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Alliance for Technology Access(also: ATA)

The Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) was a U.S. national network of community-based, consumer-driven technology resource centers founded to make assistive technology accessible to people with disabilities. Headquartered in San Rafael, California, the network grew to include…

Alphabet Board(also: Letter Board, Spelling Board, Communication Board)

A low-technology communication tool displaying letters of the alphabet that enables people who cannot speak to spell out words and messages by pointing to, gazing at, or otherwise indicating individual letters. Alphabet boards are among the simplest and most widely used AAC…

Alternative Input Device(also: Alternative Input, Adapted Input, Alternative Access)

Any computer input device used in place of a standard keyboard and mouse by people who cannot operate conventional input hardware due to physical, motor, or other disabilities. Alternative input devices include head controls, eye-gaze systems, sip-and-puff switches, single…

Alternative Input Method(also: Alternative Input, Non-Standard Input)

Any method of providing input to a computer or device that differs from the conventional keyboard, mouse, and touchscreen interfaces. Alternative input methods are essential for people with motor, sensory, or cognitive disabilities who cannot use standard input devices…

Alternative input device(also: Alternative access method, Switch access)

Any input method that replaces or supplements standard keyboard, mouse, or joystick interfaces to enable people with motor impairments to operate computers, wheelchairs, and other technology. Examples include sip-and-puff controllers, eye-tracking systems, head switches, voice…

Amazon Alexa(also: Alexa, Echo)

A cloud-based voice assistant developed by Amazon, available on Echo smart speakers, Echo Show smart displays, and third-party devices. Users interact with Alexa through wake-word-activated voice commands to perform tasks such as setting reminders, playing music, controlling…

Ambient Audio(also: Ambient Sound, Environmental Audio, Background Audio)

The background sound of an environment — voices, traffic, water, wind, music, birdsong — captured incidentally rather than as the main focus of a recording. In accessible photography and audiophotography tools, ambient audio is often recorded automatically in the seconds leading…

Ambient Display(also: Ambient Interface, Peripheral Display)

A display or interface that communicates information through subtle environmental changes — such as colour shifts, lighting changes, or gentle sounds — that can be perceived at the periphery of a user's attention without demanding direct focus. In accessibility contexts, ambient…

Ambient Intelligence(also: AmI)

An environment enriched with networked, sensor-equipped devices that are sensitive and responsive to the presence and needs of people within it. Ambient intelligence systems anticipate user requirements by learning preferences and behaviours over time, and adapt their responses…

Ambient assisted living(also: AAL, Smart home assistive living)

Technology systems embedded in the home environment — including sensors, microphones, and smart devices — that monitor and support older adults or people with disabilities to live independently and safely. AAL aims to detect emergencies like falls, remind about medications, and…

Ambiguous keyboard(also: T9 input, Multi-tap disambiguation)

A text entry method in which multiple letters are mapped to each physical key, requiring disambiguation algorithms (typically dictionary-based) to determine the intended word from the sequence of key presses. Originally popularized by T9 predictive text on mobile phone numeric…

Ambisonics(also: Ambisonic audio, Ambisonic sound)

A full-sphere surround sound technique that captures and reproduces audio from all directions — including above and below the listener — using a spherical harmonic representation of the sound field. Originally developed by Michael Gerzon in the 1970s, ambisonics differs from…

Android Accessibility(also: Android A11y)

The accessibility features, APIs, and design guidelines built into the Android operating system that enable people with disabilities to use Android devices. Android accessibility includes TalkBack (screen reader), Switch Access, Voice Access, magnification, display adjustments,…

Android Accessibility Service(also: AccessibilityService, Android a11y Service)

The Android Accessibility Service is a system-level API that lets an app observe and interact with the UI of other applications on the device, exposing the hierarchical view tree (class names, text, bounds, clickability) and dispatching events such as focus changes, clicks, and…

Ankle Foot Orthosis(also: AFO, Ankle Brace, Foot Drop Brace)

An external medical device that encompasses the ankle joint and all or part of the foot, designed to support the ankle and improve gait in people with muscle weakness, spasticity, or structural deformity. AFOs are commonly prescribed for conditions such as cerebral palsy,…

Ankle-Foot Orthosis(also: AFO)

A lower-limb orthosis that supports the ankle and foot, typically prescribed to control foot drop, improve toe clearance during swing, and stabilise the ankle during stance. AFOs come in solid, hinged, posterior leaf-spring (PLS), and dynamic forms, made from thermoplastics,…

Annotation-based Transcoding(also: Annotation-driven Transcoding, External Annotation)

