Glossary
Terms used in accessibility research and practice. Each entry has a definition, common aliases, and category tags.
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- Perceptual Span(also: Reading Span, Visual Span)
- The area of text around a fixation point from which useful information can be extracted during reading. Research using eye-tracking has shown that skilled deaf readers have a larger perceptual span than hearing readers — up to 18 letter spaces compared to 14 for hearing readers…
- Perceptual speed(also: Processing speed, Cognitive processing speed)
- The speed at which an individual can accurately perceive, compare, and respond to visual or auditory stimuli, typically measured through timed tasks requiring rapid symbol comparison or pattern matching. Perceptual speed declines with age and is a significant predictor of…
- Perspective-taking(also: Cognitive empathy, Theory of mind)
- The cognitive ability to understand and consider another person's thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and point of view. In accessibility and neurodiversity contexts, perspective-taking is central to the double empathy problem — research shows that neurotypical individuals struggle…
- Processing Speed(also: Information Processing Speed, Cognitive Processing Speed)
- A cognitive ability referring to how quickly a person can perceive, process, and respond to information. Processing speed affects how rapidly someone can read, understand instructions, react to stimuli, and complete timed tasks. It naturally declines with age, beginning in…
- Prospective Memory
- The ability to remember to carry out intended actions in the future, such as taking medication at a specific time, attending an appointment, or completing a task when a particular cue arises. Prospective memory is distinct from retrospective memory (remembering past events) and…
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