Glossary

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Aging(also: Ageing)

Aging is the biological, psychological, and social process of growing older, which in accessibility practice is associated with a predictable cluster of changes: declining near and low-contrast vision, hearing loss at higher frequencies, reduced fine motor precision, slower…

BLV Users(also: Blind and Low Vision Users, BLV People)

People who are blind or have low vision, encompassing a spectrum of visual impairments from total blindness to varying degrees of remaining vision (light perception, tunnel vision, blurred vision, etc.). BLV users are a primary user group for many accessibility technologies…

Blind and Visually Impaired(also: BVI, Blind and low vision, BLV)

An umbrella term used in accessibility research and practice to encompass people whose vision is significantly reduced, from partial low vision (for example, reduced acuity, contrast sensitivity, or field of view) through total blindness. The term includes people who are…

Cognitive Disability(also: Cognitive Impairment, Intellectual and Developmental Disability)

A broad category of disabilities affecting cognitive functions such as memory, attention, problem-solving, learning, and information processing. Cognitive disabilities may be developmental (present from birth or early childhood, such as Down syndrome or intellectual disability)…

Cognitive Impairment(also: Cognitive Disability, Intellectual Disability, Cognitive Decline)

A broad category encompassing conditions that affect cognitive functions such as memory, attention, language, problem-solving, and executive function. Cognitive impairments range from mild (noticeable but not interfering significantly with daily life) to severe, and may be…

Daily Form(also: Daily Functioning Level)

The concept that a person's physical and cognitive capabilities can vary significantly from day to day due to chronic conditions, pain levels, fatigue, medication effects, sleep quality, and other factors. In accessibility and assistive technology design, daily form challenges…

Developmental Disability(also: DD, Developmental Disabilities)

A group of conditions arising from impairments in physical, learning, language, or behavioral areas that begin during the developmental period, typically before age 22, and are expected to be lifelong. Developmental disabilities include intellectual disability, autism spectrum…

Fatigue(also: Disability-Related Fatigue, Physical Fatigue)

A common symptom across many disabilities and chronic conditions characterized by persistent exhaustion that is disproportionate to activity level and not fully relieved by rest. In technology and VR accessibility, fatigue has specific implications: users may have limited energy…

Laryngectomy(also: Larynx Removal, Voice Box Removal)

A surgical procedure to remove all or part of the larynx (voice box), most commonly performed as treatment for laryngeal cancer. Total laryngectomy removes the entire larynx and separates the airway from the mouth, nose, and esophagus, requiring the person (called a…

Legally Blind(also: Legal Blindness)

A legal classification of visual impairment used to determine eligibility for government benefits, rehabilitation services, and disability accommodations. In the United States, legal blindness is defined as visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in the better eye with best correction,…

Limited Mobility(also: Reduced Mobility, Mobility Impairment)

A condition where a person has restricted ability to move their body or specific limbs, which may affect walking, reaching, grasping, or fine motor control. Limited mobility encompasses a wide range of conditions including paraplegia, quadriplegia, muscular disorders, joint…

Lower Limb Impairment(also: Lower Extremity Impairment, Lower Body Impairment)

Reduced function in one or both legs or feet due to conditions such as amputation, paralysis, muscular disorders, or joint conditions. In VR accessibility, lower limb impairment primarily affects locomotion methods—free-roam VR requiring physical walking is inaccessible, while…

Mobility Disability(also: Mobility Impairment, Physical Mobility Limitation)

A disability that affects a person's ability to move freely, including walking, climbing stairs, maintaining balance, or using fine motor skills. Mobility disabilities may result from conditions such as spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, amputation,…

Mobility Impairment(also: Motor Impairment, Physical Disability)

A disability that affects movement, ranging from conditions requiring wheelchair use to limited fine motor control affecting device interaction. Mobility impairments may result from conditions like paraplegia, quadriplegia, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, or limb…

Motor Disability(also: Motor Impairment, Physical Disability, Movement Disorder)

A condition that affects a person's ability to control voluntary muscle movements, impacting mobility, dexterity, coordination, or speech production. Motor disabilities can result from neurological conditions (cerebral palsy, ALS, multiple sclerosis), spinal cord injuries,…

Motor Impairment(also: Motor Disability, Physical Impairment, Movement Disorder)

A condition that affects a person's ability to control physical movements, including fine motor skills (precise movements of hands and fingers) and gross motor skills (larger movements involving arms, legs, and trunk). Motor impairments can result from conditions such as stroke,…

Multiple Disabilities(also: Co-occurring Disabilities, Comorbid Disabilities)

The presence of two or more disabilities in a single individual, which may include combinations of physical, sensory, cognitive, mental health, and chronic health conditions. People with multiple disabilities often face compounded access barriers that are greater than the sum of…

Neurodevelopmental Condition(also: Neurodevelopmental Disorder, Neurodevelopmental Disability)

A group of conditions that arise from differences in brain development and affect how a person processes information, learns, communicates, and interacts with the world. Common neurodevelopmental conditions include ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyscalculia,…

Physical Disability(also: Motor Disability, Physical Impairment)

A condition that affects a person's physical functioning, mobility, dexterity, or stamina. Physical disabilities include conditions such as paralysis, amputation, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis. In technology and VR…

Postlingual Deafness(also: Postlingually Deaf, Acquired Hearing Loss)

Hearing loss that occurs after a person has acquired spoken language, typically after about age three to five. Postlingually deaf people usually retain spoken-language fluency, literacy, and memory of sound, which affects their rehabilitation trajectory and their experience of…

Sensorineural Hearing Loss(also: SNHL, Nerve Deafness)

Sensorineural hearing loss is hearing loss caused by damage to the hair cells of the inner ear (cochlea) or the auditory nerve, in contrast to conductive hearing loss, which involves the outer or middle ear. SNHL is the most common type of permanent hearing loss in adults and is…

Sloping Hearing Loss(also: High-frequency Hearing Loss, Sloping SNHL)

Sloping hearing loss is a common audiogram shape in which hearing thresholds are relatively preserved at low frequencies and progressively worse at higher frequencies, producing a downward slope on the audiogram. It is the typical presentation of age-related hearing loss…

Upper Limb Impairment(also: Upper Extremity Impairment, Upper Body Impairment)

Reduced function in one or both arms, hands, or fingers due to conditions such as amputation, paralysis, muscular disorders, spasticity, or joint conditions. In VR and technology accessibility, upper limb impairment is particularly significant because most interaction paradigms…

Visible Disability(also: Apparent Disability)

A disability that is readily apparent to outside observers through physical characteristics, mobility aids, or other visible indicators. Examples include amputations, paralysis, use of a wheelchair, or conditions that affect gait or posture. Visible disabilities shape social…

Vision Impairment(also: Visual Impairment, VI)

An umbrella term for any reduction in visual function — including low vision, blindness, and functional limitations that affect everyday tasks — regardless of cause. The World Health Organization distinguishes between distance and near vision impairment and further classifies…

Wheelchair User

A person who uses a manual or powered wheelchair as their primary means of mobility. In VR accessibility research, wheelchair users face specific challenges including: controllers that require both hands (preventing simultaneous wheelchair operation), HMD cables that can catch…

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