Glossary

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ADA Transition Plan(also: ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan, Accessibility Transition Plan)

A document required under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that outlines how a public entity will make its programs, services, activities, and facilities accessible to people with disabilities. The plan must include an inventory of accessibility barriers, a…

AODA(also: Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act)

Canadian provincial legislation enacted in 2005 that sets out a roadmap to make Ontario fully accessible by 2025. AODA establishes mandatory accessibility standards across five areas: customer service, information and communications, employment, transportation, and the design of…

Accessible Canada Act(also: ACA, Canadian Accessibility Act)

Canadian federal legislation (S.C. 2019, c. 10) that aims to make Canada barrier-free by 2040 by requiring federally regulated organisations (banks, telecommunications, transportation, the federal government) to identify, remove, and prevent barriers in areas including…

Americans with Disabilities Act(also: ADA, ADA 1990)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is landmark US civil rights legislation enacted in 1990 that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including employment, education, transportation, and public accommodations. Title II…

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…

CRPD(also: Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD)

An international human rights treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2006 and entered into force in 2008. The CRPD is the first comprehensive human rights treaty of the 21st century focused on disability rights, ratified by 185 UN member states. It affirms that…

Digital Fairness Act(also: DFA)

A proposed European Union act intended to extend the Digital Services Act by targeting deceptive patterns, manipulative personalisation, and other forms of online interface deception across the EU single market. The DFA aims to close ambiguities in existing DP legislation by…

Digital Services Act(also: DSA)

A European Union regulation (Regulation (EU) 2022/2065) that governs online intermediaries and platforms, including social networks, online marketplaces, and content-sharing services. Among many provisions, the DSA prohibits online platforms from designing, organising, or…

EU AI Act(also: European Union Artificial Intelligence Act, Artificial Intelligence Act (EU))

A European Union regulation, adopted in 2024, that establishes a risk-based framework for AI systems deployed in the EU. High-risk systems — including AI used in employment, hiring, worker management, education, and access to essential services — are subject to obligations…

Equality Act(also: Equality Act 2010, UK Equality Act)

UK legislation that consolidates and strengthens anti-discrimination law across nine protected characteristics including disability. The Act prohibits direct and indirect discrimination in services, public functions, premises, work, education, and associations. For disability…

European Accessibility Act(also: EAA, Directive 2019/882)

A European Union directive adopted in 2019 that establishes common accessibility requirements for key products and services across EU member states. The EAA covers computers, smartphones, ATMs, e-commerce, banking services, e-books, and electronic communications, among others.…

Government Digital Accessibility(also: Public Sector Accessibility, E-Government Accessibility)

The requirement and practice of ensuring that government websites, online services, documents, and digital tools are accessible to all citizens, including those with disabilities. Many countries have enacted legislation mandating government digital accessibility, such as Section…

IDEIA(also: Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, IDEA 2004)

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, which reauthorized and amended the original IDEA legislation. IDEIA strengthened requirements for highly qualified special education teachers, expanded early intervention services, and updated provisions for…

Individualized Education Plan(also: IEP, Individualized Education Program)

A legally binding document in the United States that outlines the special education services, accommodations, and goals for a student with a disability. IEPs are developed collaboratively by educators, parents, and specialists, and are mandated under the Individuals with…

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act(also: IDEA)

A United States federal law that guarantees students with disabilities the right to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment. Originally enacted in 1975 as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act and reauthorized as IDEA in 1990…

Online Accessibility Act(also: OAA, US Online Accessibility Act)

A proposed US federal law (H.R. 1100, introduced in the 117th Congress) that would require consumer-facing websites and mobile apps of covered organisations to comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The OAA is intended to close an ambiguity in the existing…

Reasonable Accommodation(also: Workplace Accommodation, Job Accommodation)

A modification or adjustment to a job, work environment, or the way work is typically performed that enables a qualified individual with a disability to perform essential job functions and enjoy equal employment opportunities. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and…

Section 504(also: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act)

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a US federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. It requires educational institutions, government agencies, and other…

Section 508(also: 508 Compliance, Rehabilitation Act Section 508)

A provision of the United States Rehabilitation Act that requires federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. Updated in 2017 (the "Section 508 Refresh"), the standards now incorporate WCAG 2.0 Level AA as the…

Telecommunications Accessibility(also: Telecom Accessibility)

The design and provision of telephone, mobile, internet, and other communication services and devices so that they are usable by people with disabilities. Telecommunications accessibility encompasses a wide range of accommodations: text telephone (TTY/TDD) services and relay…

Web Accessibility Directive(also: WAD, Directive 2016/2102)

A European Union directive adopted in 2016 requiring all public sector bodies in EU member states to make their websites and mobile applications accessible. The directive mandates compliance with EN 301 549 (which incorporates WCAG 2.1 AA) and requires public sector…

eIDAS(also: electronic IDentification, Authentication and trust Services, eIDAS 2.0)

A European Union regulation governing electronic identification and trust services across the single market. The revised eIDAS 2.0 regulation, adopted in 2024, requires each member state to provide a European Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet to all citizens and residents by the…

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