Glossary

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Sensory Disability(also: Sensory Impairment)

A disability that affects one or more of the senses — most commonly vision and hearing, but also including touch, taste, and smell. Sensory disabilities encompass conditions such as blindness, low vision, deafness, hard of hearing, and deafblindness. In digital accessibility,…

Sensory Impairment(also: Sensory Disability)

A broad term encompassing conditions that affect the senses, primarily vision and hearing. Sensory impairments include blindness, low vision, deafness, and being hard of hearing, each presenting distinct accessibility needs and interaction patterns with technology. People with…

Situational Disability(also: Situational Impairment, Situational Limitation, SIID)

A temporary reduction in ability caused by a person's environment or context rather than a permanent condition. Examples include difficulty reading a screen in bright sunlight (visual), being unable to listen to audio in a noisy environment (auditory), or having limited…

Small Fiber Neuropathy(also: SFN)

A condition involving damage to small somatic and autonomic nerve fibers, resulting in burning pain, sensory disturbances, and autonomic dysfunction. SFN can make everyday tasks that involve gripping, holding, or fine motor control painful and difficult. Assistive devices that…

Social Communication Disorder(also: SCD, Pragmatic Language Impairment)

A condition characterized by persistent difficulties with the social use of verbal and nonverbal communication. Individuals with social communication disorder struggle with using communication for social purposes, adjusting communication to match context, following…

Spinal Cord Injury(also: SCI)

Damage to the spinal cord that results in loss of function, mobility, or sensation below the level of injury. Injuries are classified as complete (total loss of function below the injury) or incomplete (some function preserved). The higher the injury on the spinal cord, the more…

Supplemental Security Income(also: SSI)

A U.S. federal program administered by the Social Security Administration that provides cash benefits to people with disabilities, blindness, or age-related needs who have limited income and resources. SSI enforces strict asset and income limits — historically $2,000 in…

Symptom Fluctuation(also: Fluctuating Symptoms, Variable Symptoms, Good Days and Bad Days)

The variation in symptom severity that people with chronic conditions or disabilities experience over time—sometimes within a single day. Symptom fluctuation means that a person's abilities and access needs may change unpredictably, making it difficult to follow fixed schedules…

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