Glossary

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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,…

Driving Cessation(also: Driving Retirement, Giving Up Driving)

The process by which a person stops driving a motor vehicle, either voluntarily or due to age-related decline in cognitive, visual, or physical abilities, medical conditions, or legal restrictions. Driving cessation disproportionately affects older adults and has significant…

Freezing of Gait(also: FOG, Gait Freezing, Motor Blocks)

A common and debilitating symptom of Parkinson's Disease in which a person suddenly and temporarily feels as though their feet are glued to the floor, despite intending to walk. Freezing episodes typically last seconds to minutes and are a major cause of falls and loss of…

Gait Cycle(also: Walking cycle)

The repeating pattern of leg movement during walking, defined from one foot contact with the ground to the next contact of the same foot. The cycle is divided into two main phases: the stance phase (foot on ground, bearing weight), which includes heel strike, midstance, and…

Genu Recurvatum(also: Knee hyperextension)

Backward bending of the knee beyond its normal straight position during standing or stance phase of gait. Genu recurvatum is often caused by hamstring weakness, quadriceps spasticity, or proprioceptive deficits following stroke, cerebral palsy, or spinal cord injury. Repeated…

Guide Dog(also: Seeing Eye Dog, Service Dog, Dog Guide)

A specially trained assistance animal that helps blind or visually impaired individuals navigate their environment safely. Guide dogs are trained to avoid obstacles, stop at curbs and steps, and navigate around barriers, enabling their handlers to travel more independently. As a…

Knee Buckling(also: Knee giving way)

A sudden loss of knee stability during weight-bearing in which the knee flexes involuntarily, often causing the person to stumble or fall. Knee buckling is commonly caused by quadriceps weakness, neurological conditions (stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury), knee…

Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthosis(also: KAFO)

A lower-limb orthosis that spans the knee, ankle, and foot to provide weight-bearing support and prevent knee buckling or hyperextension in people with significant leg weakness or paralysis - commonly due to stroke, spinal cord injury, post-polio syndrome, or muscular dystrophy.…

Manual Wheelchair(also: Self-propelled wheelchair)

A wheelchair propelled by the user pushing on handrims attached to the rear wheels, or by an attendant pushing from behind. Manual wheelchairs are the most common type of wheelchair used for personal mobility and become deeply integrated into users' identities and daily…

Mobility Impairment(also: Mobility Disability, Physical Mobility Limitation)

A condition that limits a person's ability to move freely and independently, affecting functions such as walking, climbing stairs, or maintaining balance. Mobility impairments can result from congenital conditions, spinal cord injuries, amputations, neurological conditions like…

Pedestrian Navigation(also: Pedestrian Wayfinding, On-Foot Navigation)

Pedestrian navigation refers to wayfinding and route-following on foot in outdoor environments, including sidewalks, crosswalks, public transit access points, and shared streets. For blind and low vision users, people with cognitive disabilities, and wheelchair users, the…

Power Assist Device(also: Power assist wheel, Pushrim-activated power-assisted wheelchair, PAPAW)

A motorized attachment that adds electric propulsion assistance to a manual wheelchair without converting it into a full power wheelchair. Power assist devices typically attach to the wheelchair frame, wheels, or axle and amplify the user's pushing force, reducing physical…

Power Wheelchair(also: Electric Wheelchair, Motorized Wheelchair, Power Chair)

A wheelchair propelled by an electric motor rather than manual pushing, essential for people with severe motor disabilities who lack the upper body strength or dexterity to operate a manual wheelchair. Power wheelchairs are typically controlled through joysticks, but alternative…

Power-Assist Add-On(also: Power Assist, Power-Assist Device, Wheelchair Power Assist)

A power-assist add-on is a retrofit device attached to a manual wheelchair that provides motorized propulsion while preserving the chair's manual structure, offering a middle ground between manual and full power wheelchairs. Commercial examples include the SmartDrive, Firefly,…

Powered Wheelchair(also: Electric Wheelchair, Motorized Wheelchair, Power Chair)

A wheelchair propelled by an electric motor and battery system rather than manual effort, typically controlled via a joystick or alternative input device. Powered wheelchairs are essential mobility aids for individuals who lack the upper body strength or coordination to operate…

Public Transport Accessibility(also: Transit Accessibility, Accessible Public Transportation)

The design of buses, trains, stations, stops, timetables, and associated services to be usable by people with all types of disabilities. This includes physical features (ramps, lifts, tactile paving, audio announcements), information accessibility (large print, screen reader…

Reacher(also: Grabber, Reacher-Grabber, Grabber Tool)

A reacher (also called a grabber or reacher-grabber) is a low-cost handheld assistive device — typically a lightweight aluminum or plastic shaft 60-90 cm long with a trigger handle at one end and a pair of gripping jaws at the other — used by people with limited reach, mobility,…

Rollator(also: Wheeled Walker, Rolling Walker)

A walking frame equipped with wheels, handbrakes, and typically a built-in seat, designed to provide stability and support for people with mobility difficulties. Unlike standard walkers that must be lifted with each step, rollators roll forward continuously, reducing the…

Scoliosis

A structural condition in which the spine develops a sideways curvature, often in an 'S' or 'C' shape. Scoliosis ranges from mild curves requiring only monitoring to severe cases that can affect posture, breathing, mobility, and chronic pain, and it is sometimes associated with…

Shared Mobility(also: Shared Transportation)

Transportation services in which vehicles, rides, or trips are shared among multiple users, including ridesharing (Uber, Lyft), carsharing (Zipcar), bikesharing, scooter-sharing, microtransit, and — increasingly — autonomous-vehicle shuttles. Shared mobility is relevant to…

Sidewalk Accessibility(also: Pedestrian Accessibility, Walkway Accessibility)

Sidewalk accessibility refers to the degree to which pedestrian pathways and related infrastructure — including sidewalks, curb ramps, crosswalks, and pedestrian signals — can be safely and independently used by people with disabilities, particularly those with mobility…

Stance-Control Orthosis(also: Stance-control KAFO, SCO, Stance-control knee-ankle-foot orthosis)

A class of knee-ankle-foot orthoses that lock the knee during the stance (weight-bearing) phase of gait to prevent buckling, but unlock it during the swing phase to allow natural knee flexion. Stance-control devices detect gait phase through joint-angle sensors,…

Travel Training(also: Mobility Training, Independent Travel Training)

Structured instruction that teaches people with disabilities how to travel independently and safely using public transportation or walking routes. Travel training typically involves repeated practice of specific routes, learning to recognize landmarks, understanding timetables,…

Wheelchair(also: Manual Wheelchair, Power Wheelchair, Wheeled Mobility Device)

A mobility assistive device consisting of a chair mounted on wheels, used by people who have difficulty walking or cannot walk due to illness, injury, or disability. Wheelchairs range from basic manual models to powered chairs with advanced controls, and are recognized by the…

Wheelchair-Accessible Taxi(also: WAT, Wheelchair Taxi, Accessible Taxi)

A taxi or on-demand vehicle fitted with a ramp or lift and interior tie-down points that allow a passenger to travel while seated in their wheelchair. Wheelchair-accessible taxis are a core component of paratransit in many cities, dispatched either through general-purpose taxi…

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