practices — or even the correct terms to use when describing them.
Over the course of our Technical.ly-wide reporting on
accessibility<https://technical.ly/series/accessibility-month-2019/> this past
month — think software
standards<https://technical.ly/baltimore/2019/05/23/cadmiumcd-world-wide-web-latest-accessibility-standards-new-version-software/>,
physical space
design<https://technical.ly/philly/2019/05/03/making-philly-tech-companies-more-accessible/>,
tech training for
seniors<https://technical.ly/dc/2019/05/15/this-connect-dc-initiative-helps-seniors-use-their-smartphones-efficiently/>
— we’ve found this field uses some specific language that might not be
familiar to those not working in it.
(Here’s a reminder of how we’re defining the
term<https://technical.ly/philly/2019/05/07/accessibility-month-tech-terms-to-know/>:
Accessibility is the design of technology — products, devices, services,
environments — that is inclusive of as many groups of people as possible.)
So, as we did last month with
cybersecurity<https://technical.ly/baltimore/2019/04/30/boost-your-cybersecurity-knowledge-with-these-18-terms-to-learn/>,
we asked experts in the field about some of the terms they think everyone
should know. The following is a look at our first compilation of accessibility
terms. It’s by no means a complete glossary (yet!), but consider it a snapshot
of some of the key terms that often come up in conversation. Here’s a look:
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
* The landmark civil rights law requiring equal rights and access for
people with disabilities
* Term suggested by Mikey
Ilagan<https://technical.ly/philly/2017/06/01/mikey-ilagan-accessibility-workshop/>,
product manager at Comcast
Accessible Player Experiences (APX)
* Design for video games’ user experience that increases their accessibility
* Term suggested by computer programmer and technology accessibility
consultant Austin Seraphin<https://technical.ly/person/austin-seraphin/>
Adaptive fittings
* Customized attachments for devices designed to help people with
mobility-related disorders “better participate in social activities and
complete routine
tasks<https://www.phillyvoice.com/temple-students-deliver-customized-fittings-children-cerebral-palsy/>“
* Term suggested by Christopher Vito, associate director of public
relations at Temple University
Assistive technology
* Technology that increases the usability of existing computer-based
systems for people with disabilities, such as screen readers
* Term inspired by this April 2018
article<https://generocity.org/philly/2018/04/11/pennsylvanias-initiative-assistive-technology-temple-insititute-disabilities-yvonne-huges/?__hstc=19636775.e6e45986457f9c2aba10ed03577a05f6.1560003520505.1560003520505.1560003520505.1&__hssc=19636775.1.1560003520505&__hsfp=2017868163>
published on Generocity
Audio description
* Audio description — also referred to as a video description, described
video or more precisely called a visual description — is an additional
narration track intended primarily for blind and visually impaired consumers of
visual media (including television and film, dance, opera and visual art)
* Term suggested and define by Alanna
Raffel<https://technical.ly/philly/2019/04/26/this-philly-woman-keeps-hosting-accessibility-hackathons-on-her-birthday/>,
occupational therapist at Access Point
Audism
* Discrimination or prejudice toward those who are deaf or hearing impaired
* Term suggested by Ather
Sharif<https://technical.ly/person/ather-sharif/>, software engineer at Comcast
Augmentative and alternative communication
* Tools that strengthen the communication skills of people who cannot speak
verbally and/or use communication technology and speech-generation tools
* Term suggested by Christopher Vito
A11Y
* A numeronym representing “accessibility” in which “the first and last
letters of ‘accessibility’ are preserved, replacing the remaining letters
between with their sum total of 11<https://a11yproject.com/about/>“
* Term suggested by Mikey Ilagan
Curb-cut effect
* The idea that “laws and programs designed to benefit vulnerable groups,
such as the disabled or people of color, often end up benefiting all of
society<https://ssir.org/articles/entry/the_curb_cut_effect>“
* Term suggested by Mikey Ilagan
Enough time
* “Sounds straightforward, essentially it means provide enough time for
someone to interact with something. It is often overlooked!”
* Term suggested and defined by Luke Pettway, senior software engineer at
Think Company
Multi-modality
* Providing multiple modes of information access as possible — visual,
auditory, tactile, etc.
* Term suggested and defined by Luke Pettway
Screen reader
* An accessibility feature that reads aloud what is written on the screen
in a contextual and logical manner so individuals who are blind can access a
computer’s operating system/desktop environment. In addition, the screen reader
allows the end user to interact with compatible programs on the Windows
operating system without the need for a mouse.
* Term suggested and defined by Andrew Drummond, assistive technology
specialist at Maryland Department of Disabilities Technology Assistance Program
Section 508
* An amendment to the U.S. Workforce Rehabilitation Act of 1973 mandating
that federal agencies must “make their electronic and information technology
accessible to people with
disabilities<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_508_Amendment_to_the_Rehabilitation_Act_of_1973>“
* Term suggested and defined by Shawn Pike, VP of User1st
Speech-to-text
* A software or accessibility feature/support that processes human voice
into written text, allowing a user to dictate their thoughts using a word
processor in conjunction with a speech-to-text feature. This support is ideal
for individuals with fine motor challenges restricting their functional use of
a keyboard.
* Term suggested and defined by Andrew Drummond
Switch
* An assistive technology device designed to accommodate individuals with
significant fine motor or cognitive challenges by enabling the end user to
control a computer without a keyboard or mouse, if used with the appropriate
software and peripherals. Switches come in a variety of shapes and size
allowing them to be be activated using various various alternative methods such
as pinching, pressing and squeezing, to name a few.
* Term suggested and defined by Andrew Drummond
Tagging
* Putting content into the proper container element so that assistive
technology can read it
* Term suggested and defined by Luke Pettway
Text-to-speech
* A software or accessibility feature/support that reads text aloud to the
end user. This support is ideal for individuals with reading challenges or low
vision.
* Term suggested and defined by Andrew Drummond
Title II of the ADA
* “Protects qualified individuals with disabilities from discrimination on
the basis of disability in services, programs, and activities provided by State
and local government entities<https://www.ada.gov/ada_title_II.htm>“
* Term suggested by Shawn Pike
Title III of the ADA
* “Prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in the activities of
places of public accommodations … and requires newly constructed or altered
places of public accommodation — as well as commercial facilities … to comply
with the ADA Standards<https://www.ada.gov/ada_title_III.htm>“
* Term suggested by Shawn Pike
Vidism
* Discrimination or prejudice toward blind individuals
* Term suggested by Ather Sharif
Voice control
* A software, hardware or operating system that can be controlled via your
voice, e.g. Amazon’s Echo
* Term suggested and defined by Andrew Drummond
Web Accessibility Initiative — Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA)
* World Wide Web Consortium’s technical specification of best practices to
increase the accessibility of web pages
* Term suggested by Austin Seraphin
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
* A set of suggested standards created by W3 (World Wide Web Consortium) to
help guide organizations in developing accessible content. They are currently
used to create better sites and applications that are accessible by persons of
different abilities and help maintain compliance with laws designed to prevent
discrimination.
* Term suggested and defined by Tara Leavitt, director of marketing at The
Yard
-30-
David Goldfield
Assistive Technology Specialist
Feel free to visit my Web site
WWW.DavidGoldfield.info<http://WWW.DavidGoldfield.info>