Annotation-based transcoding is a web accessibility technique in which a third party (not the site owner) authors a separate metadata file — the 'annotation' — that describes how to restructure or re-label a web page for screen reader users, and a transcoding proxy or browser…

Anticipatory Grasp(also: Pregrasp Planning, Pre-grasp, Pre-shaping)

Anticipatory grasp refers to the pre-shaping of the hand before contact with an object, based on expectations about the object's size, shape, and orientation. In sighted people this planning is driven primarily by visual input during the reach phase and produces smooth,…

AppleVis

A community-driven website and discussion forum dedicated to accessibility on Apple platforms (macOS, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS) for blind and low-vision users. It hosts app directories, podcasts, tutorials, and peer-support discussions focused on VoiceOver and related…

Appropriation

In HCI and accessibility research, the process by which users adapt, repurpose, or extend a technology beyond its designers' original intent to fit their own practices and contexts. Appropriation is often how disabled users bridge the gap between generic products and their…

Arabic Accessibility(also: Arabic Language Accessibility, RTL Accessibility)

Accessibility considerations specific to Arabic language content and Arabic-speaking users. Arabic presents unique challenges for digital accessibility: the script is written right-to-left (RTL), requiring proper bidirectional text handling; letters are cursive and connect…

Artificial Eye(also: Eye Model, Optical Eye Model)

A physical device constructed from optical components to simulate the optical properties of a human eye. Typically consisting of a lens, adjustable aperture (simulating the iris), and an image sensor (simulating the retina), artificial eyes are used in vision research to test…

AsTeR(also: Audio System for Technical Readings)

An interactive computing system developed by T. V. Raman in his 1994 PhD thesis at Cornell University that converts LaTeX documents into navigable audio documents. AsTeR parses electronic documents into a tree structure that listeners can interactively browse, enabling…

Ask-Point(also: Help Request Point)

Ask-point is a term introduced in disability-and-HCI research to name a discrete moment in daily life at which a person with a disability must request help from a caregiver, family member, or other person — for example, reaching for a dropped object, opening a door, transferring…

Aspect-Based Sentiment Analysis(also: ABSA, Aspect-Level Sentiment Classification)

A natural language processing technique that identifies both the specific topics or aspects being discussed in text (such as food quality, customer service, or pricing in a restaurant review) and the sentiment expressed about each aspect (positive, negative, or neutral). Unlike…

Assessment Descriptor(also: Visual Attribute Descriptor)

Brief visual attributes of objects — such as color, size, dimensions, and distance from the user — provided alongside obfuscated or spotlighted content to help users verify whether privacy techniques are working correctly. Research with blind participants has shown that common…

Assisted Living Technology(also: Assistive Living Technology, Ambient Assisted Living, AAL)

Technology systems designed to help people with disabilities, chronic conditions, or age-related limitations live more independently in their homes or residential facilities. This includes smart home automation, health monitoring, fall detection, medication reminders, and…

Assisted Photography(also: Accessible Photography, Camera Aiming Assistance)

Assisted photography refers to technologies and techniques that help people with visual impairments take photographs by providing non-visual feedback about camera aiming, composition, and image quality. These systems typically use computer vision to analyze the camera view and…

Assistive AI(also: AI for Accessibility, Accessible AI, Accessibility AI)

Artificial intelligence systems designed specifically to support disabled people in performing tasks, accessing information, or navigating their environments. Examples include object recognition tools for blind users, automatic captioning for deaf users, and predictive text for…

Assistive Communication(also: Assisted Communication)

Any method, device, or system used to supplement or replace natural speech and writing for people who have difficulty with spoken or written language. Assistive communication encompasses a broad range of approaches, from low-tech solutions like picture boards and communication…

Assistive Device(also: Assistive Aid, Low-Vision Aid)

Any device, tool, or technology that helps a person with a disability perform tasks that might otherwise be difficult or impossible. In low-vision contexts, assistive devices range from optical aids (magnifiers, telescopes, specialized glasses) to electronic devices (video…

Assistive Device Design(also: AT Design)

The process of developing assistive technologies and devices to meet the needs of people with disabilities. Effective assistive device design requires involving end users as active participants throughout the design process, from initial concept generation through prototyping,…

Assistive Drone(also: Assistive UAV, Assistive Quadcopter)

A small unmanned aerial vehicle configured to assist a person with a disability — most often a blind or low-vision user — with tasks such as locating objects, navigating unfamiliar environments, scanning distant signage, and previewing walking-path conditions. Compared to…

Assistive Listening Device(also: ALD, Hearing Assistive Technology)

