Glossary

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Alliance for Technology Access(also: ATA)

The Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) was a U.S. national network of community-based, consumer-driven technology resource centers founded to make assistive technology accessible to people with disabilities. Headquartered in San Rafael, California, the network grew to include…

Boundary Objects(also: Boundary Object)

A concept from Star and Griesemer (1989) describing artifacts that are structured enough to be understood by different social worlds but flexible enough to be interpreted differently by each one, allowing cooperation across communities without forced consensus. In accessibility…

Brave Space

A community or environment where people are encouraged to step outside their comfort zones, approach their limits, and try new things while being supported by those around them — as opposed to a "safe space" focused primarily on comfort and protection. In makerspaces and…

CODA(also: Child of Deaf Adults, Children of Deaf Adults)

An acronym for Child of Deaf Adults, referring to a hearing person who was raised by one or more Deaf parents. CODAs typically grow up bilingual and bicultural, fluent in both a sign language and a spoken language, and often serve as cultural bridges between Deaf and hearing…

Circle of Friends(also: Circle of Support, Circles of Support)

Circle of Friends (or Circle of Support) is a facilitated social-inclusion intervention in which a person with a disability is surrounded by a small, intentional group of peers, family members, and supporters who commit to sustained involvement in their social life. The model…

Civic Technology(also: Civic Tech, Civic Hacking)

Technology developed by community members, advocacy groups, or volunteers to improve public services, increase government transparency, and address civic challenges. In accessibility, civic technology includes open-source tools and platforms built to monitor and improve the…

Community Health Worker(also: CHW, Lay Health Worker)

A frontline healthcare provider who is a trusted member of the community they serve and who delivers basic health services, education, and referrals, typically with limited formal training. Community health workers extend the reach of formal health systems into homes and…

Community Sourcing(also: Community-Driven Accessibility)

An approach to creating accessible content by drawing on community members who have domain expertise or vested interest in the content, rather than relying on professional describers or general crowdworkers. Unlike crowdsourcing, which draws from a broad pool of workers who may…

Community of Practice(also: CoP)

A group of people who share a common interest or concern and learn together through regular interaction, sharing knowledge, and collaborative problem-solving. In technology adoption contexts, communities of practice form organically when groups such as older adults in…

Community-Based Design(also: Community-Based Participatory Design, CBPD)

A design approach that situates the design process within a specific community, engaging community members as active participants and co-creators rather than passive research subjects. Unlike lab-based user research, community-based design takes place in the community's own…

Community-sourcing(also: Community Sourcing, Community-contributed Data)

A data collection approach where members of a specific community contribute information based on their direct experience and local knowledge, as distinct from general crowdsourcing which draws on anonymous, unrelated workers. In accessibility contexts, community-sourcing…

Connected Learning

A culturally-embedded learning paradigm developed by Mizŭko Ito and colleagues that frames rich learning as emerging from interest-driven, peer-supported, and academically-oriented activities across a network of everyday settings — including online affinity communities, fandoms,…

Crowdsourced Accessibility(also: Crowdsourced Accessibility Auditing, Citizen-Sourced Accessibility)

The practice of collecting accessibility information about physical or digital environments through contributions from large numbers of people, rather than relying solely on professional auditors. In the physical accessibility context, crowdsourcing approaches include virtual…

Crowdsourcing(also: Crowd-Sourced Data, Community Reporting)

A method of collecting data, information, or contributions from a large number of people, typically via the internet, rather than relying on a single authoritative source. In accessibility contexts, crowdsourcing is used to gather information about the accessibility of physical…

Crowdsourcing

The practice of gathering information, data, or contributions from a large group of distributed participants, typically via the internet. In accessibility, crowdsourcing platforms like Wheelmap and AccessTogether allow users to rate and report the accessibility of physical…

Cultural Mediator(also: Museum Mediator, Cultural Facilitator)

A professional who facilitates meaningful engagement between cultural institutions (such as museums, galleries, or heritage sites) and visitors, particularly those from diverse or marginalised backgrounds. In accessibility contexts, cultural mediators play a crucial role in…

Deaf Community(also: Deaf World, Signing Community)

A cultural and linguistic community of people who are Deaf or hard of hearing and who share a common language (typically a sign language), cultural values, traditions, and social norms. The Deaf community is distinguished from the broader population of people with hearing loss…

Dementia-Friendly(also: Dementia Friendly Community, Dementia Inclusive)

An approach to designing environments, services, programs, and communities that are accessible, supportive, and inclusive of people living with dementia. A dementia-friendly community enables people with dementia to participate in social life, access services, and maintain…

Dementia-Friendly Community(also: Dementia Friendly Community)

An approach to inclusion in which public spaces, services, programs, and technologies are designed so that people living with dementia can continue to participate as active community members - shopping, using transport, attending cultural venues, socialising - alongside their…

Disability Culture(also: Crip Culture)

Disability culture encompasses the shared experiences, values, art, language, humor, and traditions that have developed among people with disabilities as a distinct social group. It includes disability art, literature, music, film, and performance, as well as communal practices…

