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Ableist Language(also: Disability Slurs, Derogatory Disability Language)

Ableist language refers to words, phrases, and framings that demean, stereotype, or pathologize people with disabilities — from explicit slurs such as 'cripple,' 'handicap,' 'retard,' or 'lame' used pejoratively, to subtler framings like 'suffers from,' 'wheelchair-bound,' or…

BVI(also: Blind and Visually Impaired, BLV, Blind and Low Vision)

A widely used abbreviation in accessibility and HCI research denoting "blind and visually impaired" — the inclusive category that covers people who are totally blind, legally blind, or have any form of low vision. Closely related variants include BLV ("blind and low vision"),…

Category 3 Blindness(also: ICD-10 H54 Category 3, WHO Category 3 Visual Impairment)

A classification of severe visual impairment under the World Health Organization's ICD-10 coding for disorders of the visual system (H54). Category 3 covers blindness in which the better eye has presenting visual acuity worse than 1/60 (20/1200 Snellen) but can still perceive…

Disability Etiquette(also: Disability manners, Interaction etiquette)

A set of conventions for respectful and appropriate interaction with disabled people, typically taught to non-disabled colleagues, service staff, students, and healthcare providers. Common principles include speaking directly to the disabled person (not their interpreter or…

High-Functioning Autism(also: HFA, HFASD)

A historically used term describing individuals with autism spectrum disorder who have average or above-average intellectual abilities and can communicate verbally. The term is now considered outdated by many in the autism community and clinical practice, with DSM-5 replacing…

Low-Functioning Autism(also: LFA, Classic Autism, Level 3 Autism)

A descriptor historically used to characterize individuals with autism spectrum disorder who have significant support needs, including limited or no verbal communication, intellectual disability, and difficulty with daily living skills. The term is increasingly considered…

PVI(also: People with Visual Impairments, Person with Visual Impairment, Persons with Visual Impairments)

An abbreviation widely used in HCI and accessibility research for "people with visual impairments," a person-first umbrella term that includes people who are blind, legally blind, or have low vision. PVI is often used interchangeably with BVI ("blind and visually impaired") and…

People Who Stutter(also: PWS, Person Who Stutters, Adults Who Stutter)

An identity-first and community-preferred term for people who experience stuttering, a neurodevelopmental condition involving involuntary speech disfluencies such as blocks, prolongations, and repetitions. PWS affects roughly 1% of the global population. Community usage (PWS,…

People with Dementia(also: PwD)

A person-first term used in accessibility and dementia research to refer to individuals living with dementia — an umbrella term covering progressive neurological conditions (such as Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia) that…

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