Glossary

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Backchannel Feedback(also: Backchannel, Backchanneling, Backchannel Cues)

Verbal or non-verbal signals given by a listener during a conversation to show attention, understanding, or agreement without taking over the speaking turn. Common examples include head nods, vocalizations like mm-hmm, thumbs-up gestures, and brief verbal affirmations.…

Co-Presence(also: Copresence)

The sense of being together with another person in a shared space, whether physical or virtual, where individuals are aware of each other's presence and are "accessible, available, and subject to one another" (Goffman). Co-presence does not require active interaction—the mere…

Communication Partner(also: CP, Conversation Partner)

A person who communicates with an AAC user, whether through speech, sign, or other means. Communication partners play a critical role in the success of AAC interactions — their willingness to wait, their ability to interpret messages, and their understanding of AAC devices…

Cultural Barrier(also: Cultural Challenge)

Social and cultural norms that impede learning or participation in certain activities. In sign language education, cultural barriers significantly affect hearing learners' ability to produce non-manual signs, as exaggerated facial expressions required in ASL may feel…

Dinner Table Syndrome

The social and emotional isolation experienced by deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in hearing family settings where spoken language is the primary mode of communication. Named for the common experience of sitting at a family dinner table surrounded by conversation one cannot…

Disability Community(also: Disabled Community)

A group of people connected by shared experiences of disability who may share culture, identity, advocacy goals, and mutual support networks. Disability communities can be organized around specific conditions (e.g., the Deaf community, the blind community), broader disability…

Head Pose Estimation(also: Head Orientation Detection, Gaze Direction Estimation)

A computer vision technique that determines the orientation or direction a person's head is facing, typically classifying whether someone is looking towards or away from the camera. In accessibility contexts, head pose estimation can help blind users determine whether a passerby…

Impression Management(also: Self-Presentation)

The conscious or unconscious process of controlling how one is perceived by others, including managing what personal information is visible or shared. For blind people using visual assistance technologies, impression management includes controlling what appears in…

Parallel Play(also: Parallel Activity)

A form of social interaction where individuals engage in separate activities alongside each other without direct interaction. Originally described in child development research by Mildred Parten in 1932, parallel play has been recognized in neurodivergent communities as a…

Personal Space(also: Interpersonal Distance, Personal Distance Zone)

The invisible boundary surrounding a person that they consider their own territory, the violation of which can cause discomfort or stress. Research by Edward T. Hall defined four distance zones: intimate (0-18 inches), personal (18 inches to 4 feet), social (4-12 feet), and…

Social Attention(also: Social Orienting)

The set of behaviours, motivations, and perceptual processes involved in directing and coordinating attention toward other people during social interaction. Social attention includes orienting toward others, maintaining awareness of their position and gaze direction, and using…

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 Distancing(also: Physical Distancing)

The practice of maintaining a minimum physical distance from other people to reduce the transmission of infectious diseases, widely adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic with recommended distances of at least 1 metre (WHO) or 6 feet (CDC). Social distancing presented unique…

Social Motor Synchrony(also: Interpersonal Synchrony, Motor Synchrony)

The spontaneous or intentional coordination of body movements between two or more people during social interaction, such as matching rhythms, mirroring gestures, or moving in temporal alignment. Social Motor Synchrony is considered an important indicator of social engagement and…

Social Virtual Reality(also: Social VR, SVR)

Virtual reality platforms designed primarily for social interaction, where users meet, communicate, and engage in shared activities through avatars in three-dimensional virtual spaces. Examples include VRChat, AltspaceVR, and Rec Room. Social VR presents unique accessibility…

Turn-Taking

The process by which participants in a conversation manage who speaks when, including how speakers signal they are finished and how listeners indicate they want to contribute. Turn-taking norms are typically based on spoken communication speeds and can create significant…

16 results.