Gamification(also: Games with a Purpose, GWAP)

The application of game design elements — such as points, levels, leaderboards, and time challenges — to non-game tasks in order to increase engagement and motivation. In accessibility, gamification has been used to crowdsource tasks that are difficult to automate, such as…

Global Accessibility Awareness Day(also: GAAD)

An annual event held on the third Thursday of May to focus attention on digital access and inclusion for the more than one billion people with disabilities worldwide. Founded in 2011, GAAD is observed through events, talks, workshops, panels, and accessibility-focused…

Hackathon(also: Accessibility Hackathon, Makeathon, ATHack)

A time-limited event (typically hours to days) where participants collaborate intensively to design and build technology solutions, often as prototypes or proofs of concept. Accessibility hackathons specifically focus on creating assistive technologies, but they have been…

Human Infrastructure

A concept from ICT4D (Information and Communication Technologies for Development) research describing the complex web of people, social relationships, environments, and aspirations that shapes how technology is used in a given context. Developed by Sambasivan and Smyth, human…

Hybrid Space(also: Blended Space, Hybrid Community Space)

A community or program environment that combines both in-person and online elements, not necessarily simultaneously, to create a more accessible and inclusive experience. In accessibility contexts, hybrid spaces address barriers such as geographic distance, mobility limitations,…

Intermediated Technology Use(also: Intermediated Interaction, Assisted Technology Use)

A pattern of technology interaction where a person accesses technology through the assistance of another person (an intermediary) rather than using it directly themselves. This occurs when barriers such as cost, literacy, disability, or lack of access prevent direct use. Common…

Legitimate Peripheral Participation(also: LPP)

A concept from Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger's situated-learning theory describing how newcomers join a community of practice by first participating in peripheral, lower-stakes activities and gradually moving toward full, central participation as they acquire the practices and…

Maker Culture(also: Maker Movement, DIY Culture)

A technology-influenced extension of DIY culture that emphasizes learning through hands-on making, often using digital fabrication tools like 3D printers, laser cutters, and microcontrollers alongside traditional crafts. Makerspaces provide shared access to tools and community.…

Mutual Aid

Mutual aid is a practice of collective care in which community members voluntarily share resources, support, and assistance based on principles of solidarity and reciprocity rather than charity. In disability communities, mutual aid networks play a critical role in filling gaps…

Online Disability Community(also: Disability Online Forum, Digital Disability Community)

Internet-based spaces where people with disabilities connect to share experiences, seek advice, provide peer support, and collaborate on problem-solving. Platforms like Reddit, Facebook groups, and specialized forums serve as vital resources for knowledge exchange about…

Online Health Communities(also: OHCs)

Internet-based communities where people affected by a shared health condition exchange experiential knowledge, emotional support, and practical coping strategies. Traditionally hosted on dedicated forums, OHCs increasingly exist as “unbounded” communities on mainstream social…

Open Source(also: Open-Source Software, OSS, FOSS)

Software whose source code is publicly available and can be freely used, modified, and distributed, typically developed collaboratively through platforms like GitHub. Open-source development models have significant implications for accessibility: they enable disabled users to…

Parasocial Relationship(also: Parasocial Tie, Parasocial Interaction)

A parasocial relationship is a one-sided emotional bond that a media audience forms with a performer, creator, or online personality — the viewer feels a sense of friendship, loyalty, and familiarity despite no reciprocal awareness. In accessibility contexts, parasocial ties are…

Pebbling

A neurodivergent-coined term for the practice of expressing and receiving affection by sharing small tokens — often memes, short videos, articles, or other links — with loved ones. The term references the courtship behavior of penguins, who offer pebbles to their partners.…

Prosociality(also: Prosocial Behavior, Prosocial Behaviour)

Prosociality refers to voluntary behaviour intended to benefit others, including helping, sharing, comforting, and cooperating. In accessibility and dementia research, prosocial acts observed during group activities - passing a card so a peer can see it, a reassuring touch on…

Social Capital

The networks of relationships, shared norms, trust, and reciprocity that enable individuals and communities to function effectively and access resources. People with intellectual disabilities often have limited social capital due to restricted social networks, reduced community…

Social Prescribing(also: Community Prescribing, Non-Medical Referral)

A non-medical intervention that links clinical practice with community-based activities and support services to improve health and wellbeing. In the context of accessibility, social prescribing connects people living with disabilities or chronic conditions — including dementia —…

Village Health Volunteer(also: VHV, Health Volunteer, Mor Prom)

A locally-recruited lay community health worker who serves as a trusted bridge between formal healthcare services and households in rural or underserved areas. In Thailand, VHVs are trained and coordinated by the Ministry of Public Health (typically with around 70 hours of…

YouDescribe

A free web platform operated by the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute that enables volunteers to crowdsource audio descriptions for YouTube videos. Viewers can request a video be described and sighted volunteers record and align AD tracks synchronised with the original…

39 results.