Glossary

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Activity Pacing(also: Pacing, Energy pacing)

Activity pacing is a self-management strategy used by people with chronic conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome to manage limited energy and prevent symptom exacerbation. It involves planning and distributing physical and cognitive…

Biofeedback

A therapeutic technique in which individuals are presented with real-time measurements of their physiological variables — such as heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, muscle tension, or brain waves — to help them learn to regulate these functions. In accessibility contexts,…

Blood Oxygen Saturation(also: O2sat, SpO2, Oxygen Saturation)

The percentage of hemoglobin in the blood that is bound to oxygen, typically measured non-invasively using a pulse oximeter. Normal blood oxygen saturation is generally 95-100%, and levels below 88-90% are considered clinically concerning and may indicate hypoxemia (dangerously…

Brain Fog(also: Cognitive Fog, Mental Fog)

Brain fog is a term used to describe a cluster of cognitive symptoms including difficulty concentrating, memory problems, mental fatigue, and reduced clarity of thought. It is commonly associated with chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, long COVID,…

Chronic Condition(also: Chronic Health Condition, Long-Term Condition)

A health condition that persists over time, typically lasting a year or more and requiring ongoing medical attention or limiting activities of daily living. Chronic conditions include both chronic illnesses (such as diabetes or multiple sclerosis) and other lasting health states…

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome(also: CFS, ME/CFS, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis)

A complex, long-term condition characterised by profound fatigue not relieved by rest, post-exertional malaise, cognitive difficulties ("brain fog"), and often sleep disturbance and pain. CFS is an invisible and episodic disability: symptoms and capacity fluctuate day-to-day,…

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease(also: COPD, Emphysema, Chronic Bronchitis)

A group of progressive lung diseases — including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and non-reversible asthma — characterized by increasing breathlessness, cough, and reduced exercise tolerance. COPD affects approximately 10% of adults worldwide and is a leading cause of physical…

Consequence-Based Accessibility

A framework introduced by Mack and McDonnell that describes how people with chronic illnesses experience access barriers where the consequences of their actions, rather than the nature of the task itself, make something inaccessible. For example, a person may be physically…

Dynamic Disability(also: Fluctuating Disability, Variable Disability)

A disability or impairment whose severity, manifestation, or impact varies over time — sometimes rapidly — rather than remaining constant. Dynamic disabilities are common in many health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, Parkinson's Disease, multiple sclerosis, and…

Dyspnea(also: Breathlessness, Shortness of Breath)

A subjective experience of breathing discomfort consisting of qualitatively distinct sensations that vary in intensity, as defined by the American Thoracic Society. People who experience dyspnea commonly describe sensations of respiratory effort, chest tightness, and air hunger.…

Energy Conservation(also: Energy management)

Energy conservation refers to a set of self-management strategies designed to help people with chronic conditions, fatigue-related disabilities, or fluctuating energy levels maintain function and independence by using their available energy efficiently. Core techniques include…

Fibromyalgia(also: FM, Fibromyalgia syndrome)

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive difficulties often called "fibro fog." It affects approximately 2-4% of the population, predominantly women, and is considered an invisible disability…

Flare(also: Symptom Flare, Flare-Up)

A temporary but often significant worsening of symptoms associated with a chronic illness, which can last from hours to weeks. Flares can be triggered by environmental factors (heat, pollen, weather changes), physical exertion, stress, illness, or unpredictable internal…

Health-Related Impairment and Disability(also: HIID, Health-Related Impairments and Disabilities)

A category of impairments that arise as a consequence of health conditions, both chronic and acute, rather than from a traditionally defined disability. HIIDs are characterized by four properties: they are combinatorial (multiple low-intensity impairments that interact to create…

Internal Access Conflict(also: Conflicting Access Needs)

A situation where a single individual's different access needs contradict or undermine each other, making it impossible to fully accommodate all needs simultaneously. For example, a person with chronic illness may benefit from remote meetings to avoid physical exertion, but the…

Modified Borg Scale(also: Borg CR10 Scale, MBS, Borg Scale)

A self-report rating scale used to measure the perceived intensity of physical sensations such as breathlessness, exertion, or pain, ranging from 0 (nothing at all) to 10 (maximal). Originally developed by Gunnar Borg in 1982, the Modified Borg Scale is widely used in pulmonary…

Osteoarthritis(also: OA, Degenerative Joint Disease)

The most common form of arthritis, caused by progressive breakdown of the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones. Osteoarthritis produces joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and reduced range of motion, most often in the hands, knees, hips, and spine. For digital accessibility,…

Oxygen Desaturation(also: Hypoxemia, O2 Desaturation)

A drop in blood oxygen saturation levels below normal ranges, which can occur during physical exertion in people with chronic respiratory conditions like COPD. Oxygen desaturation during exercise is a medical concern that may require the person to stop, rest, and practice…

Post-Exertion Malaise(also: PEM, Post-Exertional Malaise, Crash)

A disproportionate worsening of symptoms following physical, cognitive, or emotional exertion that would not cause comparable effects in a healthy person. Post-exertion malaise is a hallmark symptom of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and occurs in…

Pulmonary Rehabilitation(also: PR, Respiratory Rehabilitation)

A supervised, multidisciplinary program for people with chronic respiratory diseases that combines patient education, exercise training, and self-management skills to reduce symptoms, improve quality of life, and increase physical activity. During pulmonary rehabilitation,…

Pulse Oximetry(also: Pulse Oximeter, SpO2 Monitoring)

A non-invasive method of monitoring blood oxygen saturation (O2sat) and heart rate using a sensor typically placed on the finger or wrist. Pulse oximeters use light absorption through the skin to estimate the percentage of hemoglobin in the blood that is carrying oxygen. In…

Symptom Fluctuation(also: Fluctuating Symptoms, Variable Symptoms, Good Days and Bad Days)

The variation in symptom severity that people with chronic conditions or disabilities experience over time—sometimes within a single day. Symptom fluctuation means that a person's abilities and access needs may change unpredictably, making it difficult to follow fixed schedules…

Variable Ability(also: Fluctuating Ability, Dynamic Disability)

The characteristic of many chronic illnesses and disabilities where a person's functional abilities change significantly over time — across days, hours, or even minutes. Variable ability includes both baseline fluctuations (such as flares triggered by environmental factors or…

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