Glossary
Terms used in accessibility research and practice. Each entry has a definition, common aliases, and category tags.
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- Choice-Making(also: Choice Board, Aided Choice)
- A structured communication and learning strategy in which an individual is presented with two or more options and supported to make a selection, often using pictures, objects, or symbols. Choice-making is a foundational skill in autism education and therapy, serving multiple…
- Clutching(also: Clutch Mechanism, Clutch Gesture)
- In gesture- and motion-based input systems, a mechanism that lets the user temporarily disengage the recogniser so that everyday, non-communicative movements — reaching, adjusting posture, gesturing socially — do not trigger false activations. Named after the mechanical clutch…
- Communication Asymmetry(also: Interaction Asymmetry, Communication Imbalance)
- The imbalance in communication capabilities, speed, or modalities between conversation partners. In AAC contexts, communication asymmetry arises because AAC users communicate at 12-18 words per minute compared to 125-185 for typical speakers, creating fundamental differences in…
- Communication Breakdown(also: Conversational Breakdown, Communication Failure)
- A disruption in conversation where the intended message is not successfully conveyed or understood, leading to confusion, misunderstanding, or loss of conversational coherence. In AAC communication, breakdowns can occur when backchanneling cues are missed (because the partner is…
- Communication Partner(also: CP, Conversation Partner)
- A person who communicates with an AAC user, whether through speech, sign, or other means. Communication partners play a critical role in the success of AAC interactions — their willingness to wait, their ability to interpret messages, and their understanding of AAC devices…
- Computerized Visual Communication(also: C-VIC)
- A computer-based assistive technology system that enables people with aphasia to communicate by arranging icons and images on screen to form sentences, which can then be translated into spoken or written language. C-VIC systems use structured visual vocabularies where users…
- Conversational Management(also: Conversation Management, Interactional Management)
- The processes by which interlocutors jointly regulate the structure of a conversation - taking and ceding turns, pre-empting interruptions, shifting attention and topic, repairing misunderstandings, and maintaining flow over time. In AAC research, conversational management is a…
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