Any device designed to improve audibility for a person with hearing loss, beyond or in addition to a hearing aid or cochlear implant. Common examples include personal amplifiers, FM and radio-frequency systems, infrared systems, and induction loop (hearing loop) systems…

Assistive Music Technology(also: AMT, Adaptive Music Technology)

Hardware and software tools specifically designed or adapted to enable people with disabilities to create, perform, compose, or enjoy music. Examples include screen reader-compatible digital audio workstations, Braille music displays, haptic music notation systems, and…

Assistive Robot(also: Personal Assistive Robot, Socially Assistive Robot, Caregiving Robot)

A robot designed to assist people with disabilities, older adults, or those with chronic conditions in performing daily activities or maintaining independence. Assistive robots may provide physical assistance (manipulation, mobility), cognitive support (reminders, step-by-step…

Assistive Robotics(also: Rehabilitation Robotics, Assistive Robots)

Robotic systems designed to assist people with disabilities in performing daily tasks, enhancing independence, and improving quality of life. Assistive robotics includes robotic arms for manipulation, autonomous cleaning devices, mobility aids, and telepresence robots. In smart…

Assistive Services(also: Crowdsourced Assistive Services, Human-powered Accessibility Services)

On-demand services that pair people with disabilities with remote human helpers, often via crowdsourcing or a dedicated responder network, to answer accessibility questions or perform small assistive tasks. Examples include visual-question-answering tools for people who are…

Assistive Strategy(also: Access Strategy)

Any approach, technique, or workaround that a disabled person develops to navigate inaccessibility and meet their needs. Unlike formal assistive technologies, assistive strategies may be informal, improvised, and deeply personal—ranging from choosing specific providers to…

Assistive Suitcase(also: Robotic Suitcase, Smart Suitcase)

A mobility aid in the form factor of a rolling travel suitcase that has been augmented with sensors, computing, and feedback mechanisms to help blind or low-vision travellers navigate public spaces. The suitcase form factor is appealing because it is socially unobtrusive in…

Assistive Technology(also: AT)

Any item, piece of equipment, software, or product system used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of people with disabilities. Assistive technology ranges from low-tech solutions like grip aids and magnifiers to high-tech devices like screen readers…

Assistive Technology(also: AT, Adaptive Technology)

Any device, software, equipment, or system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of people with disabilities. Assistive technology spans a broad range from low-tech solutions like magnifying glasses and walking canes to high-tech systems such…

Assistive Technology Abandonment(also: AT Abandonment, AT Non-Use, Device Abandonment)

The phenomenon where people with disabilities stop using or choose not to use assistive technology devices that have been provided to them. Abandonment can result from multiple factors including poor device fit, discomfort, lack of training, cost of maintenance, social stigma…

Assistive Technology Abandonment(also: AT Abandonment, Technology Discontinuance)

The phenomenon of users with disabilities ceasing to use an assistive technology device or system after initial adoption. Research identifies several predictors of abandonment, including failure to consider user opinions during design, lack of training, poor device performance,…

Assistive Technology Act(also: AT Act, Tech Act)

United States federal legislation that provides funding to states for assistive technology programs, including device demonstrations, lending libraries, and reutilization services. First enacted in 1988 and reauthorized multiple times, the AT Act supports state-level programs…

Assistive Technology Assessment(also: AT Assessment, Assistive Technology Evaluation, AT Evaluation)

An assistive technology assessment is a systematic evaluation process to identify the most appropriate assistive technology solutions for an individual with a disability. The assessment typically considers the person's abilities, goals, environments, and tasks to recommend…

Assistive Technology Curriculum(also: AT Curriculum, Adaptive Technology Curriculum, Accessibility Curriculum)

An assistive technology curriculum is a structured educational programme that teaches the principles, design, evaluation, and implementation of technology aids for people with disabilities. Such curricula typically span topics including disability awareness, accessibility…

Assistive Technology Delivery(also: AT Service Delivery, Assistive Technology Provision)

The process of identifying, selecting, providing, and supporting assistive technology for individuals with disabilities. Effective AT delivery involves assessing a person's needs and abilities, matching them with appropriate technology, providing training and instructional…

Assistive Technology Ecosystem(also: AT Ecosystem, AT Service Delivery Ecosystem)

The complete network of interconnected elements required for assistive technology to be effectively provided, adopted, and sustained, including the technology itself, trained professionals, assessment and fitting services, maintenance and repair infrastructure, funding…

Assistive Technology Information Gap(also: AT Information Gap)

The significant disparity in access to accurate, comprehensive, and contextually relevant information about assistive technology products, services, and best practices, particularly affecting people with disabilities in low and middle-income countries. This gap is caused by…